Thank you for reading our post, please rate this article at the end.
Last Updated on September 4, 2024 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Longbow in 5 Easy Steps
Whether you’re new to archery or have been hitting the target for years, the variety of bow types can get intimidating. Longbows are among the oldest and most traditional pieces of archery equipment. Today, we’ll explore all the different types and their features, so choosing one can be simple.
Key Takeaways:
-
- Types of Longbows:
- English Longbow: This traditional longbow is suitable for target practice and is made from outer wood and heartwood.
- American Longbow: Shorter, higher draw weights, ideal for hunting, incorporates hand-wearing materials like fiberglass.
- Horse Longbow: Shortest, hybrid design, versatile for target archery and hunting.
- Choosing a Longbow:
- Eye Dominance: Determines which hand to use.
- Draw Length: Measure your wingspan divided by 2.5.
- Bow Length: Longer bows offer smoother, more stable shots.
- Draw Weight: This matches your strength level; start low if you are new to archery.
- Brace Height: Adjusts speed and forgiveness of the bow.
- Custom vs. Stock Bows:
- Custom Bows: Tailored to specific needs, which are more expensive.
- Stock Bows: Mass-produced, widely available, recommended to test before buying.
- Types of Longbows:
Summary:
Choosing a longbow involves understanding the different types and their features. The English longbow is traditional and long, making it suitable for target practice. The American longbow, which combines features of the English longbow and American flatbow, is shorter and ideal for hunting due to its higher draw weight. The horse longbow, a hybrid design, offers versatility for both target archery and hunting.
To select the right longbow, consider your eye dominance, draw length (measured by dividing your wingspan by 2.5), bow length for stability, draw weight that matches your strength, and preferred brace height, which affects speed and forgiveness. You also need to decide between custom bows, which are tailored to your needs and more expensive, and stock bows, which are mass-produced and should be tested before purchase. Testing different bows at an archery shop is crucial for finding the best fit.
Different Types of Longbows
-
English Longbow
If you’re looking for the most traditional and recognizable type of bow, the English longbow may be for you. It has a long history and prominence within archery and the film industry. As its name suggests, this style of archery bow comes from England, where Welsh archers used to fight off invaders during war.
The English longbow is relatively long, even for a longbow. Its average length is around five feet! This allows it to accommodate people who need longer bow and draw lengths. Historically, these bows were used in hunting and battles and required plenty of strength to shoot.
These days, most people who shoot English longbows do so for target practice. They can be manufactured with lower draw weights, making them great for the repetitive nature of shooting. Not to mention their advantages for those new to shooting traditional bows.
Shooting the arrow directly from your hand forces you to focus on proper shooting form, breath control, and aim. These bows typically contain a combination of outer wood and heartwood to provide strength and flexibility. The English longbow has always been delivered for archers.
-
American Longbow
Moving onto a relatively newer innovation, meet the American longbow. This style of bow dates back to around the 1930s. It is essentially an evolutionary form of the English longbow combined with the American flatbow.
This archery bow style has been commonly used by indigenous peoples throughout North America. The American longbow is shorter than its English older sibling, the longbow, which has an average length of about four feet.
The American longbow style suits people needing shorter bows and draw lengths. Unlike the English longbow, which has been adapted to have lower draw weights, the core of American longbows is often constructed out of hard-wearing materials, such as fiberglass, which can help it withstand high draw weights.
The added force gained from a higher draw weight makes the bow more ideal for hunting than modern English longbows. The American longbow also features a notch designed to hold the arrow, which lends archers some additional stability over the English longbow. Hunters appreciate having this feature while shooting and in archery lessons.
-
Horse Longbow
The horse longbow is a descendant of a bow used by nomadic hunters in the past and was tested in battle in the Middle Ages. The modern version of the horse longbow is sometimes called a “reflex” or “hybrid” longbow because it curves slightly towards the archer at the center before turning away at the end of the bow.
This style is a longbow that behaves slightly like a recurve bow, giving the archer the power and forgiveness of a longbow. In terms of size, this one is the shortest of longbow styles, reaching about three to four feet. When shopping for a horse longbow, you may notice many different materials.
Because horse longbows have traveled worldwide, a wide variety of designs and materials are used. Each new culture that has adopted the horse bow has added its features and unique elements. The flexibility and diversity of this bow make it perfect for target archers and hunters in archery lessons.
How to Choose a Longbow
Whatever longbow style you choose must be in sync with your body. When choosing a type, the most important details will be based on your preferences and archery needs. Before purchasing a longbow, the most crucial things to consider are eye dominance, draw length, bow length, brace height, and draw height.
-
Eye Dominance
If you are a veteran archer, you’re likely already familiar with ocular dominance and how to use it when choosing a bow. For those new to archery, the term refers to which eye is your dominant one. Figuring out your dominant eye is the first step to choosing a longbow style.
Your dominant eye determines which hand you will shoot the arrow with. For example, if your right eye is dominant, you’ll shoot archery equipment with the right hand. Most people’s dominant hand will match their dominant eye, but taking a test to make sure it never hurts.
-
Draw Length
The next step to choosing the right longbow is understanding your draw length. It measures how far you pull back your bow when shooting an arrow. Measure your draw length with help from a friend, or head to an archery shop for assistance.
There are a few ways to find your draw length at home without professional help. Measure your wingspan or the distance between your middle fingertips when your arms are outstretched. Then, divide that measurement by 2.5.
-
Bow Length
Once you’ve determined your draw length, figuring out the bow length or size is easy. This is a measurement of the distance between the tips of your bow. The longer your bow length, the smoother your shot will be.
Longer bows can provide more stability and allow mistakes to be forgiven during shots. However, your skills will be limited if your bow is too long or too short.
-
Draw Weight
Draw weight determines the force and velocity of your shot. The higher your draw weight, the faster your shot will be. However, according to archery talk, understanding your limits is vital when selecting a weight.
Your draw weight should match your strength level to maintain proper shooting form. If you already use a compound bow, you must reduce your draw weight by at least 15 pounds when switching to a longbow. Those new to archery will want to start with the lowest possible draw weight.
A few exceptions exist, but 35 pounds is generally the lowest draw weight for a longbow. If you’re unable to maintain proper shooting form at this draw weight, you may practice with a different bow first. Finding your preferred draw weight is a process of trial and error, so it’s essential to visit an archery shop and test bows before purchasing one.
-
Brace Height
Determining which brace height you prefer is less about your physical characteristics and more about your archery preferences. It measures the distance between the grip’s deepest point and your bow’s string. The brace height will influence the speed and forgiveness of the bow when you shoot at an archery shop near me.
Luckily, adjusting the brace height on a longbow is simple. You must twist or untwist the bowstring until you have your preferred brace height. Knowing your exact brace height isn’t necessary when choosing a bow, but you should check the manufacturer’s suggestion on the archery accessory before purchasing.
Buying a Longbow
Now that you know which type of longbow best suits your archery needs and how to pick one that fits your skill level, it’s time to make one final choice! Are you going with a custom bow or a stock bow for your archery accessory? Let’s explore the qualities of each longbow type.
A custom bow is precisely what its name suggests: a longbow that’s custom-built or incorporates customizations. To purchase one, you will have to work directly with a bowyer. The price of a custom longbow will depend on the cost of your materials and their labor charges.
A stock bow is a predesigned or prebuilt bow that is mass-produced. You can find them at any local or online archery shop. We should mention, though, that it’s highly recommended in archery talk to test out a bow before purchasing it.
With plenty of information about each type of longbow, making a decision has never been easier. Be sure to head to your local archery shop and test some out before making any significant purchases. If you’re still looking for more information on archery, check out some extra Crow Survival content.
Home page
Back to the top of the page
