String follow longbow

[Dasma]

Anyone agree that the stringfollow longbow seems to have less handshock with the same speed (not chronographed). I've a Sunset Hill for sale and was sharing that bit of "wisdom" with a fellow. He couldn't believe it! I've tryed shooting straight end end bows, really tried. Love the idea of the tradition. Any similiar experiences?

[rubydog]

Sorry, but I do not agree. With the limbs staying in the braced position after being unstrung lends itself to two things, a slower bow and more hand shock. The reason a reflex -deflex bow is so fast is that the limbs are pre loaded and and when the string is released at draw the limbs move further in the direction of the target and stop quicker. This is both a speed building factor as well as a hand shock reducer. Now that is my theory so go and try and shoot two like poundage bow and arrow set ups through a chronograph and video tape it and you will see the true outcome. I think you will be surprised at the results provided you are accurately describing a "string follow bow".

[Ol Man]

The string follow bows were not faster- had slightly less handshock than one without (talking about straight end bows). What they did offer was a slightly slower bow that was more manageable with regard to accuracy. I shot many of these in my younger days. I was accurate enough with them. Howard hill preferred a string follow bow as he shot high poundage bows and this helped with the extra weight he had to draw. I found my old Granpa - Laminated Boo (no glass) from John Schulz was a fine shooter but at 67# draw it was 157 FPS with a 545 grain arrow. Now it cast an arrow a long way that's for sure.. 68" in length..I shot in the air and made 178 yards with the arrow. Not bad in my books. Took a lot of animals with the bow as well.

[rubydog]

Ol man I have to agree with you on some parts. The string follow as well as most straight limb bows are generally very accurate. However, it has been my experience that both examples radiate more hand shock than this old tore up body wants to deal with. That being said, I quote a masterfull bow maker when I say "extremely fast bows hinge on instability''. I have to agree with him on that one. Mosty extremely fast bows I have shot were very touchy.

[Dasma]

Thanks for all responses, on all parts. Rubydog, ever shot a Sunset Hill or perhaps a David Miller bow? Never heard someone say that the stringfollow bows had MORE handshock. Quite the contrary. Respectfully.

[rubydog]

I cant say that I have shot those fellows boys but over the last 35 years I have shot a number of other peoples and hand shock and or string reverberation was present in all of them. I have a couple on my wall in my office. I guess I haven't ventured far enough. I think I will stay with the faster r/d bows that my buddies make, Good luck!

[Retsbew]

I've both standard setback (deflexed) Hills and one string follow Hill and haven't seen significant differences regarding hand shock or speed (same arrows, same bow lengths, similar weight). String follow does seem to provide a slightly smoother draw. Accuracy and comfort is mostly about form, picking the right arrows and gripping the bow properly...same as with other bows. Other things being equal, IMO the biggest factor in shooting any Hill bow well/comfortably is in the way you hold them. They're not like hybrids and take some getting used to in that regard. Fun bows for sure.