Bow Speeds: Fact or Fiction?

[xXx Archery]

Well said, Todd.

Another place I think accurate advertising would help tremendously:
Speeds at 50, 60 and 70 pounds, 30 inches draw and 5 gpi should be posted for every bow (with at least 20 grains of weight on string for nock set, peep and d-loop).
When prospective buyers see the marginal speed differences between 50, 60 and 70 pounds of draw force, perhaps they would opt for a rig more manageable and therefore produce an archer with a higher probability of accuracy and a higher degree of satisfaction.

For many years the magnum rifle craze raged and many folks were turned off to big game rifles because they were unable or unwilling to learn how to deal with the magnum recoil of those firearms. The neophyte archer who is over-bowed struggling with technique will never reach their potential due to fatigue, injury or disappointment.

That will not help...we sell vary few bows at 30" draw..what we need is IBO speeds at 28 and 29" draw or go back to AMO. that is 30" 60lbs at 6 grains per lb.
Konrad
if we just move the bow lbs
a bow with a IBO speed of 330....30" 350 arrow at 70lbs
now we set it to same with 20grains on the string we get 323fps
now at 60lbs with 300 arrow and 20grains on the string 320fps
now at 50lbs and 250 arrow and 20grains on the string 316fps

now lets look at the same bow at AMO...with the IBO rating of 330
28" 60lbs 360 grain arrow is 280fps.
29" 60lbs 360 grain arrow is 290fps

if you only move Lbs and keep 5 grains per lb. we only see 3-4 fps change
more guys are 28-29" draws and most hunt with 6+ grains per lb.

[konrad]

“…a bow with a IBO speed of 330....30" 350 arrow at 70lbs
now we set it to same with 20grains on the string we get 323fps
now at 60lbs with 300 arrow and 20grains on the string 320fps
now at 50lbs and 250 arrow and 20grains on the string 316fps…”

Your calculations bear out my point exactly. The difference between a 70 pound and 50 pound draw is only 7 fps in this case. Regardless of whether one uses AMO, IBO or ATA I believe that if retailers pointed out the only marginal gains in speed with higher draw weights rather than focusing on speed as a selling point, we would eventually get a more informed, healthy and accurate archery population.

I congratulate you if you are educating your customers prior to the sale. I believe you are probably the exception rather than the rule when it comes to this aspect of the business. Most customers are forced to confront the truth of the speed question only on the back side of the sale when their new, thousand dollar rig does not perform up to advertised claims. My main point in this discussion is only to high light the built-in barrier to establishing trust between the shop sales crew and the new archer as long as no repeatable, realistic industry standard is established. Seasoned veterans assume the ads are BS from past experience.

In my own case, I am a believer in leaning on the mass side of the equation rather than the velocity end. I find much more stabile system results including a quiet, vibration free shot with dependable penetration at extended ranges. I advocate the range finders' use rather than the single pin theory.

[dreamunelk]

All, absolutely great post and discussion!

I for one have never bothered to crono my bows.  I have also quit shooting heavy poundage.  I have found that 62# will kill anything I hit at forty yards.  Off course that is if I hit it correctly and the bow is in tune.  So as always practice, practice, and more practice.  That is why my bow is sitting in my yard as we speak.  As I putter around the yard I take a break and let loose some arrows.  My neighbors think it is strange that I will occasionally shoot from my roof!