The dumbest archery question ever...

[Squidders]

Ok... here goes... If my right arm is stronger than my left and I am right handed and feel best pulling a bow string with my right hand, do I need a right handed bow or a left handed bow? :?:

It's probably completely obvious but I don't know if a right handed bow is for right handed people or indicative of having your right hand on the bow... thus pulling with your left hand. :archer:

Sometimes I’m shamefully stupid you know! :embarasse

 

[Kim]

Well,

I'm right handed, so I hold a bow in my left hand and pull with my right.

P.S like your new avatar!

and the dumbest archery question is probably...how do you switch this on?

 

[Squidders]

Kim yeah... you're right handed... but you hold the bow with your left... so do you need a left handed bow? (and technically speaking... a right handed bow string).

I'm sure a right handed bow is for people who pull the string with the right hand but i'm about to bid on a bow on ebay so need to be sure

p.s. thanks about the avatar... it makes me chuckle

 

[Kim]

Oh, yeah...

crikey how confusing is that! :shock:

 

[Squidders]

yeah... I guess it doesn't help with it being just gone 1am 'n' all :roll:

 

[Kim]

Hang on a minute Squidders...are you ordering more kit...?

:yikes:

LIFT YOUR FINGERS FROM THE KEYBOARD AND STEP AWAY FROM THE CREDIT CARD

 

[Squidders]

LOL, so far, if I win the things i'm bidding for i'm into about £3000 on that damn ebay thing!

My dad actually out bit me on a boat I wanted... how mean is that!?!

 

[Kim]

Do you think that's his way of saying.

SQIDDERS...NO.

):

 

[RovingArcher]

Not a dumb question at all. If you are right handed, you would shoot a bow built for a right handed shooter. You would hold the bow with your left hand and tug on the string with your right hand. The arrow shelf will be on the left side of the bows riser (vertical piece above left hand) as you hold the bow.

Now, lets confuse the issue even more. Are you right eye dominant or left eye dominant? For best accuracy, it is sometimes suggested that you go with your dominant eye. For instance, if you are right handed, but left eye dominant, many say that the shooter should use a left handed bow and draw the bow using their left hand. The exception would be if you would be using a compound bow or crossbow, the eye dominance thing is less important if using site pins or a scope. I know a few shooters that shoot cross dominant, meaning they are left or right eye dominant and shoot the bow using the opposite side of their body. They struggle with accuracy at times as the eyes battle for dominance while aiming. Closing one eye isn't really an option while shooting the more traditional equipment like a longbow, because you lose your depth perception and will only be able to shoot at marked distances.

 

[Rob]

I agree with the above (and it wasn't a stupid question) - but there are always exceptions to the rule.

There is so little difference between my eyes, that I went for Right Handed as that was most comfortable at the time. The problem only comes about if you are "gap" shooting, as hopefully "instictive" shooting will overcome as part of the brain's aiming process.

Then again, instictive archers are more likely to miss anyway - thats my excuse and I am sticking to it.

 

[Squidders]

ok, cool... thanks guys :You_Rock_

I think i'm going to bid on the one I like the look of then...

One last thing... 34 LBS AT 28 INCHES draw weight is about average right? I'm not too bothered about it being too strong coz i'm all rough and tough... I don't want a bow that's going to fire a highly accurate but limp arrow.

 

[RovingArcher]

That is a good beginning weight and a weight that is used by many tournament shooters. You would compensate for the lite weight of the bow by using lite weight arrows, which would give you a slightly faster arrow, which helps to minimize distance estimating errors when shooting at unknown distances.

The actual weight of the bow will depend on your actual draw length when shooting it. If your draw length is under 28", then the weight of the bow will go down approximately 2 1/2# per inch under the listed draw length and will go up that much per inch for every inch over the 28" you draw.

All else being equal, a recurve will cast an arrow better than a longbow. Recurves are known to be easier to shoot, but that depends on many factors. Usually, the longer the bow, the more forgiving of shooting errors in form and release. The opposite being true of shorter bows. A shorter bows limbs will work harder than a longer bow and will, depending on bow design, cast a faster arrow, but again, will be more critical of shooting errors.

 

[Squidders]

Thanks for the information RovingArcher :You_Rock_

 

[alick]

My two pennorth: Far better to have a bow that is comfortable to shoot and that you can aim accurately than choose something with a high draw weight that is more likely to induce bad habits and poor accuracy.

It's a little like the .22 vs .177 thing, at a sufficient distance, there isn't that much in it as thinner lighter arrows lose less energy to drag and certainly don't drop as far.

We all know that lead and feathers fall equally fast in a vacuum, but on that big 60 yard target posted in my gallery, the point of aim that puts a light alloy shaft dead centre puts a heavier wooden arrow over a metre below in its foot !

Cheers

 

[Squidders]

Alick... thanks for the advice... in a month or so I may get back to this but my car just cost me £780 to service so this month i'm a little short and won't be bidding on anything else on that damn ebay thing