Would you shoot yew?

[Quadratus]

I'm still faffing around trying to decide what longbow to treat myself to. I want to shoot target and clout and don't want to draw more than 45-50 lb at 28-ish inches.

Logic says I should get a fast, multi-laminate bow, possibly with a bamboo backing. The romantic streak in me (don't laugh!) says I want to shoot self-yew, or at worst, if yew is not available or I bottle out at the price, yew backed with hickory or maple.

Any particular problems (other than price) with self-yew? Is it likely to be fast enough for me at my low draw weight. Is backed yew a good idea?

I used to think I was decisive, but now I'm not sure.....

[Kae]

self-yew has a relativley short life compared to other bow woods/laminations.

I've never shot yew, so can't offer any practical advice, but I wouldn't buy a self-yew bow personally, because I couldn't afford the replacement costs 1 or 2 seasons in the future.

Edit: My personal favourite woods would be bamboo back with either yew or osage orange belly.

Kae.

[Ceri Jones]

You don usually get a guarantee with self-yew bows, they can break a few years down the line or a few weeks after buying it, i know some do last years as our coach has one.

[cloutman360]

At the clout distance Yew bows appear to be affected by a change in temperature more than one made of osage.

[wingate_52]

Yew bows go soft in the heat and lose their power. The power returns when the bow has cooled down, but...

[gerald_edmundson]

i am using a second hand yew bow which belonged to one of the club members. It is 40lb and 28 inch draw it can easily reach 100 yd. i have been told not to use it in the winter because it will lose it's power but it works very well in the warm weather. Have not had any problems with it to date. Unfortunately i can not rember what the yew has been backed with but it is a very nice bow to use.

[Kae]

Originally Posted by gerald_edmundson

i am using a second hand yew bow which belonged to one of the club members. It is 40lb and 28 inch draw it can easily reach 100 yd. i have been told not to use it in the winter because it will lose it's power but it works very well in the warm weather. Have not had any problems with it to date. Unfortunately i can not rember what the yew has been backed with but it is a very nice bow to use.

When used as a laminate, yew is no worse than other limb materials AFAIK. It is only when the bow is made entirely from the wood (self bows) that they have a short life.

Kae.

[gino]

Yew is a lovely wood to shoot and performs better the higher poundage you shoot from it. at 45-50lbs you could get away with shooting yew comfortably.

[narrowboat]

Go for a laminated bow its less likley to go bang and hit you round the lughole

[Dante]

Personally I would love a Self Yew but chicken out at the price apart from being traditional they do look good.

But given that I can not afford Yew I have an Osage based laminated bow that is nice to shoot.