Help with pain in shoulder

[Mark Hedges]

I have been trying to improve my form.  I bought a clicker and have been concentrating on maintaining proper alignment and back tension.  My shooting has improved but now I am getting some soreness/pain in my bow arm shoulder, which I never had problems with before.

I think my bow arm and shoulders are aligned correctly but it seems like something is wrong.  Can anyone give me any suggestions?

Thanks,

Mark

[B.O.D.]

you are probably tying to hold longer than neccesary.
This will cause strain in the connective soft tissues.

Also, Since getting away from tiny grips, and to the Hill-style high peaked grip; my shoulder pain has pretty much gone; even thougn I now shoot more weight!

The Hill style force the brunt of the weight onto the big bones of the arm and shoulder and less on the soft tissue. The high wrist grip just hurts my shoulder now and most of the weight is being supported by tissue, not bone.

This has been my experience, hope it helps.  

[Three Arrows]

Your bow arm is not lined up with your shoulders.  It is likely slightly closed in towards your chest.  In trying to get to full draw, you are pushing AND pulling your bow arm to the rear slightly.  Push at the target.  Push AT the target.  Pull straight back.  If your feet are 90 degrees to the target face, so should your chest and bow arm.  Problem is, the string catches your shirt, pockets, and sometimes your nipples!  So you have to compromise a little and open up your stance.  I came to realize one thing from all this:  If, you are pointed at target and pull straight back, nothing should get between the string and the bow unless you DID NOT pull straight back.

[pdk25]

Agree with 3 arrows.  If you are in proper alignment it shouldn't matter how long you hold the bow. The pressure will be predominantly on the skeletal system.

[Three Arrows]

I agree with three arrows also.  I go through this on a regular basis.  First the arrows scatter, then the shoulder aches.  I line up my bow arm better, and pain subsides.  

[Mark Hedges]

Thanks for the info guys.  Just to be sure I understand correctly, what you are saying is that I probably have my bow arm angled to my front instead of straight with my shoulders.  Or in other words, if my bow arm should be at 9 o'clock, instead I have it at 9:15 or something like that.

Mark

[Three Arrows]

yes

[crazymoose]

Alignment and stance are very important.
You might try shooting a lighter poundage bow while you work on your form.

[Tilzbow]

Mark,

Check out this link. It's the best thing ever for understanding alingment.


 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=002886#000000

[Tilzbow]

Here's another. These helped me understand what is proper.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=003278

[Tilzbow]

Mark,

Whether or not you have perfect alingment may not have anything to do with your new found soreness. It may simply be a result of your muscles and joints not being accustomed to your new form and/or you may need to drop bow weight for the time being or permanently. I suggest you check your alingment first with a video and go from there.

[Mark Hedges]

thanks for the help. I have worked on my bow arm alignment and my shoulder has felt much better.

Mark

[sweet old bill]

Mark seems to me it would be the fact that you are holding longer and not as I do snap shoot. The act of getting a arrow to be drawn thru the cliker is a big change from the snap shooting style that I use. I can remember years ago trying a clinker and I went right down hill, I could not get that arrow tip to go thru the cliker.

Mark what area of NY are you ? I am in the Oneonta area.

[Tom A]

How much poundage are you shooting?

[Mark Hedges]

I am near Ithaca. My bow weight is about 50 @ 31".

Mark

[Tom A]

My best advice would be drop at least 8# and see a sports medicine doctor for your current pain if it does not go away. They can do wonders with just a few stretching exercises with rubber bands.

I dang near destroyed my shoulders when I tried to work out of my TP and into a higher level of accuracy using heavy 50# plus bows. The amount of practice and amount of holding it took was just too much for my joints to handle.

I am not saying its not possible with your current bow poundage but your playing around with stuff that could potentially lead to not being able to shoot at all ever again. 40-44# is all I shoot these days. A lesson learned the hard way.