Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Simple question. In nearly every review about a bow on this forum or in any magazine people mention these two things as a significant factor, or at least a factor worth mentioning.

I dont get it. Why would either of them matter. Neither of them have much to do with accuracy, bow performance or aiming. I know some of you will argue that hand shock has something to do with accuracy since a bow with none is obviously a little more stable in the hand during the time from release to arrow out of the bow. But in the days before VFT I didnt really hear anyone squawking about how inacurate all the bows were.

Draw cycle: Harsh, smooth, nice, sweet, tough.... These are descriptives about what it's like to pull this bow back. I KNOW there are differences in draw cycles. For instance my Pat Dually and my Merlin Lite Storm, both 70lb bows are a world of difference to pull back. But what it feels like to draw the bow back would never influence my opinion of a bow or whether I would buy it over another bow. What would influence my decision is: how quiet it is, how fast it is, how well I can shoot it. But the draw cycle has nothing to do with me shooting it.

Same thing with hand shock. The SHOT IS OVER. And I'm worried about my hand buzzing a little? Ok, if you can attribute hand shock to some actuall physical pain then it's a factor. If you can attribute hand shock to the amount of noise the bow produces then it's a factor. But if it's just the difference between the Bowtech XYZ bow and the Mathews ABC bow why would it be worth mentioning? I'm just stimied that I've never given any consideration to what happens after release other than what did it sound like and where did the arrow go?

IF you reply I wont argue, I just want to know why it matters to you.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Really ....the difference to me boils down to........the more comfortable the bow is to shoot........the more I shoot.......the more I shoot ....the better I get.........the better I get ......the more I spank my friends !! :D

Many things make up a good bow and your right......those are just a couple and not the most important as far as accuracy.........but do make a big difference in overall feel and comfort !!

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Why buy a Cadillac over a Chevet,they both will get you were you want to go.O yeah one is a comfortable fun ride;)

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Got it. Sounds like it's more icing on the cake and not really as significant to everyone as I thought.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Let's see you sit in a stand for 8hrs in 10 degree weather and pull back a 70# Dually.. moving very slowly while the buck of a lifetime comes in to your stand. Now imagine the same situation.. only you're holding a 70# liberty... BIG DIFFERENCE.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Ken beat me to it. The number one reason that I think draw cycle is a factor is because of what it can do and not do for you in a hunting situation. When you are stiff or nervous then what type of draw cycle do you think is going to make it easier for you to be able to get off a shot...and accurately at that.

Fatigue is also a factor to some extent but not necessarily as much in the deer woods where it is normally a one shot and done scenario. I am thinking more of a 3D course or target shoot where repeated shots are necessary and a hard drawing cam can cause more fatigue and thus impair accuracy.

As for hand shock, vibration, recoil....I am sure, like you said, that they all factor into accuracy during the shot physically. However, I might also point out that many folks will tell you that it is a 50% physical exercise and 50% mental one. If you are tense or anxious because you know your bow has alot of any of the above mentioned characteristics then the chances are that you are more likely to punch the trigger, grip the bow at the last second, etc....

Put any bow in a shooting machine and it won't not care about hand shock or draw cycle. But put it into a human's hands and you will see a definite difference for most folks in what they can do with it.

At least that is my take on it anyway.....

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

If you ever get to the point where you've got problems with your shoulders and arthritis on your hands, you'll become VERY attentive to draw cycles and shock/vibration before you buy a bow. Even though a hard draw cycle isn't uncomortable for you now, believe me, it will eventually get unbearable. I suggest you really should start considering draw cycle as VERY important when choosing a bow. I was indestructable too, once upon a time.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Exactly what Arthur said.If it isn't a consideration now,it will be someday.

If you shoot a lot,that little handshock can lead to carple tunnel(sp) and arthritis.


It is also just more pleasent to shoot a bow that doesn't vibrate.That vibration can cost you in some instances.If a bow is vibrating after the shot,I will promise you that the equipment is feeling the ill effects.Sights can and do break from it.They will also vibrate loose and so will the rests.I have seen this be a big issue on a 3-d course and a loose sight can cost points.I have also witnessed sights break,more than once,due to too much vibration from the bow.Not much of this goes on now with those little sims products.Amazing what they can do for a bow.



And I am in complete agreement that a smoothe draw cycle is a must for a hunting bow and for me a target bow too.I am not a big person and pulling a bow that is easy to draw is much easier on the shoulders.It is also much needed when you have been sitting in the stand for hours and it is cold out.Those muscles don't work the same and that harsh draw cycle might be the difference between a succesful hunt,or one that ends up with frustration.


Smoothe draw cycle is also a lot easier to let down.If you have to let down with some of these hard drawing cams,there is no chance of doing it slowly so any shot at an animal is gone.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Same goes for me on anything higher than a 60-65% letoff bow.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Arthur and TFOX said it, with my age 48, I sure can tell the difference in drawing back different bows, shooting a 3-d range with a heavy bow or one with a tuff draw and handshock are all hard on my shoulder, if you have handshock you usually have noise and vibration.
Given all the info out today on different brands of bows it just provides you with such a choice that I feel many companies are finally paying more attention to the consumer needs and wants.
Why is the Toyota Camry#1, because you get a great ride, dependable
use, great service and it's made in Kentucky.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

I would guess that draw cycle and hand shock are two of the most frequent criteria hunters use when determining what to buy. The "shooting experience" is greatly affected by these, along with bow noise and yet have little to do with accuracy. However, I seldom see a hunter choose a bow because of accuracy (which is how it should be, in my opinion). All bows are accurate, if tuned properly. It's true, that some are more forgiving, but there are many hunting situations where other factors are very important to some hunters.

I know I can buy a bow to fit my hunting situations. Why not also get one that is quiet, with low vibration and a comfortable draw cycle?

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

When you've been shooting compound bows for 30 years like me and have the "itis's" in the sholders you'll be able to answer your own question about why draw cycle is important. Or maybe all it takes is not being able to draw on "Mr Big" after sitting on stand in the cold because the bow is a bear to draw--those cams just won't roll over.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Well, I agree with you on the so-called "hand-shock" issue but disagree on the draw cycle.

First I definitely prefer a bow that has a nice gradual draw cycle and drops into 65% let-off. 80% make it difficult to let down easily (esp at higher poundages) and it is too easy to move the string out of the centerhot plane at full draw with 80%. I don't like to put undue stress on my shoulders while drawing a bow and I want to be able to draw the bow slowly without any herky-jerks or abrubt changes, just a smooth steady pull into the stops.

This hand shocj thing is very subjective and after shooting all the bows at the ATA show, I believe it is currently a non-isue. Non of the bows actually "shoch" or vibrate excessively anymore. Some bows recoil a bit more than others and I actually prefer a bit of recoil. The arguement can be made that some recoil helps keep the bow gowing toward the target and helps accuracy. I like a little feedback from the bow to let memknow I executed the shot correctly.

Quiet is another thing al-together and is quite important to hunters. A bow can be very quite and still have recoil.

Have fun with it.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Everything here is well said. Draw cycle is a very important factor to me. I'm still a youngin and I can handle the hard pulling bows, but I prefer a nice easy pulling bow, especially for a hunting bow. Shooting 3D all day really has the shoulders screaming by days end with a stiff draw cycle. Same goes for yankin it back in 15 degree weather with a bruiser standing under you. Its difficult to do when you're stiff and cold.

As for recoil and vibration. Have you ever shot a very large caliber rifle? 338 or bigger? They are punishing to shoot very much and after a while, you find yourself flinching. Same concept with a bow, though not that extreme. The more the bow jumps and such, you will find yourself grabbing the bow sooner and sooner and before ya know it, you're torquing the grip. If the bow just sits there, you don't have the need to "catch it".

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Very astute for "still a youngin", muzzyman88.;):)

I agree with you almost entirely, ROBVOS, except for part of the 80% let off issue. There are some 80% cam systems, you know the one:D, that really has a much better feel at the end of the draw cycle and lets down rather nicely. If you're wanting to shoot a higher draw weight, this 80% system can be great for hunting senarios when you have to hold for periods of times.;)

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Shoot a couple 300 rounds with that 70lb dually - then get back to me:D:D;)

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

RA beat me to it. A lot of people are not just bowhunters, but target archers as well.

Target archery has you shooting a LOT of arrows, and doing so with a really harsh draw cycle, overly loud, or hand-shocking bow is not the most fun.....

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Maybe that's one reason our traditional tournaments are pretty well attended, but we practically have to pay compounders to get out and shoot. I guess it's no fun to shoot the hard pulling crap they buy to hunt with. Darn shame.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Arthur- ya know what? I haven't shot a trad recurve since I was about 12 years old. Last week at our spot league I tried a guy's longbow for fun- have never shot a longbow in my life. What addicting fun! Took me a few rounds to get the trajectory pinned down with no sights, but it was a BLAST!

.....i can't buy another bow..... i can't buy another bow...... ;)

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Sure ya can! ;)

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

Vibration also causes noise. Noise is one thing many bowhunters are very cognizant of. The draw cycle is very important to me. If a bow feels nasty to draw, I won’t want to shoot it. If I don’t shoot it, I can’t get good with it.

RE: Why care about draw cycle or hand shock
 

To some people a smooth draw & easy rollover into the valley is a major issue & to others it's not. Just depends on what you like or are used to.