Historically, the English longbow became closely associated with yew, but many other woods can produce excellent bows when selected and worked correctly.

This guide explores some of the most commonly used bow woods in the UK and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

A bow stores and releases energy through the bending of its limbs. The back of the bow is placed under tension while the belly is placed under compression. Some woods handle these forces naturally better than others.

Good bow wood should ideally have:

• Straight grain
• Good elasticity
• Resistance to compression damage
• Consistent growth structure
• Minimal knots or twists

Even the best species can produce a poor bow if the stave itself is poorly selected.

Yew is traditionally regarded as the finest wood for English longbows and has been used for centuries.

Its unique structure allows both tension and compression strength within the same stave. The sapwood handles tension well while the heartwood performs strongly under compression.

Advantages of yew include:

• Excellent cast and performance
• Traditional historical authenticity
• Good balance of strength and flexibility

However, quality yew can be difficult and expensive to source. It also requires careful working and understanding of the grain.

Ash is one of the most practical and accessible bow woods in the UK.

It is strong, resilient and generally more forgiving for beginners than yew.

Advantages of ash include:

• Widely available

• Tough and durable

• Forgiving during tillering

• Excellent for beginner bowyers

Ash bows can perform very well, although they are often slightly heavier in the hand than yew.

Elm has a long history of use in traditional bows and can produce extremely durable and reliable shooting bows. It handles tension particularly well and tends to cope with less-than-perfect conditions better than some other woods.

Advantages of elm include:

• Durable and resilient

• Historically proven

• Good tolerance to varied grain structure

Elm can sometimes feel slightly less lively than yew but remains an excellent traditional bow wood.

Other woods used in traditional bow making include:

• Hazel
• Rock Maple
• Hickory
• Osage orange
• Cherry
• Hawthorn
• Blackthorn
• Privit
• Field Maple 
• Red oak 
• Apple

Some are more common in other countries, while others are used for experimentation or specific bow styles.

Straight Grain is Critical Regardless of species, grain quality is absolutely vital. The grain should run as cleanly and continuously as possible through the length of the stave. Knots, twists and violations in the grain can create weak points and increase the risk of failure. Understanding grain structure is one of the key skills in traditional bow making.

Many beginners are naturally drawn towards yew because of its reputation and historical importance.

However, ash or elm are often more forgiving woods to learn with. A beginner working expensive yew without understanding grain structure or tillering can easily ruin a valuable stave.

At Phil Brooke Longbows we run practical hands-on bow making courses in East Sussex where participants learn how to select wood, understand grain structure and build traditional bows using traditional tools and methods.

These courses are suitable for complete beginners as well as those looking to improve existing skills.

View our Traditional Bow Making Workshop here: https://www.philbrookelongbows.co.uk/product/traditional-bow-making-workshop/199/

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There is no single perfect bow wood for every situation. Each species has strengths, weaknesses and its own character.

Understanding how wood behaves and learning to work with its natural properties is one of the foundations of traditional bow making.