What weight bow next?

[tennex]

I've been out of archery for a long time and am just getting back into it after having neck, back, hand and shoulder surgeries over the past several years. I'm not rehabbing, but the muscles and flexibility aren't what they used to be. Used to shoot a 45# Bear Tigercat and 50# Martin Saber, but to get back into the game I bought a 30# PSE which actually pulls 32# at 28.

I'm not quite ready to move on in weight, but think it won't be too much longer. Looking for thoughts on whether to go to 40# next or whether that's too big a jump and I should do 35-37#.

Anyone go through this before, or have advice?  Thanks....

[McDave]

By careful selection of arrows, a 35# bow can be as effective for shooting targets as a 40# bow.  For hunting, it would be nice to move on up to a 40# bow at some point.

Do you have any pain?  If so, does shooting the bow aggravate it?  If you don't have any pain, and it's just a matter of being weaker and less flexible than you used to be, then shooting the bow, combined with stretches that they probably gave you as part of your rehab program, could help you to recover your strength.  It is important that you shoot the bow correctly, using your back muscles.  This will enable you to shoot a heavier bow, and also help keep your shoulders from being injured.

[tennex]

There's always pain, but the bow doesn't aggravate it much - mostly just loss of flexibility and strength. Don't feel I need to get back to 50# (though when I was younger and stupider I thought you needed to turn in your Man Card if you couldn't draw 50!). 45 would be nice, but if can live with topping out at 40 if that's how the cards deal.

Big question for me now, is "is going from 30 to 40 too big a jump? Do I need to increase by 5 pound increments?"

Thanks...

[McDave]

There's no inherent problem with going from 30 - 40 pounds. I shoot 40# for months on end, and then decide between my 55 and 60# bow to hunt with.  The first time I draw the heavier bow, I really focus on my back muscles and make sure I draw smoothly without jerking anything.  If I ever found that I couldn't draw the heavier bow slowly and smoothly to full draw, then that would mean that it was too heavy for me.  For example, I have a 65# bow that I love and used to hunt with, but can't draw smoothly to full draw anymore, so it hangs on the wall while I decide what to do with it.

You're not me, you have your own history of injuries, and have to know and trust your own body.  Probably it would be a good idea to find a 40# bow somewhere and try it before you buy one.

[tennex]

Thanks - appreciate the advice!

[ed cowden]

I had a lay off for about 3 years. Developed diabetes and sold all my old bows because they were 50 and over..  I went to a 3 day shooting school and he had a 35 lb. Hoyt recurve. I was amazed that in 3 days I felt the muscles were coming back. They were not being over stressed but were stressed. My next bow was 40 lbs and it was stressing me again. In 2 weeks I was happy again. I am 58 so can not talk for older, but I think if you just work your muscles and put just a little stress on them you will grow into it. 5 lbs I do not think is too heavy a jump. You know your body. If you are unable to shoot more than 10 shots I would say you went too fast.

[tennex]

Thanks Ed. I went up 5# with a Samick Sage and I'll get another set of heavier limes in a few months I think. Also went to 3 under with a deep hook grip and found that to be very helpful with the weight. All is good and I'm seeing progress much faster than I expected!

[RecurveRookie]

I have moved up in draw weight 10# at a time. Let your body rest a day or more between shoots with the heavier bow, and don't overdo it.

 I strained my large-head bicep tendon because I drew with my arm first (instead of my shoulder)  and I shot every day until I was tired (62# bow)

Give your body time to strengthen up.  I have been shooting a 35# recurve since September.

[damascusdave]

I think the best way to progress upward in draw weight is to shoot both right and left handed...by doing that I was able to make the jump from 50 to 60 pounds rather uneventfully at about age 60...my suggestion would be a dual shelf bow of about 35 to 37 pounds next and see how that feels

DDave

Drawing from both sides keeps things balanced, doing very slow butterflies with lighter dumbells helps keep the bones centered in their proper places as well. One tip from a specialist that always rings true. A repeated five second pull with 20 pounds of resistance will cause more strain than a repeated forty pound pull with no holding. He also advised me to never top off a joint's range of motion when under stress. There use to be an article that Howard Hill Archery ran in their info written by a chiropractor. It explained how Hill never suffered from neck and shoulder problems with his heavy bows and constant practise because of his form and quick release. I would advise to look at the 'Hitting 'em like Howard Hill' you tubes of John Schulz.  After forty years of shooting heavy longbows without injury, I hurt myself shooting a target bow with sights.  I got rid of that thing and went back to only shooting Hill style.

[tennex]

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement!

[reddogge]

I would strongly suggest you find someone with a 40# bow and try it. You will learn more in 10 seconds than a bunch of us trying to tell you what to do with your shoulders.