How to
tell a Right Handed Bow from a
Left Handed Bow
by Larry Vienneau
 |
| never
trust a seller, they often know nothing about archery. This photo shows
that both the model and photographer are clueless when it comes to
using a bow. |
It seems that many archery sellers from Asia are not well-informed about the bows they are selling. I came across an example on eBay that illustrates this issue. In the photo, the model is holding the bow upside down, which is a serious mistake that could result in injury if she were to release an arrow. Additionally, the photographer posed the model as if she were a left-handed shooter, which is not accurate.
Did you know that only about 10% of the population is naturally left-handed, while around 18% of right-handed individuals are left-eye dominant? Unfortunately, archery manufacturers have been slow to cater to this demographic. In the 1950s, some manufacturers created dual shelf bows that could accommodate both left and right-handed archers, but others ignored left-handed archers altogether and only produced right-hand models. It wasn't until the late 1950s and early 1960s that manufacturers started producing both right-hand and left-hand bows, oftentimes charging more for the left-hand version or requiring a special order. As a result, there are far fewer good vintage or used left-handed bows available today. For instance, a typical search on eBay for used recurves yields approximately 300 auctions, but only 25 of those are for used left-handed bows, which is less than 10%. A search for new recurves on eBay results in about 1,700 auctions, and a search for new left-handed bows yields only 160, again less than 10%.
While searching for used left-hand bows, it can be frustrating to find that four out of the 25 options available are mislabeled. It's one of my pet peeves when bow sellers on eBay can't distinguish between a right-handed bow and a lefty. It's even more aggravating when a seller is too stubborn to take suggestions or comments. Some sellers have been shooting their bows backward for years, and when confronted, one seller even dared to say, "What difference does it make?"
Safety is of utmost importance when it comes to using a bow. When the limbs of a bow are strung backward, they are not designed to handle the stress, increasing the risk of breakage. Additionally, there is a possibility of the string slipping off during a full draw, which can pose a danger to both the shooter and any spectators present.
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| this bow could break or the string slip and injure the child |
On the internet, you can find numerous instances of individuals shooting bows that are strung in reverse.
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| this fellow is supposed to be an archery instructor, he has his bow strung backward |
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| here he is instructing his student, please note that all of the bows are strung backward |
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| shooting incorrectly strung bows is dangerous |
There has been confusion surrounding the proper way to string a bow, which has been further perpetuated by Hollywood. A promotional image for the movie "Exodus: Gods and Kings" shows Christian Bale holding a horsebow that has been strung backward.
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| how a horse bow should look when strung |
"Brave," the Disney movie, depicted a young girl challenging the traditional gender roles in medieval England and became a beloved children's film. Additionally, it sparked interest in the sport of archery among young girls. However, at the movie's premiere, a red-haired girl was photographed holding a bow strung backward, which went unnoticed by the organizers.
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| this is a properly strung bow |
It is worth noting that many photographers incorrectly pose their models while shooting bows.
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| she has no idea what she is doing. |
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| I guess they thought no one would be looking at the bow. |
.
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| ditto |
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| the onlooker is waiting for the string to pop off and wondering why does she not have an arrow on the string?? |
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| no caption is needed here. |
As I browse the various bows available for purchase online, I frequently come across bows that have been strung in the wrong direction.
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| two backward-strung right-handed bows, they appear to be left-handed. |
Some believe that storing a bow this way internationally is safe, while others may not be aware of proper bow storage practices. In the past, such ignorance could be excused, but with the abundant information online today, anyone with even a slight interest in archery can easily learn how to properly store or string a recurve bow. Therefore, there is no longer any excuse for ignorance on this matter, and a little initiative to do some research can go a long way.
 |
Shooting
Right-handed, bow held with left hand -
shooting left-handed, bow held
with the right hand. |
One common misunderstanding is that people think a right-handed bow is held with the right hand. However, a right-handed bow is actually held with the left hand and pulled back with the right hand. On the other hand, a left-handed bow is held with the right hand and pulled back with the left hand. The hand used to pull back the bow determines whether it is right-handed or left-handed.
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| two nearly identical Ocala 14A bows. One is left-handed and the other is righthanded |
Sometimes, sellers who lack knowledge about bows may string them backward, which can make a right-handed bow appear to be left-handed. I had a conversation with a seller who insisted on selling me a left-handed bow, but it was actually a right-hand bow strung backward. I shared a picture of someone shooting a bow strung backward to clarify, but the seller insisted that it was how they shot.
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| lefty strung backward |
I took a picture of my son's bow which was strung backward for a right-handed person (lefty), and then I corrected it by stringing it for a right-handed person (righty). As a result, the seller admitted his embarrassment that he had been shooting his bow incorrectly for years.
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| left-handed bowstrung, rest on the right side of the bow right-hand bowstrung, rest on the left side of the bow |
Most sellers are very thankful for the help and will change their listing to correct the
dexterity.
