how much faster is a recurve than a strait tip bow?

[bradsmith2010]

I have seen this mentioned on some post and was wondering,, in your opinion how much faster is a recurve,,??
10 fps  20 fps,, what could be expected,, draw weight, arrow weight being equal,, 10 gpp,, thanks in advance,, B

[PatM]

I would say 10-15.

[FilipT]

I am more interested what happens with speed when you put recurves on longer bows, for example 66" I will soon build

[PEARL DRUMS]

Like any bow, its all about set, strain and design. An over stressed recurve wont shoot faster than a thoughtfully built straight bow.

[Badger]

  I can't tell you how many times I have built bows and decided to recurve them instead of thinning down the tips only to have them take additional set and wind up with the tips in the same place they were before I recurved. It all need to be built in from the start and even then doesn't always come out as planned.

[sleek]

Its really impossible to answer because the question is flawed. A well designed recurve wont shoot any faster than a well designed straight bow. Recurves are a design option to use when the limitations of the stave  would benefit from them.

[PatM]

Generally I wouldn't say a potential recurved stave has limitations.

[sleek]

Generally I wouldn't say a potential recurved stave has limitations.

Stave length vs desired draw length comes to mind.

[gfugal]

I agree with Pearl in that a well designed straight limb will outperform a poor designed recurve. I will also say that it's harder to pull off a well designed recurve than a straight limb bow, therefore most straight limb bows perform just as well as or better than most recurves. However, I do not agree with the statement that a well designed straight limb will outperform a well designed recurve. If a recurve is designed well then mechanically and theoretically it SHOULD outperform a straight limb or else it's not well designed. This is due to the fact that recurves should have a fatter force curve for the same target weight. Therefore more stored energy and faster speeds.

[sleek]

Perhaps the limitations are placed on the stave by us according to what we want to make it do.

[gfugal]

Generally I wouldn't say a potential recurved stave has limitations.

Stave length vs desired draw length comes to mind.

and material. Again it comes down to designing it well to handle the extra stress. If not accounted for = poor design = recurve < straight limb. If accounted for recurve > straight limb.

[sleek]

I agree with Pearl in that a well designed straight limb will outperform a poor designed recurve. I will also say that it's harder to pull off a well designed recurve than a straight limb bow, therefore most straight limb bows perform just as well as or better than most recurves. However, I do not agree with the statement that a well designed straight limb will outperform a well designed recurve. If a recurve is designed well then mechanically and theoretically it SHOULD outperform a straight limb or else it's not well designed. This is due to the fact that recurves should have a fatter force curve for the same target weight. Therefore more stored energy and faster speeds.

The fd curve may be affected by fecurves depending on stave length and draw length. But i believe the limitations are that a recurve rquires much more tip mass.

[Badger]

  I am quite sure a well designed recurve will beat a well designed straight bow every time. The primary thing that boosts the speed is how far the tips are behind the back of the bow, a reflexed straight bow if there is such a thing will perform very well but still behind the recurves. I personaly do best with semi recurves or reflex deflex bows just because I can do a better job on them. A good reflex defelx will give a good recurve a run for its money.

[Jim Davis]

Y'all have still left out a variable that has more to do with performance than the other factors mentioned. Recurves are generally shorter than longbows.

In fact the biggest and first reason for recurved tips was to keep the string on a short bow.

I suspect all elements being equal INCLUDING length, long bows will match recurves.

[Selfbowman]

  I am quite sure a well designed recurve will beat a well designed straight bow every time. The primary thing that boosts the speed is how far the tips are behind the back of the bow, a reflexed straight bow if there is such a thing will perform very well but still behind the recurves. I personaly do best with semi recurves or reflex deflex bows just because I can do a better job on them. A good reflex defelx will give a good recurve a run for its money.

This is where I am on this. The stadic bows I have built was not that impressive . I have only built 3 so mine may not be a good judge of performance. This was also pryer to me useing d97 string. I am speaking of selfbows here also no sinue or any other backings. Arvin