What Are the Advantages to a Longbow Over a Shortbow?

While shortbows allow for flexibility and speed when making shots, longbows provide power and range that are unrivaled by any other kind of bow. In the words of Howard Hill, winner of 196 field archery tournaments in the 20th century, and widely considered one of the greatest archers of all time, "The longbow is fast, smooth, sturdy and dependable, built to give many years of trouble-free service."

  1. History

    • The shortbow was used in ancient times before the longbow was developed. It was the weapon of choice for cavalries, as it was small enough to be shot from horseback. It wasn't until the late 13th century that the longbow was developed by the Welsh and integrated into English warfare. The English longbow stood 6 feet tall when held tip to the ground, and though its size made it impractical for cavalry use, it provided standing archers with power and range previously impossible with the shortbow. By the year 1340, English archers carried longbows exclusively and were the highest paid soldiers in King Edward III's armies.

    Shooting Range and Power

    • A larger bow size means greater string size, and the farther a string can pull its arrow back, the greater the arrow's velocity and the farther it will fly. The maximum range of a longbow is over 1,300 feet, a completely unattainable distance with a shortbow. An arrow propelled from a longbow can penetrate over an inch into solid oak when fired from 650 feet, increasing to 4 inches when fired at close range. Because of its greater size and power, the longbow can use the heavier arrows necessary for penetrating enemy armor or piercing the hides of large game.

    Stability Versus Sensitivity

    • The longbow's "straight-limb design" makes it one of the sturdiest choices of bows. Because the string and bow only touch at a small spot on the tip of each limb, it is less likely to twist or warp, unlike shorter bows on which string and limb have a greater area of contact. The string of a longbow is less "sensitive" than that of a shorter bow, affording the archer greater flexibility in the realms of form and technique.

    Accuracy

    • Bob Swinehart, member of the Archery Hall of Fame, and renowned for hunting African game with only a longbow, attests to the great accuracy of the longbow, "The long length means less error of the trajectory of an arrow. This is simple geometry. The more acute the angle the more deviation at any given distance." He recognizes that in bow hunting, releases must sometimes be made without perfect aim or timing, but notes that particularly in these cases, the arrow of a longbow is more likely to strike its target than that of a shorter bow.