Like a lot of you, I own and shoot all types of bows. The one type that I shoot the worst is the ASL. Ironically, it is the one type I love the best and wish I shot the best. Maybe I should sell all others and force myself to only shoot my ASLs until I get better. I tend to run back to a recurve or R/D longbow when things are not going well with an ASL.

Here are some of my prettiest: #1 - Frank San Marco "Traditional", 68" and 47#@27.5". Locator grip and cool fluted tip overlays, shedua riser and yew cores #2 - David Miller "Old Tom", 69" and 54#@28", myrtle riser and beautiful yew cores #3 - Dave Johnson, 66" and 50#@28", bubinga and myrtle riser with red cedar cores, cool gator grip leather by our own Ken 2Bears #4 - Frank San Marco "Traditional", 67" and 60#@28", shedua riser and yew cores, dished grip with leather wrap, one of Frank's personal bows.

Just wanted to share those with you while we're waiting for hunting season. Would love to see yours. Take care, Jeff

Well you let me know on the Miller and 60# SanMarco or even the Jonhson,maybe i got a ASL thatll work for ya ; ) I shoot nothing but Hill style ASLs

That said i think sticking to one style of bow and grip is the only way to be truely proficent it takes time and dedication Do you prefer a locater or straight or dish grip? Different bowyers grips have different feel which will make a difference

I talked to Frank San Marco at ETAR this year. Like many of us older pharts, he has taken his weigh way down and has redesigned his bows. He is not making many and doesn't want it to become a job again. He had some of his newer models there and they are very nice..typical San Marco workmanship.

"weight".

That's exactly how I feel about ASL's. I absolutely love the way they look and carry. I enjoy shooting them more also but I never shoot them well. I end up practicing with them but when I go to a tournament or hunting, I usually grab my r/d longbow.

Like George may be coming to? Overweight Bows (being overbowed) are the main problem with learning/ingraining them into your brain and muscle fitness to shoot them well.

TORQUEing an ASL is very, very easy to do!

Proper grip is the main ingredient to shooting any bow but especially with an ASL.

I personally do not like the grab it like a suitcase handle and prefer to shoot them with a locator grip and loose-handed.

Draw and anchor with the amount of weight you can without straining your milk, is the best shot Bow for the individual.

Thinking many are overbowed and somewhat because they heavy poundage Hill himself shot is a carry over into the sterotype of the Hill crowd personna.

I, too, have a special love for the looks, history, simplicity, quietness, and durability of the ASL. I, too, shoot them about the worst of all the traditional bow styles I have tried. If I could shoot them as well or better than the others, I don't think I would ever shoot anything else again. It makes you wonder how well Howard Hill would have shot some of the other styles.

Sam Dunham mentioned torque, and I agree with him. Having the bow hand even with or in front of the fadeouts, such as on a reverse or forward handle riser, seems to make a noticeable difference in accuracy. That's why I am very much considering a Northern Mist Whisper or other forward handle ASL. The reverse handle may not look so cool, but if it is significantly more forgiving, then it may be worth the poor aesthetics.

I welcome your thoughts on this.

Thanks for the comments so far guys.

Shootalot - that's exactly how I feel too.

George - I spoke with Frank for a while at ETAR as well and really enjoyed meeting him. I shot one of his 50# Eagles at the practice range and was shooting it lights out (for me). It's a great bow. I got on his list, lol.

I think my biggest problem with the ASLs is the light mass weight. I really have to concentrate on keeping my bow hand completely still when I drop the string. Before anyone says it, I know you should do that with all bows but it just seems harder with the ASLs. And I really don't like putting a quiver on them for more weight. It just feels "wrong", lol.

In the woods hunting , I have total confidence in my ASL-grew up shooting one and very comfortable with it

Not the best shot in the world, but I can generally get it done with the ALS

Besides his natural ability, the reason Howard shot the ASL so well is because that's all he shot. Every time you change bow styles and riser shapes you have to adapt to those changes, but you subconscious doesn't know you've changed, until you re-program it. If you change styles often, you confuse the subconscious. Yes I'm well aware that some are confused in both conscious and sub conscious all the time, but that is not the subject at hand.

Bob

I love that 60# marco. I have one just like it. I called frank with some questions about mine and you couldn’t talk to a finer gentlemen. He had me almost wanting to order his new bow and I shoot nothing but ASLs! If that 60# bow ever needs a new home please keep me in mind!

If your hunting shots are more accurate with a recurve than an ASL you should not be hunting with an ASL. Personally, I am the other way. I wanted to be able hunt with a short recurve, no one can mess up a shot better with a short recurve than me. The real problem with a great made and designed ASL is that you only need tow of them. One to hunt with and one more to hunt with in case someone steals the one you hunt with.

Shooting this one with index down on the front of the riser and only thumb wrapped around the throat. I tuck the other fingers under and give it a loose grip. Shoots right down the line. Working on getting the stain to take on the handle and will put a calf hair rest on it later.

I think I shoot my ASLs about as well as I shoot my other bows. But, I agree with Joe2. The light physical weight means that one needs to pay attention.

Joe2crow, hang in there. If you want to shoot them well stop running back to your other bows. It will be tough but trust me. Thats what i had to do and i’m glad i did. Don’t get me wrong, i enjoy my R/D’s and recurves but i fell in love with shooting the ASL’s once i figured it out and it took some time.

I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to shoot one, just some reading and watching John Schulz video on Youtube like a million times. I never got mad and never gave up, it took a lot of shooting and still trying to perfect it but it will come! I have 9 and #10 is almost done. Now that i got some years shooting them i can now go from shooting the ASL to a recurve to R/D and shoot them well. But 99.9% of the time i shoot the ASL’s.

Now if you want to learn how to shoot them from one of the best, look no farther then John Schulz!!! My buddy went to his shooting class this year and learned alot about shooting them bows. I will say i help him get into shooting ASL’s but seeing him shoot now after John’s class...he is now going to be my teacher! So if you can get in one of his shooting class if and when he offers one!!! Good luck and keep at it.

I just remembered, here’s a site that may help you out a little with shooting and bow setup with the ASL. Goggle www.dickwightman.com, score down past his home page and you will see a list of things...pick Howard Hill. There is a section on gripping the bow, brace hight and knocking point setup. Hope this can help.

Beautiful collection Joe! I recently got a new custom ASL. I’m certainly not going to say that because of that bow, I’ve never shot better, but something has changed for the better. Seriously considering selling off my recurves, and r/d longbows, and sticking with a straight grip ASL.

Getting a Howard Hill Big 5 opened a whole new vista in trad shooting for me. I never thought I would like shooting one...I was mistaken.

George did you ask Frank about his prices or wait time?I talked to his wife many years back.At that time the wait was 5 years!

I would pick one up cheap, use it for a bit and then move it on down the road. When dropped poundage I got another shot it, and then another and now I have 12. Hill, McBroom, Northern Mist, Two Tracks, Bama and a few others, just so nice to shoot and carry.

The Hill style D shape Longbow is a great Bow for me, love the lite weight, stable limbs, quiet, and the 7 lakes I have are fast enough for what I do.

I have recurves but like the way a Hill carries and shoots.

I am likely going to hunt this year with a Hill.

I got away from them for awhile, couple decades in fact. Never hated, was just trying out different bows. Back in the swing now and it's where I find the most enjoyment. For the way I hunt, my style of shooting, it's the perfect bow.

Not sure if it has been covered or not but,, looking at your photo at the start of this thread it seems you brace your bows a bit high,, I'm probably wrong,, as that happens a lot,, but,, what is the brace on your bows?

Yah, like stkbow said, your bows looked to be braced way too high. Maybe just the pic but don't think so.

Have some perty bows there

Brace does look high and seem to have alot of puffs on them to me but whatever works

really have a nice collection

I re-learned today that keeping the bow arm shoulder low and extended at the target,both left handed and right handed,(keeping the broken elbow), keeps my form from collapsing, which gives me the same 26&1/4" draw both sides. The mental note is simple, 'hit it hard'. By doing this I was able to shoot my best both sides with absolutely no hold, a hard release and solid follow through, with my highest possible arrow speed within the parameters of my form. In other words I was fluid and on today with consistent power.

Reliable fast shooting when in any and all hunting situations, that's what these bows are all about.

All of those bows are braced from 6 1/4" to 6 1/2". My cell phone camera distorts the pics on close-up shots. I have a couple of R/D longbows that I run a little higher brace on, around 7", but none of my ASLs are above 6 1/2". I know some guys like to run an even lower brace on their ASLs but I don't like when my feathers start to lay on the back of the rest or the excessive wrist slap.

Yewbender, thanks for the tips and website. I'll check it out.

MStyles, I llike that wrapped grip you put on your Big5. It looks very comfortable.

Dean, I love the double shelf. Don't know if I would ever actually try switching to lefty but it looks cool. And I suppose it could come in real handy in certain hunting situations.

I have tried a bunch of other longbows, but I love an ASL. Easy to shoot, smooth, forgiving and light in hand.

Joe2:

Depending on the length, those are a bit high with brace, try reducing them by 1/4-1/2"

Bob

I have just one ASL, a Chekmate Knave I salvaged and I shoot it bare bow literally - no leather grip, no leather shelf and no leather side shelf. My recurves are taking a break since I've got it.

JOE2CROW. Grab yourself a Toelke Super D, to me it's the Nirvana of that 'love/hate' you described in your OP. It feels like an ASL, but is easier to shoot. Just a damn fun bow.

Worlds - that is one of the bows I have been considering. I'm also on the list for Frank San Marco's new Eagle hybrid but that will be a while. Thanks, Jeff

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