I judge on several points. The first judgment is on the wood character. Everything else goes off of what I have to work with. After that is tiller,the tiller must be perfect or I am not satisfied. It will literally keep me up at night. Another point is workmanship. I want no tool marks, smooth transitions, and good design and form to the bow. After that, how it shoots. I cant blame a bow for accuracy, thats all me, and the arrow. But I do not like hand shock or noise. All these steps i progress though, and do not pass each one without being happy with it. Sometimes though, I do have to, how should I put it, compromise. And I hate it, but sometimes a stick just wont work with you.