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How to choose a longbow?

To choose your bow, you need to consider several criteria, including the intended archery practice, size, power, etc.

Regarding the longbow, since it's a rather basic bow without artifice, its use requires extensive knowledge of both the weapon and archery. This is why the longbow is popular among experienced archers who practice instinctive and intuitive shooting.

Many longbow models are available on the market, but you need to know which one to choose.

How much does a longbow cost

The cost of a longbow is mainly determined by the brand, materials chosen for its construction (wood, plastic, carbon, fiberglass, Micarta, etc.), and the model (design, size, and power). Keeping this in mind, it's worth noting that longbows come in several variations, including:

  • The takedown longbow: like recurve bows, this type of bow can be disassembled into one or three pieces. They are often made from multiple layers of wood and fiberglass.
  • The hybrid longbow: These are long bows equipped with wider limbs that don't always curve towards their tips. In fact, the curve of their limbs starts from the deflex and flattens out to the tip.
  • The modern longbow: this type of longbow uses a reflex/deflex design to optimize its performance compared to recurve bows.
  • The handcrafted longbow: this is a bow from manufacturers, but also from artisanal production made by true specialists in bow making. These bow makers must consider numerous parameters to create a unique object, such as the choice of wood variety, shape work, size, and power for the archer, etc.

Based on these criteria, longbows can be found on the market in a price range from just under 100 euros up to 1000 euros.

How to shoot/aim with a longbow

As we mentioned earlier, the longbow is more focused on instinctive or intuitive shooting. To know how to shoot/aim with your longbow, you simply need to follow a specific technique.

    • Position yourself in a good posture, stable and well-anchored to the ground;
    • Hold the bow handle according to your laterality;
    • Point your bow downward and position the arrow nock on the string, with the shaft on the arrow rest. If you don't have one, you can use your bow hand as an arrow rest;
    • Bring the bow back in front of you;
    • Position your arm (slightly bent) to help push into it while drawing the bow;
    • Draw the string until it contacts your face;
    • While maintaining this position, focus on the target;
    • Work with your back;
    • And release.

Looking at it like this, it's very similar to classical archery. But what really matters in this exercise is being rigorous in technique. In fact, it's the visual intention and repetition of technique that will allow for consistency in shooting.

Also, it's important to know that this gesture is a technique like any other. Therefore, it has both advantages and disadvantages. What's really important is understanding that archery remains an adaptation to each archer.

Best longbow

The best longbow is obviously the one made from yew wood. This tree has a heartwood that resists compression (positioned on the belly of the bow) and sapwood that resists extension (left partially on the back of the bow). This way, the bow becomes more flexible (breaks less and allows for a longer draw), more powerful, and has a greater range. Besides yew wood, you can find other alternative woods for making longbows, such as elm, ash, hazel, oak, etc.

Some manufacturers opt for exotic wood handles with internal reinforcements for better rigidity and stability. Others focus on Gordon fiber limbs, with Ash core and veined Olive wood outer layers, reinforced with Micarta fittings.

Tip: Like all thick wooden bows, the longbow requires gradual breaking in to support a long draw. For this, it needs to be waxed regularly to protect it from sun, rain, and wood-eating insects.