how do you "judge" your bows?

[Del the cat]

Does it shoot where I point it?
Is the draw weight what I was after?
Is it smooth and comfortable?
Is the arrow speed ok?
Does it look 'right'

Can sum it up in one phrase.... 'do you want to shoot it?'
I still find I go back to my old Hazel primitive with plenty of set 'cos its sweet comfortable and puts 'em wher I point it.
Del

[Pappy]

I also build hunting bow and can usually tell the first shot out of a bow if I like it or not,smooth draw/durable and hit where I am looking is about all I ask from it.  Speed [to a point] means nothing to me.  Of course I want it to look good but that in below the other 3 for me.
   Pappy

[crooketarrow]

  For years I use to flight shoot my bows when I made them. It shows you how good your cast is with that bow. But through the years I ended up telling how good cast is by just shooting it across the yard at a foam block. Ilike others on here shooting where you look is much more important when your shooting 20 yards. 12 To 15 for me, not that I can't shoot farther I can I just set up all my sites 15 or under.

[Knapper]

Look, Draw, Release . Did it hit the mark. Did feel good in my hand. That's what's important to me as well. A pretty bow is nice to look at on the wall, but a well performing bow is the one I would carry! And if there both than its just a plus.
Knapper

[Tom Leemans]

I like all my bows, but the favorites know who they are.

[lostarrow]

Harshly. That's what keeps me building. The whole I can do better  or different attitude

[toomanyknots]

Look, Draw, Release . Did it hit the mark. Did feel good in my hand. That's what's important to me as well. A pretty bow is nice to look at on the wall, but a well performing bow is the one I would carry! And if there both than its just a plus.
Knapper

I second all of this.

[Ifrit617]

Durability and ease/comfort of shooting.

Jon

[dragonman]

I like the challenge of getting the most out of the wood without deforming it, ie, without over stressing any part of it, with too much compression or tension. I think the set the bow takes (if  any) shows this exactly...the perfect design for a piece of wood will produce the least set...
secondly, is the hand shock or residue vibration...I really dont like this.....if it has no set and no vibration its a winner.....Thats me anyway ( not that I've fully achieved this ..yet)

oh and dont forget beauty is very important too....3rd on the list

Dave

[dbb]

Look, Draw, Release . Did it hit the mark. Did feel good in my hand. That's what's important to me as well. A pretty bow is nice to look at on the wall, but a well performing bow is the one I would carry! And if there both than its just a plus.
Knapper

I second all of this.

+1