The reason I asked the question is because I started to shoot a longbow back in March and I started to have pain in the neck and sometimes I couldn't  reach full draw and couldn't shoot very many shots. Then for some reason I grabbed the recurve to shoot in the yard and no pain. I can pull the long bow and it hurts but can take the recurve a no pain. That's why I asked. Recurve I'd 5 # heavier

Actually, I have heard that before. There is another Black Widow guy who gets pain when he tries to shoot longbows. None with a recurve.  Maybe he will chime in.

It does not matter to me, but I am getting more comfortable with my Liberty English and my BW PLX.

Quote from: Wheels2 on October 16, 2022, 01:57:16 PM
Same muscles, but in different amounts of exertion depending on the draw cycle.

I would second this quote, and add that...... if your grip is the same on two different bows, (open handed placement, light finger pressure) the same muscles will be used.   

Now if you are choking the chicken, and actually gripping the bow. then you are going to use different muscles in your bow arm.

Your alignment at full draw , and form can effect which muscles are used using the same bow.    Kirk

Time to get rid of my longbows