Kaya Korean ?

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:12 pm

Great photo Ginni. That long Korean draw is what I've been trying to achieve and I thought I was getting close until a friend took a pic for me. There was quite a bit of arrow over, at least 3 inches. Jose Dom has described much the same experience. I'm back to my ear but I'd like to get closer to my shoulder.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:30 am

It is also important to look at the bow arm. Sometimes the hand drawing the bow comes all the way back, but the bow arm collapses at the shoulder or the elbow.

ginni · Post by **ginni** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:58 am

Bede, I think is because the unusual position, shooting downhill trough bushes, the guy usualy have no problems with his geometry, he have a very good form (as I can see, I am not expert).

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:56 pm

The advice for shooting uphill or downhill is for a normal draw, followed by adjusting aim by tilting at the waist. This has never felt comfortable to me and I've always shot better by instinctively feeling the shot but I wouldn't argue that this has an affect on form. Shooting from uneven ground, at some very awkward angles is quite different.
I understand what you mean Bede and I am very contious of my bow arm. I have always held my arm in strong position, careful not to push too much as that usually results in over extension and string slap.
My point was more that I've seen many pics of these Hwarangs obviously pulled more than 31", yet my own ( and Jose) .. [maybe a bit tentative?] feels like it's close to its limit.
I drew it further last night and I think Ginni, you are right. The measured draw weight does seem to be around 28-29 and not 31. At this point it does get a lot harder to draw. Had the fletchings catch the side of my face on release at times so I think I'm getting there.

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 3:33 pm

Well I can confirm that my bow will draw to 32" ( those arrows are 32" self nocked shafts, with pile - total length 32.5" )
Jose Dom, you should try this.
Yes, it becomes quite stiff at around 29" or so but if you have faith and keep pulling it's almost as if the stiffness subsides. Hard to explain, it just keeps on drawing, my wife called out for me to stop when she saw the shoulder of the pile pass my thumb. I'm convinced it could draw to 35" and one look at the limbs tells me it still has some spare. Arrow velocity is incredible, I've worked out what suits it so a nice order of bamboo shafts from Poletti is on the cards now.
Picture from the club on Wednesday as evidence.

daryush · Post by **daryush** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 4:49 pm

Orda, what is the thing round your arm for?

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 3:51 pm

It's a bracer. I know there should be no need for one but I have yet to perfect this style and I am catching my arm occasionally. I shot my Hun bow for years with no need of a bracer and as I am hitting my arm less now, I'm sure it won't be long before it goes.

Ashbow · Post by **Ashbow** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:22 pm

Orda, so you got the thumb disease too?! And I had so much trust in you keeping the three finger style from extinction

, every one around is switching to the thumbdraw, soon there will be no more three finger archers around

!
Have you been practicing for a long time now? You form looks like you are pretty comfortable.

Please, do share your thoughts on the Poletti bamboo shafts. I dealt with some Chinese bamboo shafts from E-bay recently, they were quite cheap, and I wonder if the price reflected the quality as well. Maybe they weren't that bad at all, probably the straightness isn't everything but when one got to see a good Korean bamboo shaft one is not easily satisfied any more. I don't know about the species of the Chinese shafts, but the internodes weren't that straight as the Korean bamboo tend to be, the diameter varied as did the weight. I wonder if Poletti sources his shafts from China as well.

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:27 pm

Hello Ashbow. Yes I'm sorry I have developed the bug. But to be honest, my main reason for changing is arthritis, I suffered a bad spell a couple of years back and was not able to shoot properly afterwards. My whole drawing action was different and felt unnatural so I decided a change may be the best remedy. Thanks for your compliment, yes I am finding this new style more comfortable and the Hwarang is a wonderful bow.

I'm sure Poletti sells Tiger shafts. I bought some of these at Tewkesbury Mediaeval Fayre and they did appear to be very good quality. I'll let you know what I find.

jchocz · Post by **jchocz** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:51 pm

Ashbow wrote:Please, do share your thoughts on the Poletti bamboo shafts. I dealt with some Chinese bamboo shafts from E-bay recently, they were quite cheap, and I wonder if the price reflected the quality as well. Maybe they weren't that bad at all, probably the straightness isn't everything but when one got to see a good Korean bamboo shaft one is not easily satisfied any more. I don't know about the species of the Chinese shafts, but the internodes weren't that straight as the Korean bamboo tend to be, the diameter varied as did the weight. I wonder if Poletti sources his shafts from China as well.

Poletti actually sells bamboo shafts from China (Tiger). I bought 300 pieces and the quality is good. They are cooked and some may be broken (1-2 of 100 pieces). But have better toughness than natural. Poletti is classified adds more than Tiger. But have a much higher price ...

Ashbow · Post by **Ashbow** » Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:59 pm

Orda, I got the bug myself and nothing can cure me now. What you have written about arthritis is interesting, anyway a pleasent surprise to see you very comfortable with the thumbdraw, as I remeber you writing that it did feel rather awkward to you.

Thank you guys for the bamboo info.

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:10 pm

Ashbow wrote:I remeber you writing that it did feel rather awkward to you.

Using my Turkish bow, with a shorter draw did not feel right. Maybe it has something to do with this longer draw, it certainly feels better.
My problem is in my neck and with the pain radiating down my shoulder and right arm, you can imagine what this can do.

Good shooting!

Ashbow · Post by **Ashbow** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:46 pm

I think so too, about the longer draw. I've been thinking that the long draw, like the Korean or the Japanese is more 'healthy' on you because the strain is more evenly distributed on the both shoulders.
Uneven strain is perhaps also the reason I got rid of the under the chin anchor point completely in favour to a longer draw to the ear about, when shooting with the three fingers.

ginni · Post by **ginni** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:40 pm

The semihorn bow totaly delaminated today, from nock to nock!
This was happened at full draw, I heard a very low crack followed by sound like a low whistle.
The string was in my right hand and the bow was in the shape at full draw, but with the string off!
This is a disaster!

Looking at the inside I can tell the bow is made exactly like regular bow, only horn instead of phenolic. The belly is made with black fiberglass and horn, the lamination occurred between belly and bamboo core.

Shooting back with the other bow, older design and fully sintethic materials, 67 lbs (71 lbs the semihorn bow), I can see the arrows flying way slower than semihorn, I was unable to hit the target at 40 meters, all arrows going down again and again. Also it looks more intolerant with the grip, it requires much more attention and finesse in handling. Now I can say, I prefer the semihorn bow by far, but after this incident I have some doubts about the reliability of the bow. Probably this is not an issue at lower draw weights.
Time will show us how those bows resist.

cristian_iepure · Post by **cristian_iepure** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:14 am

So, your 71lbs bow is two months old and you shot almost only 200-300 arrows with it, the delamination must be a construction issue, I think this bow must go back to Mr Park in order to be inspected and replaced. In my oppinion, as a Hwarang bow user (made by Mr Park), it's unusual for such a well constructed bow to act this way.