symetrical or assymetrical??

[mox1968]

so what are your opinions on this subject,was reading in the bowyers bible design chapter symetrical is best but i see a lot of posts showing upper limbs longer than lower so WHAT ACTUALLY IS BEST??would be interested to see what your opinions are??

[Timo]

I started the popcorn for this one....

I guess I'll start: I have made many both ways. Seems to me that on straight limbed/straight forward,no nonsence self bows,A shorter bottom limb handles,and just feels better in the hand upon release.(at least to me)

On recurves or on bows with flipped tips,symmetrical limbs handle better. I rack my brain trying figure it all out, and have never came up with solid proof to justify saying one way or another.  ie/ all things being equal, (as we all know they are not)

One thing overlooked by many is limb timing,regardless of how you lay out your limbs, push yourself to get them even.For those just starting out, I would advise symmetrical limbs and as their experience advances, build some with asymmetrical limbs. It's how we learn.

 I can tell you that the best shooting bow I have is a straight limbed 58" with a 1" shorter bottom limb.

Open the gates boys!:)

[Pat B]

I used to make asymmetrical bows but now I build them symmetrical. Makes seeing tillering easier for me. I think either way works fine.
  Tim, I like butter and a little cayenne!   

[Justin Snyder]

I make mine symetrical. The math is easier on the symetrical kind. And that is all I have to say on the matter. 

[El Destructo]

I make em Both Ways...aint neither one my Favorite....and I hate Popcorn...of any kind...........

[Josh]

The last bow I finished was a take down straight limbed bow that the bottom limb was one inch shorter than the top limb.  I tried to tiller it on my tree but I never could see the tiller correctly... I ended up tillering it with a mirror and drawing it by hand...  It shoots great though.. But so do my symmetrical bows...   

I like Oriville Redenbockers pour over cheddar popcorn, you know the kind that has the liquid cheese packet?  If you haven't tried it I highly reccomend it guys.     -josh

[zenmonkeyman]

I've found that I can break both symmetrical and non-symmetrical bows.

Popcorn?  How about beer and oreos.  Yum!

[El Destructo]

My Strongest and most Accurate Bow that I have ever built is an Asymtemtrical Osage Bow...with the Bottom Limb being two inches shorter than the Top....Full Draw Pictures look different...but man that Puppy can toss an Arrow!!

Don't care for Beer either....but I sure like Bourbon....and....Nutter Nuttter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies....but not necessarily together....

[Jude]

Popcorn?  How about beer and oreos.  Yum!

The Breakfast of Champions

Never tried asymetrical, but isn't that done to compensate for nocking the arrow above center?

[Gordon]

Asymetrical bows balance nicer in the hand when carrying them - that's the only reason I build them that way.

[Ryano]

Every asymetrical limbed bow I ever made ended up with more set on the upper limb than the shorter lower limb which seems odd.... I prefer symetrical limbs myself.

[Lombard]

Been building them both ways, with good results both ways. Seems to me though that if my asymetrical has slightly stiffer bottom limb it shoots better, and on my symetrical bows if I keep the top limb slightly stiffer, seems better. I am probably wrong, but what the heck, I'm having fun.

[Ryano]

Dave, usualy you would want the lower limb to be stiffer on a symetrical bow and the limbs to be evenly tillered on a asymetrical bow.
That does sound strange.

[Rich Saffold]

Primarily symmetrical on straight bows, but non straight bow wood where the arrow shoots best is where the mark goes..

[Hrothgar]

Generally assymetrical since I make a lot of elbs.

Zenmonkeyman, beer and oreos together? Do you dunk 'em?