Traditional Bows – What Really Are They?

As you might or might not know, archery is not as simple as picking a bow and some arrows. There are different types of bows, all with unique characteristics and suited to different kinds of archery. Especially if you are new in the field of archery, with all the types of bows around, choosing one can get quite complicated. Among longbows, crossbows, traditional bows, recurve bows or compound bows, which one is best for you?

If you want to have a “classic” archery experience, similar to those you might be seeing in movies, the best type of arch would be a traditional bow. But before you choose to pick that one up, you should know what to expect.

What Is a Traditional Bow?

First of all, you should be aware that there are two types of traditional bows, which are longbows and recurve bows. Here, we are going to focus mainly on longbows.

A traditional longbow has fewer whistles and bells than other types of bows. The idea is to “go back to the basics” and avoid using modern technology. When using a traditional bow, you’ll experience archery more naturally, with intuition and your skills being the primary supports that will help you hit the target.

Most types of traditional longbows are made of yew wood, which is a versatile type of wood, that can stand compression and tension, making it a good bow.

What Are The Pros and Cons Of Traditional Bows?

As with anything, choosing to use a traditional bow has its advantages but also its downsides. The great thing about using traditional longbows is that you’ll be able to master your skills as an archer considerably. The sense of satisfaction of hitting the target with such a bow is not comparable to the one you have using more modern bows, that are equipped with different assistive technology. But the lack of technology does make longbows harder to use. Especially for beginners, it can get quite frustrating. The precision and speed of traditional bows are a lot less than that you’ll experience using modern bows, but if you’ll be able to shoot and hit the target with a traditional bow, you can consider yourself quite skilled.

When Is It Best To Use A Traditional Bow?

The best use of a traditional bow is for target archery, even though it comes down to personal preference. Because these kinds of bow tend to be heavy and large, it can be difficult to walk around the field with them. However, if you are comfortable using it, and you have the necessary skills to overcome the lack of accuracy, you can perform very well with these bows. After all, these were the bows traditionally used in warfare.

How To Choose A Traditional Bow?

Once you’ve decided to go for a traditional bow, you’ll need to be able to pick the best for you. You must choose one that is roughly the same height as you. Not only the height is important, but you should also consider the weight of the bow. You need to be able to hold your bow comfortably to shoot, meaning that you’ll have to lift it without too much effort. However, remember that there should be a balance between the weight and your comfort, as heavier longbows will support more draw weight, which in turn will increase the speed of your arrows. On the other hand, the lighter the bow, the slower the speed, which will also hurt your accuracy.

Thus, depending on your skills, you might want to go for a heavier longbow, as long as you feel that you can comfortably hold it and that you’ll be able to aim at your target effectively.

The Bottomline About Traditional Bows

If you are looking for a challenge, traditional bows can be fun to use and will help you practice your skills and perfect your accuracy. While modern bows come with technology that will support you and will provide you with more precision and accuracy, traditional bows offer you a more natural experience. If you are a beginner, a traditional bow might not be the best choice for you, as it can get quite frustrating. If you want to practice target archery but you want to try something different, using a traditional bow might do the trick. After all, you’ll never know until you try it!