Both prod and article are work in progress as of 21st September 2009
The Andaman- or Holmegaard-style bow is one of the fastest bow designs there are. According to Baker (2000b: 88), when the Andaman design is taken to it's extreme, cast of an Andaman bow shoots as fast as a "normal" bow with 15% more force. An Andaman-style bow implements a few key design principles:
Although stiff outer limbs don't contribute to the bow's energy storage, most of bow's energy is stored by the innermost portion of the limbs (Baker 2008: 116-117). Also, limb mass slows cast most when it's near the tips (Baker 2000a: 66). This means we can increase cast by making the outer limbs very light and stiff and let the inner limbs do most of the work. The outer limbs are mostly meant to provide leverage to increase cast and to decrease stack. The only design which incorporates all these features is the following:
Bows of this style are relatively difficult and time-consuming to make from wood because they have to be relatively wide (Baker 2000b: 87). Following the Andaman design principles when working with spring steel is somewhat easier.
Baker, Tim [1992] 2000a. Bow design and performance. Traditional bowyers bible, volume one. Ed. Jimm Hamm. 43-116.
Baker, Tim [1994] 2000b. Bows of the world. Traditional bowyers bible, volume three. Ed. Jimm Hamm. 43-98.
Baker, Tim 2008. Design and performance revisited. Traditional bowyers bible, volume four. 113-158.
If you have any questions, please send mail to my Google mail account (samuli.seppanen).