I've always heard that a wood bow should not be held at full draw for more than a moment because cast is diminished. (I even recall reading or hearing this shoot quickly feature of wood bows blamed for target panic back in the day.) Is the loss of cast with a wood bow if held too long at full draw true, and if so what exactly about wood causes this? Thanks.

Wood does not cause that , mental issues do.

As stated, target panic is a mental issue. Shooters of non wood bows also develop panic. I am not sure why, and the "panic" likely has multiple mental components. Perhaps others can explain it in more detail.

That subject was well investigated by Facto Pope as well as Metz an d others many years ago.

Seems that Pope determined that a wooden bow had to be held at full draw for in excess of 5 seconds before there was any loss of cast.

What causes wood to lose cast or stored energy at any time? A bow limb made of laminated wood and fiberglass doesn't lose cast if held at full draw indefinitely, does it?

"What causes wood to lose cast or stored energy at any time?"

Compression fractures.

"A bow limb made of laminated wood and fiberglass doesn't lose cast if held at full draw indefinitely, does it?"

The ration wood-glass in a laminated bow is also preventing the compression fractures in the wood lam. Why a fiberglass bow is not losing the cast after time is obvious.

Wood gets tired, glass doesn't.

It's not "compression fractures" that cause it per se.

I would not leave a self bow strung unused for long periods of time, as it may take a set.

Yes, I believe that a wooden bow held too long at full draw may loose cast or take set if done continuously. I only have anecdotal data. Jawge

People have showed video of a bow hooked to a scale held a full draw and you can see the weight creep down.

ANY string material, even low stretch material, also stretches when held at higher tension ( full draw). Most stretch more than the wood'fiberglass laminates fatigues.

Runner has about the only sensible answer, except for this one; it has been known for centuries that it is true. - lbg

"ANY string material, even low stretch material, also stretches when held at higher tension ( full draw)."

Is the string actually under MORE tension at full draw?

You guys have way to much time on your Hands. Just shoot your bows you guys worry To much.

Good question Runner.

"Is the string actually under MORE tension at full draw?"

It's not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Most would just assume, yes.

But once the archer grabs the string and begins pulling, the whole dynamic changes, and tension measured at that initial place on the string drops drastically, almost by half, if I remember correctly. Even at full draw it won't get anywhere near the tension it saw at brace.

So.... strings stretch more at brace, and especially upon return to brace at the shot, than they do at full draw.

As for target panic. Well I think in most cases people develop it from being over bowed. I don’t think D97 after wax is settled in and no more is squeezed out. It does not stretch. Yes a wood bow well loose weight and take set sometime. Especially in extreme heat. Same as it will with a heat gun. 90* days change the bows performance. I tell my IBO shooters to change there gap a couple inches on hot days after about 10 targets if need be. It’s something wood bow archers have to feel. Arvin

Yes, that has been covered before on here. I think it was a drop and then back to brace tension at full draw. But stretching? Probably not.

From Pope's book:

By putting a spring scale between one of the bow nocks and the end of the string, the unexpected phenomenon is demonstrated that there is greater tension on a string when the bow is braced but not drawn up. A fifty-six pound bow registers a sixty-four pound tension on the string. As the arrow is drawn up the tension decreases gradually until twenty- six inches are drawn, when it registers sixty-four pounds again.

I'm no expert but if your talking self bows at full draw there is a lot of pressure on the limbs. Some will say it doesn't matter if it's a well made bow and some say let her fly.

I shot my selfbow so many times I had to turn it around and shoot it the other way to bring it back to what it was..............................snicker!!!!!

After about 50 shots my bow gains an unreal amount of pounds.

I know some that hold at full draw and some that don't, I just tell folks to remember Wood has memory Glass don't.The longer you hold a wood bow at full draw the more it remembers.It sure helps if it is well tillered and the strain is spread over the whole limb but it still remembers over time. Pappy

Well said Pappy. I think some woods have a better “memory “ than others.

Some woods are strong in tension.

Some are strong in compression.

Ideally you want one balanced and strong in both.

As for target panic. I was always under the impression that it was a problem with holding at full draw to long”

I’m not a great archer. I just like making and shooting selfbows. I know I have bad habits but I know what I am capable of. I just try to have fun and not sweat a lot of the other stuff.

Bjrogg

PS as for holding a all wood bow at full draw for long periods. I can’t imagine it being good for them.

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