I will first admit I can’t hit squat with shorter bows. I tend to shoot a foot high and any group I ahoot is like comparing a basketball to golf ball. I tried weights for stabilization but that didn’t help either. So for you folks that do shoot shorter (under 60”) bows I ask for your help. Thanks TomM
Don't talk yourself out of it. I tend to shoot longer bows, but I switch to a 56-inch recurve for turkeys when hunting out of a blind. Don't really have a problem. I don't practice with that bow a lot though. Because of the finger pinch, my fingers tend to get hung up on the string at times. A solid bow arm and tight release overcome most of those problems though, if I can remember to do it.
Thomas, How much shorter is the bow you’re talking about? Is it of a comparable weight to your longer bows? The center of the bow is the center of the bow, so to say. The arrow shelf on a bow is always just above your hand. I think that the cast of the longer limbs is what’s throwing you off and your brain is telling your bow arm to lift higher to compensate. I think I’d shoot the short bow until the arrows are going where you want, then grab a longer bow and see if the shots are a foot lower than the shorter bow! I hope this is a clear enough explanation. Keep working on it, don’t give up. Lance
I love my 56" bows I do not shoot any longer then that anymore I can not see any difference to me but my draw is 27 on a good day. I shoot with a loose grip and only the web of my hand touches the bow I just let it do its thing. Widow
George, thanks for the video. Shows me it can be done. I appreciate all the positive comments. I am fairly sure it’s a mental thing like was mentioned. I am wanting to downsize my bow length and draw weight. I really got upset with myself while trying out some bows when I visited Black Widow in May. I wanted that PSR to shoot well but the LB shot a group inside the PSR group at 15 yards. I have a light weight bow setup, 44# and 56” length I am going to try these suggestions with tomorrow. Thanks agian
I shoot 60" recurves with a 28 3/4" draw and prefer to shoot 3U but only because I had already fallen in love with, and acquired, a matching set of PSR's with the Toby grip which fit me well. I am constantly trying different bows and when I decided to try out a Toelke Troll 52" 45@28 I was so fascinated with the performance and accuracy of that little bow. It was a pleasure to shoot and literally hit where I looked. I believe if I could get a Toelke Troll with Black Widow's Toby Grip I'd get rid of...Naw but I'd add one to my collection.
The secret for short bow mastery starts with good form such as George demonstrates. Having good extension helps not only with the release, but also with holding steady, a fact often unappreciated.
Going very short such as 54" and less, I needed to get my fingers off the string and so developed my nonmechancial releases, added as much bow mass as possible (tungsten stabiliser and/or extreme mass risers).
I also prefer various specific sight methods, although not necessary a metal bow sight even though I feel it's unfortunate the Merril sight isn't being produced anymore.
With tungsten stabilizers or conversely using Olympic stabilisers, I can shoot a 52- 54" bow at say 20 yds. almost as accurately as my full out Olympic rig, proving bow length by itself is not that the weak link in the chain.
There is a formula for accuracy, and in brief, it is having the arrow pointed correctly at the mount of release and having a good enough release that the direction is not compromised. Yes, longer bows generally prove to be more shooter friendly, but there are ways around that.
So why mess with it? Because short bows are cool and can be made very hunt friendly...
I'll add I'd count myself lucky to shoot a standard 52" Nomad stalker as well George demonstrates in his video using tab/glove and just gapping or "instinctive". And we have other great shots here on the LW. I wanted or needed max. control and sought assists...
CONTROL of the arrow is fun, however you achieve it.
George is shooting that short Browning bow with a quiver full of arrows adding weight to the bow which I think helps with shorter, lighter bows.Good shooting George, and it didn't take long for you to shoot 7 arrows.Nice bow also. I have a Nomad that is 54 inches long that shoots nice.Of all the short bows that I have tried over the years it is my favorite.
Picture from Compton Traditional Bowhunter Rendevouz 2019! A lot of testshooting of our Shrewbows. The smooth draw of this hard hitter satisfying archers and bowhunters! Our 54“ Classic Hunter II can handle easily draw length up to 31“ without any finger pinch and still drawing smoothly. For more information contact www.shrewbows.com
Ditto for Greg Coffey’s bows.. Get your form and release right and boy can they shoot! Finger pinch?nope. It’s all in the design of the bow and your ability to good form.
I'm suspicious...you'll notice in George's video that he kind of ducks behind those bushes up along his driveway. For all we know he could be swapping the Evil Dwarf Bow out for some Tamerlane or Hoyt Pro Medalist that he had stashed up there!
My draw with a recurve is right at 28" and I tend to have release issues with shorter bows and have moved ti longer bows. Currently shooting 66" recurves and 68" longbows. I used to think shorter bows were necessary for hunting, but no more.
old buck, I am right there with you with that 30" draw. Can't/Haven't been able to shoot anything under a 60" bow due to finger pinch and the limbs are pretty much straight back. DANNY
jmo. maximize your advantage. if you got a long draw, shoot a longer bow. smoother, more forgiving, ect. I got a very short draw. my 48" supermag don't stack, don't need a stab. or a bow quiver to shoot well for me. my disadvantage is my advantage!?? :)
Tried my shorter bow this AM. Come to a conclusion, it’s my lousy form. When I concentrate on what I am doing bow shoots as well as my longer ones. Didn’t shoot to many targets as it was 104* by 1000 hrs. My reason for pursuing a shorter bow is space. I have TD’s but the bow I covet can only be had as a 1 piece or 2 piece. So you have the bow, arrows, accessories, a 90# German Shepherd plus luggage and the SUV gets small quick. Oh, my wife doesn’t pack lite either. A short bow would make sense for me.
I normally shoot 62-64 inch recurves but I have tried a 58" inch recurve. I had a guy stand there watching me shoot and said your not going to get anymore out of those limbs. He said the limbs were straight back or pretty darn close. DANNY
I have a very short draw (25”)and so I can pull a 52 “bow with ease. Downside is I can’t compete at distances over 25 yds. Key word here is “compete.. “I am happy at 18 -20 yds and have no urgency to kill game. Love to shoot and a short bow suits me to a “T”
trad47, NO reason you can't reach long targets. My wife could reach the 70 yard target with a 29# recurve bow with matched arrows. If you are shooting split finger, you should have no problem. You just need to learn how to do it.
The 56" and 58" td bows from Cascade or Checkmate draw very smooth to my 27 3/4" draw. They shoot very well and would be good for a longer draw. I have a 52" Cascade Golden Hawk Magnum and it is very smooth out to my draw, it shoots good as long as I do my part.
It's usually not the 'smoothness of draw' it's normally the string angle that puts-off most longer draw guys. Even the 52" bows won't stack to 28"...and some not till near 30", but the finger pinch is more of an issue for you knuckle-draggers. ;)
I would suggest you stick with a longer bow. You already know about yourself that you do not shoot them as well. You want confidence when hunting.
Self-fulfilling prophecy:
If you believe a situation is real; it is real in its consequences.
You are not alone there are other bowhunters and archers that cannot shoot shorter bows with the confidence under the pressure of a hunting adrenaline shot. Howard Hill was one...
Here are two consecutive 22 metre stump shots with a 56" Westbow Jupiter. I draw just a little over 27". A well designed short bow will get the job done.
George- what are GPP of your wife’s arrows? I won’t shoot any arrow below 9 GPP my dynamic draw weight is 38 #. Am I wrong somewhere? Thanks and “WOW!” To your wife. 70 yds !whew! That’s amazing!
There is no reason you can't shoot that far with your bow even with 9gr/lb of arrow weight and a 25" draw length. As George alluded to, if you are shooting 3 under your hold over is going to be greater than it will be shooting split fingered at 70yds. The other thing is you can go to a lower anchor point shooting either style. The lower anchor point will give you a further "point on" distance, and a lower hold over if needed. That bow will get there with your draw length, you just may have change how you are looking at getting it there. DANNY
My wife's NAT is a short hybrid, she does pretty well with it. When i shoot it at 35 yards and think i am doing pretty well, I take out her same weight Hill Cheetah 64" and 38 pounds at my draw, the first thing I notice is that when I have a hot or slightly torqued release the miss that I have with the NAT is noticeably more than with the Hill Cheetah at 35 yards. I generally shoot better with a Cantpinch tab with recurves and better with an American Leathers glove when shooting longbows.
One CAN shoot short bows with high level accuracy. An Olympic Coach's opinion: after filming and watching me shoot with a very short 54" 55# hunting bow. It's not talent, either.
