What draws you to shoot a Hill style bow

[Horserod]

  Combine what Rock'N Bow and Tradcat said along with a smooth and easy draw.....What's not to love ?  Longbows forever! Horserod

[two4hooking]

Seriously though... You should shoot a ASL like a longbow not like a recurve to get the most out of it.  There is a form combination that is the most conducive to enjoying them (low wrist, heel down, low shoulder, bent elbow, etc.).  You can certainly shoot them like a recurve, and many do... But if they truly call to you they require a substantial investment in time and practice...then you can really appreciate what they offer as others have said.  They are not for everyone, but if you are willing to give them the effort they will pay you back. 

The few, the proud, the longbow guys

[Tradcat]

Amen!

[Pointer]

Difficult to articulate...the super light weight...tradition..the utter simplicity of the thing. I shot recurves most of my life but always had at least one Hill style in the stable. It will always be that way...

[Duncan]

For me it is wanting to master it more than just trying it out. I own four, 2 in 68" and 2 in 66" one of the 68's ia Northern Mist American I snagged off that site. Love that American.
So last year with the help of a friend and Steve Graf's excellent book on ASL's I decided to not touch any other bow but an ASL for one year and see if my shooting and my form got any better. I still have good days and bad days and truth is I'll probably never be expert with any bow but learning the correct form and the dynamics of the swing draw have been a fun adventure. I don't regret the past year and truth is I may end up selling off some of the other bows I have that I am not likely to ever shoot again. I used to think I could switch bow types seamlessly and most of the time I could but I knew I could do better if I became dedicated to one type. Its just not the same as picking one up at the shop or show and deciding you don't like it after a few rounds of shots. I'm in the camp of you need to get immersed in it to understand it.
D

[Sam McMichael]

My interest in Howard Hill first drew my attention to this style bow. When I first shot one, it seemed to be light in the hand and very smooth to draw. To me, it points well, and I seem to naturally shoot it better than other types of bows. It is forgiving of some of my shooting flaws. It handles heavy arrows well, and all of my bows will handle multiple spine ranges adequately. It is quiet. Lastly, it looks good. It just seems to fit me well.

[ScouterMike]

The ASL is simple, quiet and works great for hunting. I think many find an ASL such a challenge to shoot well because the ASL best shooting technique is different than other styles. Since most shooters start with something other than an ASL, then the ASL becomes the the bow that is "hard to master" and its benefits are ignored because of early problems trying to learn it. I would bet that if someone started with an ASL and was used to its benefits they would feel that other style bows were lacking in what they like about an ASL and be willing to give up the potential main benefit of some other styles, a bit more arrow speed, for the quietness and dynamic shootability of the ASL.

[toddster]

I have tried a whole slew of bows over the decades, but the Hill style bow, just feels right and so natural for me, and when it comes to hunting, proves to me over and over, you can't beat it.

[Tradcat]

Amen Toddster

[Yooper-traveler]

[attachment=1]

[attachment=2]