Longbows are no good

**Orda Khan** · 12-11-2006, 19:57

Sorry Carl, I tried to give the information without the post going on and on.
First off
Spine/Spine weight refers to the arrow shaft in other words how flexible it is.
Draw length refers to the distance from bow to the string at full draw.

So if you buy arrow shafts, they usually measure 32" and are spined accordingly. If you shorten them you also stiffen them, thereby increasing the spine weight.

Imagine holding a bow with the arrow nocked on the string and resting on the back of your hand (index finger knuckle). The arrow will point slightly to the left due to the thickness of the bow. Correctly spined arrows are essential and this is known as the 'archers paradox'. That is the arrow must bend around the bow before continuing on its course.

Another point that I did not mention was the tillering of bow limbs. The lower limb is stiffer because the arrow is not fired from a central (top to bottom) position on the bow.
Hope this helps

......Orda

**Carl** · 12-11-2006, 20:56

I get you now Orda. Many thanks for the explanation, makes sense now, you need an arrow that is flexible enough to "bend round the bow to make up for the fact that it's offset. Get it too flexible however and it will bend too far.

As I say, it's nice that we have someone on these forums who actually knows something about bows and Arrows and can thus give us this kind of information.

**Kraxis** · 12-12-2006, 00:44

Ahhh... I just thought that archers learned how much offset there would be and aimed from that.

When I tried a bow (a longbow as it happened), I continually sent the arrows far to one side (the side it was nooked on of course). I simply couldn't understand that as I did exactly as the instructor told me... I ended up sending four arrows deep into a wood, never to be found again.

After that I have not touched a bow as I feel cursed.

**Carl** · 12-12-2006, 01:35

@Kraxis: Well at least you've used a proper good old fashioned Longbow, All I’ve got to use was one of those plastic ones that with the bit of plastic to rest the arrows on. The Instructor had a Proper Bow and the leather guard though. She looked to be pretty good with it too, no robin hood, (or should that be Maid Marian

), but better accuracy than anyone else, (Duh).

Curse you and your luck Kraxis

.

**Carl** · 12-12-2006, 01:41

EDIT: Should have been:

Curse you Kraxis

. I wouldn't care if I did so bad if I was getting to have a go with the real thing, I’d just love the chance to have a go, regardless of how well I did.

**Sonny WiFiHr** · 12-12-2006, 02:25

Longbows are good . Increasing fire rate could inbalance THE GAME.
After playing a lot VH/VH .
To easy to win.

**Kraxis** · 12-12-2006, 21:36

Originally Posted by Carl

@Kraxis: Well at least you've used a proper good old fashioned Longbow, All I’ve got to use was one of those plastic ones that with the bit of plastic to rest the arrows on. The Instructor had a Proper Bow and the leather guard though. She looked to be pretty good with it too, no robin hood, (or should that be Maid Marian

), but better accuracy than anyone else, (Duh).

Curse you and your luck Kraxis

.

Well I have always felt that should I try a bow, it must be 'traditional'. None of these weighted, balanced and all other kind of things, bows. Pure and 'clean'.

It was fun to try, and I felt that I was a bit stronger than I expected. However I quickly found the reason for the bracers. Damn my forearm was sore. GAH!

**Carl** · 12-12-2006, 23:03

Ouch, yeah, theres a damm good reason to have one, the instructer i had had one too when she was using hers.

The time i got to try it was at a medivial arts and crafts fair at pontfract castle, (or the ruins of it at least anyway).

**Carl** · 12-12-2006, 23:14

Damm no EDIT: So since it was an arts and crafts they where letting everyone shoot 10 arrows at a target, couldn't have been more than 20 meteres, good fun but it only made me wish I could have had a proper go

.

**Orda Khan** · 12-13-2006, 18:12

Carl & Kraxis,
Have you ever considered taking up archery? At any of these fayres you are only ever going to get to try one of these cheap bows, or at best one of a club's training recurves. The arrows will probably not be matched and any good shot will be more luck than judgement so don't be hard on yourselves.

Field Archery is the most exciting, target archery may offer longer distances but you basically stand at one end of a field and aim at a target the other end, collect arrows and repeat.
A traditional archer shoots distances ranging from 5 to 50 metres in field archery and there are usually 24 targets per course. The course is shot over 2 days, one marked (so you know the distance) and one unmarked. The course will take in many natural features to help add to the difficulty so expect to be trekking through the woods, aiming uphill and downhill, fighting for footing etc. It really is a great way to spend a weekend; tiring, sometimes wet and cold or hot and sticky but always great fun, in fresh air and you feel alive. Also making arrows is very rewarding.

If Longbow is your preference you are lucky, there is a seperate Longbow class. With my Hun bow I have to compete in 'traditional' which puts me at the disadvantage of having to compete against people who use modern recurves (they only have to use wooden arrows to be considered trad

) Be aware that the Longbow we see today is unfortunately NOT the bow of Mediaeval times, it is a Victorian design. When strung it resembles a shallow 'D' shape, the Mediaeval Warbow was more of a crescent ... )
Because very few people use Asiatic reflex bows it will be difficult to get to try one out but trust me when I say that their performance is far superior to a Longbow of the same draw weight. So if it's 'pure and clean' that you seek, you should really consider one of the bows of the steppe.
Take a look here....www.eastern-archery.com

The bracer. Did you get a nice blue forearm?

Imagine what 40lbs draw would do to you. My wife had to kneel to shoot one target but raised the wrong leg. The end of the bottom limb caught her thigh!!
Anyway, the bracer saves your arm which may get string slap due to the Mediterranean draw, the string is released towards you. If you tried the thumb draw there is no need because the string travels away from the arm. With experience you will find your technique will improve and the bracer is there just in case. I don't use one.

So there you go. Why not give it a try? Do a Google search for GNAS (grand national archery society) and look for a club in your area. In September 2008, the World Field Archery Championship will be held in South Wales (at my club Pentref Bowmen) so you have plenty of time

OK apologies for going off topic

.......Orda