Traditional Archery Discussions on the Leatherwall


Longbow hand shock

Messages posted to thread:
Caveman 23-Dec-22
Orion 23-Dec-22
Orion 23-Dec-22
Moleman1 23-Dec-22
Kelly 23-Dec-22
fdp 23-Dec-22
Scoop 23-Dec-22
Bigdog 21 23-Dec-22
B.T. 23-Dec-22
Caveman 23-Dec-22
Jim 23-Dec-22
Caveman 23-Dec-22
Beendare 23-Dec-22
Beendare 23-Dec-22
Jim 23-Dec-22
Jim 23-Dec-22
Tim Cousineau 23-Dec-22
bodymanbowyer 23-Dec-22
M60gunner 23-Dec-22
Pauljr 23-Dec-22
bodymanbowyer 23-Dec-22
Bushytail 23-Dec-22
Caveman 23-Dec-22
TGbow 23-Dec-22
Longcruise 23-Dec-22
Yewbender 23-Dec-22
fdp 23-Dec-22
John Sullins 23-Dec-22
mahantango 24-Dec-22
bowhunt 24-Dec-22
shade mt 24-Dec-22
Tradarcher4fun 24-Dec-22
TGbow 24-Dec-22
jk 24-Dec-22
Caveman 24-Dec-22
TGbow 24-Dec-22
fdp 24-Dec-22
GUTPILEPA 25-Dec-22
Caveman 25-Dec-22
Longcruise 25-Dec-22
Bustednock 02-Feb-25
carpenter #777 02-Feb-25
2 bears 02-Feb-25
Zbone 02-Feb-25
Flyman 02-Feb-25
Flyman 02-Feb-25
Phil Magistro 02-Feb-25
Juancho 02-Feb-25
Juancho 02-Feb-25
GUTPILEPA 03-Feb-25
casekiska 03-Feb-25
mamba-ny 04-Feb-25
B.T. 04-Feb-25
CritterGitter62 04-Feb-25
monkeyball 04-Feb-25
bugsy 49 04-Feb-25
Bentstick81 04-Feb-25
From: Caveman
Date: 23-Dec-22




I just received a Stewart Slammer 66” longbow in a trade and am surpised at how much handshock this bow has. Shooting carbon and cedars from 10-12gpi. Changed BH several times, tried split and three under with no change.

From the Stewart’s Archery website “there is not a trace of hand shock with these longbows”

Any experience with these bows would be much appreciated.

From: Orion Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




Until bows become 100% efficient, i.e., all the energy of the limbs transferred to the arrow, there will always be hand shock. Some bows have more than others, some are more sensitive to it, but there's always some there.

If your bow seems particularly bad, the limbs may be somewhat out of time/tiller and need retillering, may never have been tillered correctly to begin with, but Stewart has a pretty good reputation.

Might take a look at your string. A dacron string results in more hand shock than a low stretch string.

Also check the brace height. If it's too low, it can contribute to substantial hand shock.

Finally consider arrow weight. The lighter the arrow, the more hand shock. Should have at least 9-10 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight, IMO, though others might say you can go lower, say 8 gpp.

If it's not one or a combination of the factors above, you might just have to live with it. Good luck.

From: Orion Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




I should add, that a one-piece longbow, because it is so physically light, will usually have more hand shock than a recurve or other design that has a much heavier riser. A heavy riser absorbs a lot of hand shock.

If you've shot primarily recurves to this point and the longbow is new to you, it will feel more hand shockey. Don't know if that's your situation, but a possibility.

From: Moleman1
Date: 23-Dec-22




I don't know if you came from a recurve background but if you did, it will definitely be noticeable. Having shot ASL's most of my adult life I don't notice hand shock simply because I'm conditioned to it. Arrow weight, and brace height are significant factors, string material might be as well. Just becoming accustomed to it, is part of it as well.

From: Kelly
Date: 23-Dec-22




Pardon me for asking this but are you used to shooting a ASL longbow?

From: fdp
Date: 23-Dec-22




The Slammer isn't an ASL I don't believe. I'm guessing your brace height is out of whack.

From: Scoop Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 23-Dec-22




Orion describes my experience. For me, string, brace height, and heavy arrows in that order. And some bows just seem to have more manners, period. And like Kelly is noting, you also get use to it and maybe even adapt to a different (better) grip over time. I rarely notice any hand shock any more, especially if tuned to fit me. That's with a lot of arthritis in my bow hand (maybe from all those years of thinking I didn't feel anything!)

From: Bigdog 21
Date: 23-Dec-22




Use to shoot nothing but longbows hybrids one pcs. There was always a few I could fill it. I got a new tomahawk and zero hand shock. About 6 months later went to a new recurve shot it all summer. Then came hunting season so I pick the tomahawk to use went out to shoot some and was shocked how much hand shock I was filling. About a month and it didn't bother me Any more. Use of ff string will help some. Silencers out closer to limbs will help with string vibration ,more brace hights helps . Then try a lose grip then a tight grip see if it helps. Sounds like arrow wt. Is not the issue your plenty heavy.

From: B.T.
Date: 23-Dec-22




I fixed the hand shock with a Hill Big 5 by selling the beautiful bow to someone else. It was a beautifully made bow with a Gaboon ebony riser and Bamboo limbs with horn tips. I tried my best to handle that bow, with no success.

From: Caveman
Date: 23-Dec-22




Thanks for the responses guys. I shoot a lot of ASL, hybrid longbows, recurves, some one piece and some three piece takedowns. Anywhere from 50 inches up to 70 with all types of arrows and have never felt this type of hand shock. FF string with silencers and tried a few different grip styles. I’ll try to raise BH but it’s at the recommended 7.25-7.5”

Just odd that the website states this design is made to shoot light carbon arrows with good cast and no hand shock.

From: Jim Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




I have been shooting ASL’s for a long time and all I use is B50 strings. All of my arrows are 9 to 11 GPP of bow. Never had a so called hand shock problem.

From: Caveman
Date: 23-Dec-22




And yes the Slammer is an R/D longbow

From: Beendare
Date: 23-Dec-22




All of the longbows have hand-shock to different degrees.

You might have to have your dentist check your fillings after shooting the one piece Hill style bows.

Guys that are partial to them downplay the handshock.

From: Beendare
Date: 23-Dec-22




All of the longbows have hand-shock to different degrees.

You might have to have your dentist check your fillings after shooting the one piece Hill style bows.

Guys that are partial to them downplay the handshock.

From: Jim Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




“Guys that are partial to them downplay the handshock”. Not at all Beendare. If it has hand shock I’d admit it. I get tennis elbow when I shoot a reflex/ reflex longbows and I own 3 of them.

From: Jim Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




Sorry should be deflex/reflex.

From: Tim Cousineau
Date: 23-Dec-22




Dont lock your bow hand elbow.

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 23-Dec-22




Lot of guys going from recurve to a longbow. Complain about hand shock or wrist lap. It's because they're not holding the bow grip the way the bow wants to be held. Therefore they complain about hand shock or massive wrist lap JF

From: M60gunner
Date: 23-Dec-22




It can also be an old age thing. I had a ASL that I shot for 10+ years without “hand shock “ . But arthritis set in and it became unbearable even using 12 grain + arrows. Now my Wes Wallace LB’s which are R/D with 9-10 grain arrows have no shock or noise at all. I wonder about the use of G-10 for the risers in an ASL if that would help calm them down? I know lead has been added by some bowyers to add weight and foam under the leather grip material.

From: Pauljr Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




Hi, Stewart’s are all I shoot, I have multiple and also the original RD longbow. The brace height should be around 7” per Leon. I shoot mine at 7.25 and there is no hand shock. I shoot arrows around 12 gpp.

The string should be 14 strand FF, they don’t like the super low stretch materials, those are like shooting a steel cable. I make mine from the new 8125, I’m told that’s the same as the old FF plus. Hope this helps

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 23-Dec-22




I can see where arthritis would cause a problem. And I also believe that a good heavy riser makes a difference. And the geometry and shape of the bow. Keep those limb tips light and small. Little bit goes with a good string. Not much. That's just for quietness. That's my thoughts and findings. JF

From: Bushytail Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 23-Dec-22




Try calling Leon Stewart to see what he says.

From: Caveman
Date: 23-Dec-22




I’ll likely call Leon after the holidays to see what he was. Was just told that his recommended brace height is measured from the back of the riser not throat if the grip. I have a 6 longbows and honestly this is the only one I experience any hand shock with.

From: TGbow
Date: 23-Dec-22




No doubt some bows have more handshock than others. Everyone perceives handshock different. For me, I'd rather feel a little handshock than feel a lot going on in the limbs.

Sounds like Brian knows how to tune a bow and knows what to try. I recently had a custom bow that was very well built and shot really good but no matter what I did it had some vibration in the limbs..sometimes it can be the tiller or just the design.

From: Longcruise
Date: 23-Dec-22




Guess that 'splains why it's called a "Slammer".

Seriously, how you grip the bow can be an issue.

From: Yewbender
Date: 23-Dec-22




Leon’s Slammer has a more radicial deflex/reflex design than a standard R/D longbow. Also the Slammer is not an ASL. I have had 3 of his bows, R/D, 60” Slammer, and 64” Slammer which is the only one i still own. No handshock with mine and the countless other Slammers i shot that others own. Leon measures BH from back of arrow shelf, not back of grip. My Slammer BH is 7 1/4. I shoot 55/60 POC and they zip out of that bow. I don’t shoot it much cause i love my slower ASL’s!!!

From: fdp
Date: 23-Dec-22




It's not likely grip, because the OP has considerable experience. And it's not likely tiller because Leon Stewart built it.

I'm still sticking with brace height.

From: John Sullins
Date: 23-Dec-22




Try a B50 or B55 Dacron string and raise the brace.

From: mahantango
Date: 24-Dec-22




Old Yewbender knows his Stewarts and ASLs. I'd try raising the brace height.

From: bowhunt
Date: 24-Dec-22




It should not stand out as far as handshock compared to your other bows in my experience.I had a few slammers.

Go ahead and raise the BH since you said it should be measured from the back of the bow.I dont remember mine needed to be abnormaly high compared to any other hybrid lonebows that are typically around 7 to 7 1/2 measured from the throat of the grip.But it is a longewr bow and maybe go higher than you think to get the limbs to dampen out.

Even though you got a FF string it could be a crappy string or one thats not working well on that bow.Might try a SBD string or 10 ring and see.

Other than that as mentioned all ready it could be out of tiller and the limb timing is off.Hope not but its possible.Doesnt mean its the Bowyers fault.Things can happen.I would be confident the bow was tillered correctly when it left the shop!

Do the limbs look straight unstrung full length with the tips lining up on both ends and same thing strung up.Check the limbs.

From: shade mt
Date: 24-Dec-22




I've come to the conclusion we are all different, some mind things more than others, etc..etc...

One guy gets sick and really minds it, next guy heh? yea he's sick but ya know...

One guy gets cold, next guy, heh? yea he's cold too but ya know?..

and on and on..

personally i don't mind feeling a thump when i shoot a longbow, in fact i kind of like it. Is it different than shooting my recurves?, yes, i just don't mind it, and don't expect it to be the same.

have no experience with the bow mentioned, but i'll bet if you do enough research you will find some guys like them, others heh?...you know....

heavier arrows, brace height, string, and where you place your silencers, all make a difference no matter what bow you are using.

From: Tradarcher4fun
Date: 24-Dec-22




I'm a long time Leon Stewart fan. I have 2 Slammers and 2 R/D bows. No hand shock with any of them. They are quiet and smooth as butter. BH are between 7 - 7.25".

From: TGbow
Date: 24-Dec-22




The string can make a big difference. I was shooting a Don Dow one time and it felt like crap, vibration, loud, ..it had a fast flight string on it. Changed the string to another low stretch material, it felt like I was shooting a completely different Bow. Not only the string material but how well the string is built can make a big difference.

From: jk
Date: 24-Dec-22




Shade has it. However some bows are bad news because, just because. Dump em and move along.

From: Caveman
Date: 24-Dec-22




Think I have a 68” Bodnik Whisper string that I’ll try next and correct the BH. I was definitely measuring that wrong.

From: TGbow
Date: 24-Dec-22




Chase, I've had a few recurves that liked B50 better but most mild r/d longbows I've shot a low stretch string was better

From: fdp
Date: 24-Dec-22




The "behavior" of a bow is a personally subjective thing. What some folks find to be pleasant others may not.

You set your bows up the way YOU want them. Nobody else's opinion matters

From: GUTPILEPA
Date: 25-Dec-22




I would have to agree with Shade Mt

From: Caveman
Date: 25-Dec-22




Gutpilepa. I have over 20 bows and whole a few have some degree of hand shock, non of them bother me much. I had to put this Stewart Slammer down after only a dozen arrows because my hand hurt so bad. Really it’s awful. The original poster said there is now hand shock at all and it’s super smooth. I’m using the same string and setup as it was sold and it’s really not good.

Read above where I’ve tried many different things ti try to mitigate that. Going yo try a new string and change brace height significantly hoping it helps. Most likely this coming week when I can get some time.

From: Longcruise
Date: 25-Dec-22




Have you had anyone else try shooting the bow? Might help determine if it's the. Shooter or the bow.

Have you checked the tiller with a bow square? If it seems ok at the fades, check it further along the limb at measured points. If you see anomalies, even minor ones, do it again on a tillering stick.

Just some different things to think about.

From: Bustednock Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 02-Feb-25




Any updates? Did you ever find a way to get along with the bow or just pass it on to someone else?

From: carpenter #777
Date: 02-Feb-25




I have owned a lot of bows, and my Slammer is my favorite. Smooth quick and quiet.

From: 2 bears
Date: 02-Feb-25




You have experience. Your arrow weight is better than good. Check the tiller with a bow square. Check with the bowyer. Anyone can make a mistake. >>>----> Ken

From: Zbone
Date: 02-Feb-25




Read Jay Massey wrote deflex helps reduce hand shock... Is that agreeable?

From: Flyman
Date: 02-Feb-25




I have had bunch of Slammers.I would brace it a bit higher.I think that would work.I also had a quiver on mine,that should help too.They really are great shooting bows.Best of luck with it.

From: Flyman
Date: 02-Feb-25




I have had bunch of Slammers.I would brace it a bit higher.I think that would work.I also had a quiver on mine,that should help too.They really are great shooting bows.Best of luck with it.

From: Phil Magistro
Date: 02-Feb-25




Handshock can be a result of bad tillering - which I would not expect from any Leon bow. It could also depend on whether the bow is tillered for three under and shot split. And, depending on how the bow is designed, how you grip the bow. Most reflex/deflex longbows can be shot with a recurve type grip while most ASLs need the whole hand on the riser.

From: Juancho
Date: 02-Feb-25




I have felt quite a bit of hand shock from a few longbows. Some were painful some, not so much. I fixed the hand shock problem for good, by NEVER EVER shooting a longbow ever again. Only recurves for me thanks.

From: Juancho
Date: 02-Feb-25




I have felt quite a bit of hand shock from a few longbows. Some were painful some, not so much. I fixed the hand shock problem for good, by NEVER EVER shooting a longbow ever again. Only recurves for me thanks.

From: GUTPILEPA
Date: 03-Feb-25




I’ve never had had shock with a Reflex Deflex Longbow but did with a D shaped bow I personally found if you shoot a very heavy arrow it will eliminate the shock

From: casekiska
Date: 03-Feb-25




Speaking of hand shock, well known WI pioneer bow-hunter, the late Roy Case was (in the late 1940s) an archery magazine advice columnist and answered inquiries from archers. He jokingly told the story of a letter received from one bowman seeking guidance. The archer wrote. "I just bought one of those new-fangled bows with aluminum limbs. It's a nice bow but there's so much shock when I shoot that my hand gets sore after just a few shots. What can I do to reduce the hand shock?" Case, in jest, penned this answer, "There's not much that can be done to reduce hand shock, especially in a bow with aluminum limbs. My advice to you is to find some archer you don't like and give the bow to him." (This question & answer was never published in the column in the magazine. Case said the magazine's editor would not allow it!)

From: mamba-ny
Date: 04-Feb-25




Thanks Casekiska I needed a good laugh this morning.

From: B.T.
Date: 04-Feb-25




If the hand shock is that bad, its the tiller. There isn’t anything else it could be, Leon Stewart can certainly fix tiller issues.

From: CritterGitter62
Date: 04-Feb-25




Best of luck with the bow, I had a bow from another well known company and no matter what I tried the bow was loud, too loud for my liking, I tried everything from strings to BH, nock height, arrow weight, 3 under, split, silencers. Nothing could tame that bow down. I gave up on it. Hate to say it but no matter who made it, it could very much come down to the bow.

From: monkeyball
Date: 04-Feb-25




Years back I had an early Bear Polar longbow. Never forgot the specs, they were unique......64"- 64# @ 28". Unstrung it had the shape of a big boomarang.

I bought it up at Forksville for $35 and it was pristine. The lams almost looked like Osage with the way the Maple had aged and it had the caramel colored glass. The skived leather handle was like new.

Beyond being a treat to string, when you loosed that string your fillings had better be tight. Talk about a JAR! Fortunately the bow was a shooter and unfortunately I just kept shooting till I did not mind it anymore. It had a beautiful line strung up, and like I said, it shot.

All said, I have owned one bow that I watched get sold at least 5 different times after I sold it. I could not put two groups of arrows in the same spot with it......and apparently it was not just me :)

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

From: bugsy 49
Date: 04-Feb-25




If some thing bothers me right off the bat with a bow, bass, or any thing else I get rid of it. I just made 2 Meare Heath bows that are very wide, and long , and shock your hand, and kick like a mule. They will go to my grandson's. They will make good historical, and conversational pieces, but are no fun to shoot for any length of time. Some times it is just the nature of the beast.

From: Bentstick81
Date: 04-Feb-25




A friend of mine shot a Kentuckian Longbow ( i believe that was the right name) at Cloverdale quite a few years ago, and said when he shot the bow, he swore he saw three targets instead of just one. He took it back to the tent.





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