Primitive Archer

I've recently read something interesting, I don't know if it's relevant here and it sounds relatively risky anyhow:

Some flight archers shooting to break records will intentionally overdraw a lighter bow, say a 45# @ 28" drawn to 50# @ 30" (hypothetical numbers). Rather than shoot a bow that has been tillered to 50# @ 30# off the bat. I wish i could remember where i read this. It seems like a way to under build a bow on target for very dangerously low mass intentionally and squeeze the very most out of a flight bow. Maybe it also ensures compressive stress is kept to an absolute minimum prior to shooting.

Does this ring true or make sense?

Robert, thats 99% correct, at least to what I try to do when it all comes together. I will design a bow to pull 50@26, and tiller it out to be 44@24 and stop, never actually hitting 50 pounds ever on the scale. When it comes time to shoot the bow in flight, the ideal situation is the first time it ever hits 50 is at the weigh in, so its fresh. I make my arrow rest adjustable so that if its a little over and hits 50@25.5, I can move the rest to that position allowing my draw to be spot on.

Sure thing!

Here is Bentstick54's Osage orange flatbow:

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,73501.0.html

Looks like a decent cook for corrections Arvin.  I’m sure you’ll straighten it out in no time. 

Any limb twist in a bow causes a torsional load to be applied when drawn. That laod takes up some of the energy you put into the bow but adds nothing to the draw length, so its parasitic. Releasing the string the bow twists back to its normal profile but none of that energy release goes into the arrow. It wont make an arrow faster and it reduces the efficiency of the bow.

I disagree with Jim GOD bless his soul. If the wiggles and humps can cause any shock it slows the bow down. Not saying it won’t shoot pretty good just not as fast but they are interesting to look at and a challenge to build. Well the internet has come to a crawl on PA again! Maybe to many adds to load fast.