Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Or...is it? We're talking bows, here.

I don't hunt the west.....nor do I walk miles to stand (all walks are under 1mi.). The weight of my bow shouldn't really matter, then, right? Why does it matter so much to so many?

I don't know the answer....but it's a helluva marketing scheme.

When we shoot 3D....we're trying to make our bows as accurate as we can. In doing so....we KNOWINGLY and READILY add weight to them. It has to be a fact that a heavier bow is more accurate. I can hold a baseball bat steadier than I can a golf shaft with no head attached.

So what's the draw to these lighter bows?

I hope to learn something, here.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I like a heavier bow because I believe there will be less hand shock and less noise. But thats not what you were asking is it?

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

You said it

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

If you hunt out west a lot, you'll find yourself tracking very long distances. As time goes on, carying that bow just makes it feel heavier and heavier. I would say this is primarily why someone would want a lighter bow. Heavier bows may help with accuracy to a point, but most of the modern bows (light or not) are very accurate anyway. So I think it basically boils down with starting out with a lighter bow in the first place, because by the end ofa long out west hunt that bow is going to feel 2-3 times heavier.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I prefer weight being an OPTION. I don't want a bow rig that weighs 10lbs... but IF I did,.... I'd prefer to add the weight myself, in the form of stabilizers and such.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I prefer a heavy bow. I don't like stabilizers though. I don't know why I don't like them they just make the bow feel funny to me I have tried several and none of them did I like.

I have shoot a light bow before and shot it very well. I have a Bowtech Independence now and it is pretty heavy and I love the bow. It may be long it may be slow compared to the bows now a days (I have already done the speed thing) but dang it draws easy and is plenty maneuverable in the stand even though I haven't had it out in the woods yet but have had it in a stand in the yard.

It is flat where I hunt so hills are no problem and all my stand are under 3/4 mile. So a light bow just is not needed.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

For us easterners, I don't see a big deal, 99% of the time we're hunting, the bow is sitting on a hook in the tree! Out west, where you hike around a lot more, it may be an issue. However it's not something you can't get use to! My bow is not light, not heavy either, but it didn't bother me when I had it out elk hunting, hiking with it for hours at a time. They don't carry all the easy though, sure you can just grab the handle and go, but that gets old quick. Next time I go I will bring a bow sling.

One thing I didn't like when I had a light bow, was that I shoot without the bow quiver on all year, then put it on for hunting. I noticed a HUGE difference in how the bow balanced and couldn't get use to it, I hunted with a hip quiver that year. Now when I put the bow quiver on, its a bit ofa difference, but nothing I can't get use to in a few shots.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I've had relatively heavy bows in the past but now I've got a really light bow. Admittedly the light weight took some getting used to. ShorterA-A usually goes hand in hand with light weight and that causes more problems than the weight itself for some hunters.

I practice alot so I've gotten used to my bow and I ampretty accurate with it. Ilike being able to maneuver it around easy and also holding it at full draw for an extended period of time isn't an issue like it might be with a heavier bow. Sure, I hear the "kid's bow" jokes, but that's ribbing I can take. Plus,I like to a long stab with weight out frontandyou can add it to a lightbow without making it unbearable.

Here's what it boils down to for me: If the bow can do everything I want it to do I'd rather carry a lighter bow. That's just me.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I shot a High Country for years and when they came out with their all carbon bows, I was one of the first to jump on in and get one. I shot two different all carbon High Country bows, both weighing in under 3lbs fully equiped. They were terrible on the 3D course, if there was any wind at all you were screwed. I signed my deal with Hoyt and was worried about the "all" the weight a Hoyt brought to the table. I have been shooting the Hoyt now for about 8 months and can honestly say that a heavier bow is much more accurate than a light bow. I think that marketing scheme is going away as I have heard that HCA is now not producing their all carbon bows any more and going back to a heavier bow. I think light bows were an improvement idea that came and is now going away quickly.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I like a light bow. It's one of the biggest reasons I sold my Apex series Mathews bows and now have the Constitution. For me, a good neutral balance of the bow (left/right - front/back) is VERY important to me. Also it is important to fine tune my holding pattern by having a perfect mix of the bows mass weight as compared to holding weight at full draw. A light bow allows me to fine tune these things the way I want them, rather than dealing with the weight that came on the bow from the factory. This is VERY important in my opinion.

Add in to this fact that weight is usually best when added furthest away from the bows center, and now it makes a lot of sense. Now you can add the weight at the ends of the stabilizers rather than have it on the actual bow.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Translate this to hunting.

Why is a light hunting bow (when we're talking about the difference in weight being most times less than 1 pound) so important to many? I don't have an opinion as to why the heavier bow ISN'T "our" best option. It would seem, for hunting, that it would be. Wouldn't a heavier bow (in theory) be quieter?

Again...I don't know.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Lighter isn't better. And for a very long time compounds were very heavy. But it's not really what people want to carry around. Although I think they were better as far as accuracy.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

IMO no, but what the heck do I know

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

For me lighter isn't better. I don't shoot a light bow very well at all. Come to think of it, I don't shoot any bow real well but I shoot a light much much worse than a heavy bow.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

For the record....I shoot a "lighter" bow. Just asking about the NEED for that, though.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

(Good question)
I don`t know jeff it may be like you sead just another selling point.
But when i look at buying a bow I seem to look at all points.
Bow for bow? Including the weight"

Why i look at the weight?
I think its like in the back of my mind that i see myself carring that thingall around through the woods for long distances on a hot dayor something? "i guess"

I know i don`t like carring any extra weight around if i don`t need to..

As far as shooting is concerned? I like a little weight.
Somewhere around a 4lb bow with all the other extra`s on it, sights, ect.. is plenty for me.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

To me lighter is worse. I am above average fo size so I have never payed any attention to weight of anything I might be carrying even though I sometimes walk long distances tho maybe that will change as I get older. The reason lighter is worse to me is it is harder to hold steady and shoot accurately, especially in any wind. 'Noise' results from too many other variables in bow design IMO for me to consider in conjunction with weight.

You have made me curious though. I dont know the exact weight of my fully loaded bow, I just know it is heavy, I will have to weigh it sometime. I think it is about 8lbs w/ all accessories and quiver & arrows attached (detached when on stand).

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I dont know! What I do know is, I like a longer ATA, slightly heavier bow for form and performance reasons. I have never hunted the mountainous regions of the western states, soit may very well be a factor for those that do, but that is just a small fraction of short, light bows sold. I would say it has more to do with the speed factor and marketing.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Lighter is not better for me either. I usually counter it with accessories anyway but what are we talking, a lb?

I remember back and I think it was quik that condemned a certain bow for it's heavier stature, I think the difference was less than a lb.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Jeff - My preferred lighter bows once dressed and with accessories/stabilizer/counter weightswill likely weigh the same as a heavier bow. The lighter bow simply allows me to add the weight where I want it, rather than where it is machined into the bow. What this boils down to when the rubber meets the road.......is improved holding pattern, better stability, more accuracy, and more confidence in my shot. Whether I'm shooting at paper, foam, or a critter, it's an advantage in my eyes.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Well put.;) Thanks.

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Heavy is better for me. I'm a shaky guy - so I need all the "dampening" I can get...

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

Even if you do walk alot with your bow to your blind/stand, I have 3 words for you:

Primos Bow Sling

I'm not a big fan of "lighter is better".

Rob

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I use a 99 Hoyt and back then they were calling it a anchor at 37" and well I like this way.;)


T

RE: Why is lighter...."better"?
 

I am not saying lighter is better but I shoot an HCA TSSR which is extremely light. It is pretty accurate but not as quiet as I like...and it is not as easy to keep steady as my other bow. But the accuracy is not affected enough for me to care. I still shoot tight groups.
I would say lighter just makes it easier to maneuver