Longbow vs Recurve Bow: Differences for Traditional Archers

Traditional archery means shooting without sights, releases or stabilisers, usually by instinct or by referencing the arrow point. The two bows at its heart are the longbow and the recurve. They can look similar at a glance, but they feel, shoot and are regulated differently.

This comparison explains how the two designs differ, what that means for draw feel, speed and noise, how competition rules treat them, and how to choose between them.

The quick answer

How the designs differ

Longbow

A longbow has relatively straight, tall limbs. The classic English longbow has a deep, D-shaped cross-section and is often a single piece of wood. The American flatbow has wider, flatter limbs. Modern longbows are often laminated with fibreglass and may have a slight reflex or deflex shape, but the string still touches only the nocks when braced. World Archery's article on its 3D classes notes that the "longbow" class does not mean only the historical English design.

Recurve

A recurve's limb tips curve forward, away from the archer. When braced, the string lies along the curved tips. As the bow is drawn, the curve unrolls, giving the limbs extra leverage. This lets a shorter recurve store as much or more energy than a longer longbow and generally smooths the draw.

Recurves can be one-piece or takedown, where limbs bolt to a riser. Our guide to choosing a first recurve covers takedown recurves in detail.

Side-by-side comparison

Draw feel, speed and noise

Because the recurve's curved tips give extra leverage late in the draw, recurves usually feel smoother and deliver more speed from the same draw weight. Longbows tend to build weight more steeply towards full draw ("stacking"), especially if the bow is short for the archer's draw length.

Many archers describe longbows as more forgiving in feel but with more hand shock, the jolt felt in the bow hand after the shot. Modern laminated longbows and hybrid designs reduce this considerably.

Length and draw length

Longbows are generally longer than recurves of the same draw weight, often well over 66 inches for adults. That length suits open ground and target shooting but can be awkward in tight cover or a ground blind. Recurves for hunting are often shorter. For either bow, make sure the length suits your draw length; our draw length guide explains how to measure.

Accessories and set-up

Longbows are usually shot off the shelf or the hand, with feather-fletched arrows, no sight and no stabiliser. Recurves can be set up the same way for barebow and traditional shooting, or with a sight, plunger and stabilisers for Olympic-style target archery. That flexibility is one reason recurves are the usual first bow in clubs.

Feathers are the norm for shooting off the shelf because they fold out of the way if they touch the bow. Our feathers vs vanes comparison explains why.

Competition rules

World Archery runs field and 3D championships with separate traditional classes. For 3D:

National organisations run their own traditional divisions with different rules. Check the rules for the event you enter.

Hunting

Both bows are used for hunting by archers who practise instinctive shooting, usually at close range. The same principles apply as with any bow: a draw weight that meets local minimums, matched arrows, sharp fixed-blade broadheads (often preferred for lower-energy traditional set-ups) and strict limits on shot distance. See our broadhead comparison.

You can browse longbows or traditional recurves on Amazon. Check draw weight, length and hand before ordering, and use a stringer as described in our stringing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is a longbow harder to shoot than a recurve?

Not necessarily harder, but less forgiving of a draw length that is too long for the bow, and often with more hand shock. Many archers find longbows easy to shoot instinctively.

Which is faster, a longbow or a recurve?

For the same draw weight and arrow, a recurve is usually faster because its curved tips store more energy.

Can I put a sight on a longbow?

You can fit simple aids to some designs, but longbows are traditionally shot without sights, and longbow competition classes prohibit them.

What arrows should I use with a longbow?

Wooden or carbon arrows with feather fletching, spined for your bow. For World Archery longbow competition, wooden arrows with natural feathers are required.