Err, is there such thing as "under bowing" yourself?

[Safari Scott]

So I started out with a bow that was reasonably heavy, I have an almost 30 inch draw so I was pulling about 61-62# or something.

I decided though, after some advice that it would be better for my form to go to something lighter - so I got a hold of a bow that was about 40 pounds at my draw.

Well by the time it arrived I was shooting super tight groups with my 60s one, so tight I had to buy a fletching jig because I stripped so many feathers putting them in the same hole. Anyway I got this 40# out today and my groups were horrible. I have been shooting one of those smaller targets at about 20 yards and I went from all in the yellow to quite a spread group in the red.

I put about a hundred arrows through that way and got a bit better but still nothing special... so I got the heavy one back out for the next hundred or so and shot yellow again for nearly all of them.

With the light bow it sort of felt... like I wasn't present with the shot if that makes sense?
It was so light it sort of felt like a toy bow whereas any movement with the heavy bow I could feel and correct before I let go of the arrow.

Do you guys think I should persist with the 40# or just keep practicing and getting stronger with the 60? I can hold it very easily now but all evidence points to being better in the long run if you start light...

Thanks for reading the wall of text if you got this far,

Scott.

[mahantango]

A light weight bow is much more sensitive to form, especially your release as it just doesn't rip the string off your fingers like a heavy-weight. Hold that 40 pounder at full draw and try varying the amount of pressure between your index, middle and third finger while watching the tips. Try twisting your hand to torque the string. See how much movement there is? Much more sensitive. Using the light bow for practice will really help your form and improve your accuracy in the long run.

[McDave]

"like I wasn't present with the shot...."  Very good description of body awareness (or lack thereof).  You can, and should, develop the same level of awareness with the lighter bow. In fact, you should strive to increase your level of awareness with all your bows throughout your shooting life. Your lighter bow will allow you, in time, to feel minor muscle movements that you can't feel with the heavier bow. Your shooting with all bows will improve as a result.

The only downside is that your lighter bow will eventually begin to feel normal to you, and your heavier bow will feel too heavy, so be sure to put in some time shooting the heavy bow before you hunt with it. It shouldn't take too much time before it starts feeling normal again.

[olddogrib]

Lots of folks here claim to get a "cleaner" release with heavier poundage and I wouldn't dispute their observations.  It's just that as my beard has gotten whiter, my idea of heavy has evolved.  As has been pointed out, practice will dictate familiarity, but there's a lot of difference between 40 and 60 lbs. I shoot about 49# and just trying to mentally grasp an additional 20 pounds is enough to give me a hernia, LOL!

[Greg Skinner]

Everyone seems to agree that it is better to "start light" when first learning to shoot a long bow or recurve.  However, if you are shooting as well as you indicate you are, I don't think I would quit the heavier bow in favor of the lighter one.

The downside of starting heavier is that you tend to develop bad habits that can be hard to break.  I started out shooting 60 lb bows and I would have been better off using less weight and learning good form.  It has taken me years to re-learn correct form and I have struggled with target panic for a long time.

That being said, I normally shoot my heavier bows (54-56lb) better than my lighter bows (47-48lb).  I don't have nearly as drastic a difference in draw weight as what you are describing and I can't remember that I ever dropped as low as 40# to see how I shot.

For me it is easier to get my back muscles doing what they are supposed to with the heavier bows and I absolutely get a cleaner release.

McDave is right when he says the lighter one will begin to feel "normal" if that is all you shoot.  I personally like to shoot my heavier bows most of the time, but I still get out the lighter ones for form work on occasion.  Lighter is good - just not all the time.

For me shooting the lighter bow has an effect on my timing and rhythm compared with the heavier, so I have to stop and re-educate the pulling muscles.

[Rossco7002]

If you're wrecking fletching with the 60 lbs bow - why change? I shoot heavy and light myself but in your case 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' maybe?

[NothingHappenedToday]

Agree with Rossco. Shoot with the bow you're most accurate with. We all have different definitions of "heavy" and "light." I normally shoot 50# but picked up a #35 Bear Montana at a yardsale (it was only $35!! Too cheap to pass up even if I wasn't planning on shooting it! Wish all bows were priced like that, a dollar a pound) but could not get my shots to fly accurately. Still keep the light bow around for friends that come out to the range with me.

[Stumpkiller]

A heavy bow lets you get away with a deep hook draw and is much more forgiving of a release error.  I pull out a 40# bow every so often and just work on form.  IMHO it pays off.

Easier on arrows when stumping and bunny hunting as well.

[Stagmitis]

Keep the 60# and buy a 65# to alternate train with.

[Safari Scott]

I think I've reached a good compromise. I'm shooting with the 60# at the range but in the backyard I've been practicing with the 40# I'll pull back, hold for a full minute concentrating on keeping my anchors, which are finger just behind my mouth and trying to get a back tension one.

Then I'll let the shot go at 5 metres or so and do this 10 or 15 times.

I think my pain problem that I've been able to establish is my release. I've been using a static release because every time I sort of pull through to make the release it ends up high and left, the grouping amusingly tight but it's just not where I'm aiming.

With the heavier one, as mahantango rightly pointed out, it sort of rips off and goes quite straight.

So I in the end it's best just to use both concurrently for me instead of trying to swap.
Thanks again for the insightful messages everyone.