Strength equipment?

[Reddog]

I want to increase my back/shoulder/arm strength.  I realize I could buy a workout bow with a higher poundage than my hunting bow but that would cost me at least $150 or so.  Are there any good pieces of workout equipment specifically designed to help with bow strength?

Thanks,

Dan

[Bert Frelink]

Oh yes there is ,
just shoot the hell out of the bow you got now and you will absolutely be amazed what that will do for your strength.
Not only will it increase the strength in your back/shoulder/arm but it will do wonders for your consistency/accuracy as well.
No need for any "work out equipment"    
Let us know how you make out .
Bert

[Dogboy900]

Wide grip chin ups are good for bow strength  

[Tajue17]

wake boarding for back and shoulder muscles,,  the bull riders swear by this!

seriously though find a super cheap bow 10# more than your hunting bow and that is a excellent work out tool, inside the house 10 reps of 10 very slow with extra long hold.

your hunting bow will feel like a kids bow in a few weeks.

an old friend made a cool bow workout tool after a trip to a cheap hardware store.

find a tree with a decent overhead branch,, ti rope around branch with a pulley hanging down.

now screw an eye hook into a cut log that you think is heavy enough,,,,now run rope thru pulley and down to eye hook in log.

stand back where the rope is now tight and pull it like your drawing which lifts up the log,,,, trim log with chain saw to get the weight right,,,, I'm sure you get the idea but it works great and this guy shot a 72# bow.

[Mike Vines]

Use a Sledgehammer.  Here is a short video I made.

   

[Mike Vines]

Or you can find a small tire laying around somewhere to build total body strength...

   

   

[J. Cook]

I've been an active weight lifter for most of my adult life.  I can tell you that there are 2 exercises that will add more "functional strength" and muscle endurance than any other... push ups and pull ups.  I built a pull up bar and mounted it to my ceiling in my garage out of cast iron pipe - easy to do, and super sturdy.  I weigh 240lbs and it's held up to that for 2 years since installed.  All you need for push ups is a floor.        

There's a reason our military rely heavily on those 2 functional exercises.  You put yourself on a strict regimen of push ups and pull ups and I promise you'll notice major strength gains in your back and arms as you've specifically requested.

[Sam McMichael]

I agree with Bert Frelink. Shoot the new bow, and it will develop the exact muscles used to draw the bow. Just don't pull it too much right at first. Slow and steady will get you where you want to go. However, if you do want to get an exerciser, try the rubber bands like the ones used in physical therapy. I have successfully used this at times when shooting the bow was not feasible. Wrap it around your hand and pull it like a bow. The push ups and pull ups work also, but as I get older, they are just uncomfortable. Essentially, anything that works your body will strengthen it, its just a matter of finding what fits your style.

[slowbowjoe]

A word about using your bow to train with: do the same training pulling with your opposite hand. Otherwise, you'll end up with muscle imbalances down the road. I've found drawing with my left hand (I'm right handed)has helped my regular shooting, as well.

[Flying Dogg]

I totally agree with Jon Cook. Push ups and pull ups for hand, arm, shoulder and back muscle strength.

[V I Archer]

push ups, pull ups, lateral raises with light weights (10 pounds)targeting the deltoids, bent over rows (you can go fairly heavy with these)or seated rows with cable machine if you have access.

I was pretty heavy into body building in my youth before courtship and marriage to my lovely wife.  I used to do a workout day which consisted of alternating sets of pull ups and bench press with no rest between sets.  A brutally hard work out, but oh so rewarding!

[Joey Ward]

All you need is a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and 9 yards of sand (half a dump truck load).

Move sand from one side of yard to the other. Then back....then spread on your yard.

Benefits....upper body strength, core, and legs, lungs....and outdoors.

And you can practice with broadheads by using the piles for targets.

For extreme exercise days, perform moving routine after a rain.

Oooorah!

[Mike Bolin]

I have to agree with SlowBowJoe, train equally on both sides of your body. When I first got into traditional bows I shot at least once a day, if not two or three times. While in my mid 30s I developed neck and shoulder pain that shut me down completely from shooting. Turned out that I had overdeveloped the muscles on my left side (left handed) and this was causing spine alignment issues. I started hitting the weights again and the issues were corrected. After shooting sessions now, I grab a 50# dumbbell and do bent over rows on my right side to match the approximate number of arrow I had shot. I try to do lateral raises and should presses every other day. Some folks are blessed I reckon, and never have issues with back, neck or shoulders. 40 years of construction work and a sensible weight lifting program has helped keep me in decent shape, but time is taking it's toll! Double knee replacement scheduled for December. After  the whitetail rut of course!

[sam barrett]

You can also get some resistance bands and practice a bow drawing motion.  Even if you can't find bands heavy enough to equal your bow you can double them up.  They can be picked up fairly inexpensively at sporting goods stores.  The good thing about those is that you can do them anytime.  In the house watching tv, before bed, etc...

[riser]

1).  exercise while driving.  isometric exercises using the steering wheel.  hands at 10 / 2 position.  pull laterally as hard as you can for 5=10 seconds.  relax. repeat over and over.

2).  get a pair of 4 lb dumbells (or two bricks).  walk vigorously swing arms (with weights in hands) in forward/backward ("normal swing") motion.  Walk a mile ( 10-20 minutes) this way.  Then  try moving arms side-side ( almost like punching with crossing motion) same time distance.  Tightens everything up.  Torso/core, shoulders, pecs, trapezoids, and heart.  Try doing it for an hour straight.  That's my evening walk.