I won my Hatfield (62" and 50# @ 28") with a $5 raffle ticket in 2000, and it is essentially the only bow I have shot since.
Everyone I have ever shot 3D with says my bow is very fast and in comparison with what I see other people shooting, I agree. I assume it’s speed is a function of it’s relatively short limbs attached to a relatively long riser (19¾”).
For various reasons, I only started to learn to shoot correctly, accurately, and instinctively (although others are telling me on another thread that I really gap shoot
) in 2006. Since learning to shoot instinctively (and well), I am very afraid to change anything. I have been known to use the same glove, hat, and string way beyond the point of them being "hole having", thread-bare, and frayed to the point of being dangerous (in the case of the string).
Since I do rely on my brain being trained to shoot one bow instinctively, I only shoot one bow. My problem is that Martin (Damon-Howatt) no longer makes the Hatfield Take-Down. I've been shooting mine for 11 years and I know the limbs are not going to last forever. I did contact Martin and they will make another set of limbs for me, but I'd have to send them my riser and go through one of their dealers. The cost for them to make another set would be $470 plus a dealer's mark-up. The bigger problem is that I would be without a bow to shoot for at least a couple of months.
I prefer a take-down for the center mass/ stability it gives (and again because it is essentially the only bow I have shot for 11 years). I have shot a couple of other custom take-down recurves for just a few shots, and have found they are not nearly as fast and do not shoot nearly as flat an arrow.
Since I’m going to have to make a bow change at some point in the future, what are your opinions regarding which bow is the fastest bow that is most like my beloved Hatfield and that will confuse my instinctive-shooting-lizard-brain the least. Oh yeah, I’ve also never felt/ held another grip that feels as natural to me as the low/ fat grip on my Hatfield.
One other thing I almost forgot. I could go up in poundage to gain speed and my arm and back could handle a few more pounds, but my pulling shoulder couldn’t. I do dumbbell curls every other day now as a means of improving/ maintaining the stability / flexibility of an already bad shoulder. At my age (60) I should be considering going down in weight rather than up.
Thanks in advance for your help and opinions,
Dusty
Everyone I have ever shot 3D with says my bow is very fast and in comparison with what I see other people shooting, I agree. I assume it’s speed is a function of it’s relatively short limbs attached to a relatively long riser (19¾”).
For various reasons, I only started to learn to shoot correctly, accurately, and instinctively (although others are telling me on another thread that I really gap shoot

Since I do rely on my brain being trained to shoot one bow instinctively, I only shoot one bow. My problem is that Martin (Damon-Howatt) no longer makes the Hatfield Take-Down. I've been shooting mine for 11 years and I know the limbs are not going to last forever. I did contact Martin and they will make another set of limbs for me, but I'd have to send them my riser and go through one of their dealers. The cost for them to make another set would be $470 plus a dealer's mark-up. The bigger problem is that I would be without a bow to shoot for at least a couple of months.
I prefer a take-down for the center mass/ stability it gives (and again because it is essentially the only bow I have shot for 11 years). I have shot a couple of other custom take-down recurves for just a few shots, and have found they are not nearly as fast and do not shoot nearly as flat an arrow.
Since I’m going to have to make a bow change at some point in the future, what are your opinions regarding which bow is the fastest bow that is most like my beloved Hatfield and that will confuse my instinctive-shooting-lizard-brain the least. Oh yeah, I’ve also never felt/ held another grip that feels as natural to me as the low/ fat grip on my Hatfield.
One other thing I almost forgot. I could go up in poundage to gain speed and my arm and back could handle a few more pounds, but my pulling shoulder couldn’t. I do dumbbell curls every other day now as a means of improving/ maintaining the stability / flexibility of an already bad shoulder. At my age (60) I should be considering going down in weight rather than up.
Thanks in advance for your help and opinions,
Dusty
Comment