[45-90scout]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Depends entirely on how you plan to hold the bow, shooting style you will use. If you shoot right handed and the bow is perfectly vertical, shelf either side works but unlike modern compound bows the shelfs were traditionally on the right side for right handed shooters. If you shoot with the bow canted, like so many Trad shooters do, shelf needs to be on the correct side to match your cant, especially the further off vertical you get. That is why so many Trad bows appear to be left handed.


To anticipate the next question, the reason the shelf was on the right side, no separate sights like modern compounds do, you aim using the arrow, bows were predominately designed for effectiveness in battle, you can load and shoot far faster putting arrows on the right side, you don't have to lift the arrow over the bow or remove your left hand to load the next arrow. Finally most right hand shooters cant a bow with the top limb facing left, so shelf on right works better.

Thank you. Will have to try shooting a left handed bow with the shelf on the right side - oh what fun.