| I think the question is valid but it opens up a hornets nest of what is traditional. Who determines what is trad and at what point is trad no longer trad?
I shoot American Flatbows made of exotic wood laminates, carbon, bow-specific fibreglass, high tech glues and other man-made materials. Are they traditional? According to the IFAA I can shoot my expensive, turbocharged composite, reflex-deflex bow in the same longbow category as a yew selfbow. My Border and Blackbrooks have been tweaked to the max using the latest, newest materials available in the quest for more speed, stability and consistency. The performance of the modern AFB is approaching that of modern recurves. The latest prototype Border Harrier is unbelievably fast.
But IFFA longbow rules demand the use of wooden arrows. WHY? Because it's traditional? OK rules is rules and that's fine but I don't see the logic. IMO it's like a Grand Prix where F1 cars are made to run on skinny cross-ply tyres.
For ELB I can see the wooden arrow appeal - there's historical/traditional/aesthetic reasons why many archers choose to shoot ELBs and accept the limitations of what performance is available from a stick and string.
I think you should be allowed to shoot whatever arrows you shoot best - be that carbon, fibreglass, aluminiums or wood. Given the choice I'd shoot carbons anyday. Stronger, more consistent and no less traditional than my bows. |