I think it is over rated.

Rick James, do they shoot the non parallel limb bows because they have more hand shock, or is it more because typically parallel limb bows are shorter ATA?

If handshock is at the end of your list what is at the top.

For me:

1. Smooth shooting (no or very little handshock) is the MOST important to me.
2. Quiet, which usually goes hand in hand with the first one.
3. Smooth draw
4. Speed

Handshock and inherent accuracy have ZERO in common. NOTHING.

You guys haven't shot many target bows have you? LOL. Go shoot a Mathews Apex one time and then tell me what your impression of "Handshock" is. Then go ask Tim Gillingham if he thinks it's accurate.

Do the majority of you even know what "Handshock" is? What is it?Seriously....... Is it recoil? Is it vibration?
It's an overrated made up term that is simply a product of bow geometry combined with energy output and in reality will be felt in varying degrees by all shooters anyway because we all grip a bow slightly differently.
Has nothing to do with how accurate a bow is or can be.

If you want a quiet hunting bow buy a quiet bow, if you want a super fast longer ATA 3D bow don't also expect it to be the same as the "Quiet hunting bow"
Goes for any make model or manufacturer.

My opinion is that technology and materieals have come so far that we're all spolied as far as shot feel goes.
Go find your old Golden Eagle "Battleaxe" from 1994, fire a few shots with arrows at 5grs per lb of draw weight and then pick up ANY bow from today and then tell me your impression of handshock and how it relates to anything.

I think it's because the non parallel limb bows have less riser reflex in them typically at a given ATA/brace height, and also balance much better when outfitted with target accessories as well, they tend to not be as top heavy. I have also heard that a lot of the guys shooting at this level also prefer some level of "handshock" to help read whats going on with their shot execution, I know I do.

As Matt said, accuracy and handshock do not affect each other.........if someone doesn't like it, it's purely personal preference and that thats OK too.

Shooting a bow that buzzes your hand every shot is not a very fun thing to do. I shoot too much to accept that. I shot the Dream Season bow and it was rediculous feeling on the shot. I wouldn't shoot that bow for free.

Wanting hand shock in a bow is like saying there isn't enough recoil from my shotgun. I like toreduce recoil in my guns to improve my accuracy and make it more comfortable to shoot. Same with hand shock.

i guess that's why some people prefer a harley over a gold wing... they like the feel of it instead of the sterile sewing machine like ride of the 'wing...

I think its more marketing than anything, just another selling point. I played baseball for many years so maybe handshock/vibration doesnt register as much to me.

Not necessarily. Some years back one of the pros was tearing up the circuit with a low end bow and the company (Hoyt) finally had to tell him to knock it off and use a more expensive one. He was ruining sales on their high end bows by showing the cheaper oneswere just as good.

IMO, a bow that has a lot of handshock has two problems. First, the tiller probably isn't set right. Second, the shooter isn't using enough arrow weight. You can't always eliminate all the handshock, but you can certainly tone it down a good bit with a proper tune job and more arrow weight.

But you don't know what handshock is until you've shot a Jerry Hill longbow. Those darn things kick like a mule, maybemake a couple of your teeth swap holes. Fling an arrow out of one of those bad boys and then you'll never gripe about handshock with a compound again.