just curious

[wapitirod]

I quit shooting traditional back around 01 and it was a few years earlier I took my last hunting trip with a recurve.  I had shoulder problems so I went back to shooting a compound but in 04/05 I had 6 tears in my right shoulder repaired and didn't think I'd ever shoot again.  I had also had carpal tunnel surgery in both wrist and a second surgery to my right wrist during which they removed three bones, reconnected the ligaments and removed half the nerves going to my hand leaving the top of the hand numb. I also had two levels in my neck fused and although not as critical to my shooting three levels in my low back fused.  I'm going through all this because this past spring I was looking at my 74# Brack hanging on the wall, the last time I tried shooting it I couldn't hardly draw it.  Curiousity got the best of me and I took it outside to throw some arrows.  I really didn't expect to be able to shoot it but to my surprise even with my 30.5" draw length I was drawing the bow almost effortlessly.  I did find that because of loss of muscle tone my bow arm started weakening in the tricep area after a dozen or so arrows.  The other thing I found is although I still needed practice I was shooting pretty good, especially for having not shot a recurve in over 11yrs.  My shooting is still improving although if it's under 30 it's dead and I've noticed it evolving, first I was shooting with the bow vertical but unconsciously I've started canting the bow again and I'm shooting pretty good.  The other thing is I always gap shot before and now I'm not even seeing the arrow when I shoot.  I've been re reading "Become The Arrow" by Byron Ferguson and I'll probably play with gap shooting again just to extend my effective range.  Right now I'd say I can put 2 out of 3 arrows in the kill zone pretty reliably.

My question is this, especially to any of you that may have a medical background, what do you think happened to cause this drastic turn around in my ability to draw and shoot when the last time I shot was pathetic?  I can also say that even at this time with advanced and severe arthritis I have pain still in my shoulder and it takes a minimum of three arrows to get loosened up and half a dozen is better.  I can also say they still may have to do the same surgery in my left (bow) wrist as it is in worst condition than the right but it has not become symptomatic.  I've lost about 70% of the movement in my right wrist so this just doesn't make sense to me although I'm not complaining.  I'm only 44 but I've obviously been rough on the old body.

[reddogge]

Can't answer that but I'd seriously consider dropping down in bow weight to something a little more manageble than your 74# bow that is probably pulling 80# at your draw. That is asking for trouble with your medical history. Try 50-55# which will kill most anything out there easily.

Three years ago I had torn tricep tendon surgery and before that when I'd draw a heavier bow my left tricep would cramp. Now it doesn't so I could concievably shoot a higher poundage bow now that previously I couldn't draw. I don't because I don't want to risk anything and stayed with the same old 45-50 pounders.

[moebow]

I am glad to hear that you are getting back into it BUT!!!  I'm with reddogge on this one.  You are pulling a SUBSTANTIAL amount of weight with your bows.  It is not uncommon to do something really well after a long lay off but that is often not a sign that you "have it all back on track."

FWIW, if I had a person come to see me after an 11 year layoff with a 70# range bow, the first thing I would do is have him shoot some shots with my 16# "trainer" bows to see how he was shooting.  And that would be without a medical history like you have!

You also don't mention if any of your procedures were needed due to injury from archery or other causes (none of my business) but it would play in too.  Getting tired after a dozen or so arrows tells me that you are working pretty hard to get the shots off.

FOLLOW your medical advice first!! Find a coach if you can, and try to find a light weight bow to shoot for a while as you get back into this.

Just because you CAN pull the heavy weights DOESN'T mean you should!

Arne

[wapitirod]

I agree guys about the lower weight and I'm actually using my lighter Stealth and although it's 66# I'm shooting it easily.  I've had the Brack since 1990 and the Stealth I got used with the extra limbs so I have them as back up.  I can shoot them accurately but I know I need to get my conditioning where it should be if I ever want to hunt with those on a regular basis. I have been considering having Wes build me another set of limbs around the 55# range.  I figure if I drop down to that poundage but maybe have him set it up for a FF string the velocity difference should be close enough to my 66# that hopefully it won't mess with my shooting much if I needed/wanted to switch between bows.

None of the injuries were related to archery, I was an automotive tech for 22yrs.  In my early days I was like alot of kids and thought I was indestructable and being a fair sized guy I thought I was indestructable and did alot of things that were just flat stupid and led to me being disabled in 07.  That combined with the normal wear and tear that kind of work causes and an aggressive degenerative arthritis have taken a toll.  I'm still 6'3" and 245 but I don't have the conditioning I did before I was hit with all these injuries.  All the surgeries have been between 04 and 11 so my body never really had a chance to heal.

Moebow, your last sentence says it all as far as bow weight goes and it applies to other things.  I started my back degeneration by doing stupid things like carrying engine blocks around, taking transfer cases and import transmissions out without jacks and I even pulled some import engines out without a cherry picker.  It was my youthfull ego and the fact I figured it was faster than getting the proper equipment. Unfortunately the damage was done by the time I was a littler older and wiser and realized the old addage about working smarter not harder is very true.