Longbow Shooting Tips

Longbows provide a unique archery experience. With some basic longbow shooting tips and knowhow, you can enjoy a more traditional archery experience akin to the days of horses and armor. In other words, if you’re seeking the classic archery style, a longbow should fit the bill.

Unique Longbow Capabilities

While longbows don’t offer more power or speed than  compound or recurve bows, they do offer some unique advantages. A big reason why many hunters and archers enjoy longbows is because of their simplicity.

It really doesn’t get more to-the-point than a piece of wood and a string. With some basic longbow shooting tips under your belt, you can enjoy a no-frills shooting experience — just you and the bow.

Beyond offering a more pure, traditional feel, longbows are much easier to maintain than other bows. Less parts means less that can go wrong, so you shouldn’t have to worry about anything beyond changing the string as needed or desired.

Many hunters also appreciate longbows because of their resistance to weather. While a compound bow may not be ideal in rainy weather or snow, a longbow delivers consistent performance because of its simplicity. Longbows are also less prone to rusting due to the lack of metal parts.

Technical Differences

One of the most important longbow shooting tips is that you need to be aware of the technical differences between longbows and compound bows. The biggest one is that longbows are more forgiving, meaning that you’re more likely to hit your target even if your execution isn’t perfect. Compound bows, on the other hand, generally demand more precision.

Longbows are also typically much lighter than compound bows, so they’re ideal for long hunting trips. While they may be lighter to carry, longbows do require more draw weight. While compound bows relieve some of the weight associated with a full draw, longbows demand that you’re able to wield the weight entirely on your own.

If you’re used to shooting a compound bow, one of the most important longbow shooting tips is that your arrow isn’t going to travel as fast as it would with a compound bow, so you’ll need to compensate for distance and adjust your shooting style accordingly.

Top 3 Difficult Longbow Skills to Master

Here are some of the biggest challenges associated with longbow shooting:

1. Long-Distance Shooting

As a general rule of thumb, longbows don’t shoot as far as compound bows. This is because compound bows have mechanisms that reduce the draw weight required to shoot faster and further. It would take a tremendous amount of strength to generate the same amount of draw weight, so you may want to start by focusing on short-distance shooting.

2. Follow Through

One of the most essential longbow shooting tips is that you must keep your entire body as still as possible even after releasing the arrow. Many experts recommend that you don’t even check the target until you’ve heard the arrow hit it. Even a very minor movement can drastically alter the course of the arrow.

3. The Release

While learning to properly release a longbow shouldn’t be too difficult, mastering it can take a lifetime. There are many different release techniques, and it’s going to take some experimenting to discover which one works best for you.

Trusted Longbow Makers

If you’re interested in pursuing longbow shooting, it’s important that you get started on the right foot. A quality bow goes a long way in making your experience enjoyable while also helping you to perform your best. After all, no amount of longbow shooting tips will help you if you’re not using quality equipment.

Here are some brands that make quality longbows:

• Bear Archery
• Martin Archery
• October Mountain Products
• Southland Archery Supply (the Pioneer is a great beginner’s longbow)
• PSE Archery

Recommended Strings

A bow is only as good as its string. If your bow is Fast Flight compatible, 8125Gmaterial is a  great options. If your bow isn’t Fast Flight compatible, Dacron bowstring material is ideal.

The next step is to select the right string size. You’ll want to buy a string that’s three inches shorter than the bow’s unstrung AMO length. Most longbows have the AMO specs stamped on them, but if not, simply unstring the bow and measure from one string groove to the other, making sure to follow the curve of the limbs and along the belly of the bow.

Save on Professional Longbow Strings

If these longbow shooting tips have piqued your interest, why not give one a try? You may find that the simplistic design provides a different yet rewarding shooting experience. We’re proud to offer the finest  longbow strings so you can get the most out of your new hobby. Call us at 724-525-3972 or contact us online or by email or live chat if you have any questions.