Parallel limbs

[Quadratus]

It is clear that the major manufacturers of compounds are moving rapidly towards parallel(ish) limbs. I understand the theoretical advantages of shock/recoil redirection, not to mention the commercial advantages of short, cheap limbs, but is there any evidence that the design has any significant advantage over more traditional limb alignment for a target archer (ie non-hunter)? Are there any top archers using parallel limb designs successfully, apart from Chris White, who could shoot a coathanger? Has anyone got substantial, recent experience of both types?

I'm not trying to make a point here - I genuinely want to know, as I have recently developed an itch in my wallet and feel a new bow coming on....

[pwiles1968]

I don't follow the Top Archery circuit so don't know who is who and what they are shooting, I do know of several Very Good Archers using the Allegiance, several of whom frequent this forum and they swear by the Bowtech (Parallel Limb) range.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by pwiles1968

I do know of several Very Good Archers using the Allegiance, several of whom frequent this forum and they swear by the Bowtech (Parallel Limb) range.

Maybe. But take a look through the list of winners on the current GP circuit. Almost without exception they are shooting Hoyt and mostly the UltraElite.

Adam

[Fox]

Or Mathews Apex7/Apex

Parralel Limbs are purely to reduce bow jump and noise, to give you a so-called smooth shot. They are generally slower in my experience. c.f. switchback and Apex7 comparison.

They are also generally short bows and while i have nothing agaisnt short bows in termas of accuracy, I dislike the fact the peep sight id so much further from your eye and I now find it difficult to see well with them and have to use a big peep and get a shitty sight picture.

[oldy]

Hi ,Just a couple of points,a friend of mine last year went from a hoyt ultratech command cam bow over to a bowtech old glory,he loved the feel of the binary cams & is a reasonably good archer ie MB county champ etc,after a frustrating year of trying everything you can imagine,different arrows ,lbs up & down ,tuning & more tuning ,he has now gone back to his old hoyt and the bowtech is in his loft.
I went from a martin sceptre to a bowtech pro 40 dually which has not got binary cams 2 years ago ,which apart from being faster than the martin has not improved my scores despite putting some brilliant groups from time to time which would indicate that it's probably me,I just find it not a very forgiving bow.So I dont think you can take anything for granted just see what works for you.Incedently this friend of mine did all his personal bests years ago with a martin firecat with steel cables and wheels ,even with his hoyt he cant beat them.Peter Elsinger who put up a 1414 fita with a pro 40 dually is now shooting a hoyt ,I think its a ultratech,so what does it all mean ?? oldy

Originally Posted by oldy

....so what does it all mean ?? oldy

The archer is more important than the bow perhaps?

[pwiles1968]

Originally Posted by Adam

Maybe. But take a look through the list of winners on the current GP circuit. Almost without exception they are shooting Hoyt and mostly the UltraElite.

Adam

This tells me is Hoyt spend a lot of money sponsoring Archers .

At the end of the day shoot what you can afford that feels comfortable.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by pwiles1968

This tells me is Hoyt spend a lot of money sponsoring Archers .

But a fraction of what matthew spend. And the winners still shoot Hoyt.

Adam

[Marcus26]

OK sorry 2 things wrong with this thread.

1) Chris White shoots them but doesn't count? That's BS.
2) The latest GP were won by Hoyt's proving that parrallel limbs are overrated? Sorry bt no.
3) Peter Elzinga has switched to Hoyt so it must be better. He moved because Hoyt's contingancy program craps all over Bowtech's (who don't have one). More power to him.
4) My mate had Martin and bought a Bowtech and didn't improve so the design is faulty. Maybe your mate is shooting his potential? My fried switched from Hoyt to Bowtech and went from 1285 to 1347. What does that prove? Nothing.

The questions are
1) Is there an advantage to target shooters over other designs?
2) Are they proven?

Answer to question 1.
No it is not an advantage, but it is not a disadvantage either. Limb design is more about feel than actual accuracy (assuming limbs are working correctly) on a compound bow. A parrallel limb bow will have less vibration and has a higher stored energy (which is nice). However it will not put arrows into the 10 for you. It will not however be inaccurate either. So for target shooting it will NOT hurt your scores at all.

Answer to question 2.
Absolutely proven.
Chris White tears it up with his Switchback.
Dijan Sitar shot over 1400 with his LX
Peter Elzinga shot 1410 with his Pro40
Stephen Clifton shot 1392 with his Allegiance
Erika Anear shot 352 at 60m record with her Allegiance
Brendan Wallace shot 1402 Short FITA with his Old Glory
Sten Nigol shot 353 at 60m with his AR34 (tied world cadet record)
Almost all the top shooters in my state use the design.
etc etc

So basically yes the design is proven and proven a number of times. Will it make you a better archer? No. Will it hurt your scores? No.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

However it will not put arrows into the 10 for you. It will not however be inaccurate either. So for target shooting it will NOT hurt your scores at all.

I'm 100% with you here Marcus. The only answer is to shoot what suits you.

Oh, by the way, if you ask Chris White which bow he'd shoot if sponsorship were taken out of the equation, his answer is? Hoyt Supertec.

Adam