hickory is a good backing material, but it really sucks as belly wood
I use it all the time as a belly wood, it doesn't really suck, it works just fine. I don't get excessive set. Only one bow, 125# at 32" and only like 73" NTN, has ever chrysaled on me, ever. This just isn't true, and at the least is a generalization.
EDIT: I will say my hickory bellied lam bows do better for me as 2 lam bows typically. Like hick/boo/maple backed hick, etc. (maple backings are awesome
) But we are talking 1/4" to 1/2" set difference. If you throw a tough backing like boo and a tough core like ipe it can over power the belly
IF you don't taper the tips properly. Like if you have more ipe than hickory towards the tips, or really anywhere on the bow. But you should taper them anyway, so this shouldn't be an issue. It's not the best but my favorite bows, and fastest shooting bows ALL are hickory bellied. Straight smoking any of my ipe or osage bellied bows (with my osage bows coming in close second though.)