Doesn’t a longer bow give you more power, say 4 ft compared to 5 ft?
Not at at all, with your arm outstretched back to your cheek you have an "X" draw length no matter what, and at say 50# it carries through with that entire distance. The English longbow was long because they didn't have the laminated materials we have now, and a piece of wood could only be drawn back so before it breaks, those things believe it or not had a draw of almost 175# in some cases. A crossbow also has a short draw, but those things can really zip too.