Draw weight vs bad shoulders

[inthecrease]

Hey folks, I recently got back into trad.(2 months ago)after being away for 20+ years with wheelies and am proud to say I have not had as much fun with a bow since my youth of playing around with an old Bear. Been following this forum closely picking up bits of info. here and there to try. Of course some has worked for me and some not,but it has all been quite enjoyable.
Now to the subject matter... I started back with a 40# longbow to get the feel on form and such and have progressed to a 45# for the last month.
I recently ordered a 53# Maddog r/d longbow which I should receive in a few weeks. However, I have had 3 shoulder surgeries in the last 5 years, 2 on bow shoulder and 1 on draw shoulder. I have had zero ill effects with the 40 or 45 on the shoulders. Do you guys think 53# is too big of a jump? Also, do Mikes bows seem to draw less than actual poundage? Your responses will help me make up my mind as to whether I should call Mike and ask him to reduce weight. By the way Im no spring chicken, Im 51 but can easily handle a 53# unless yall think Im asking for shoulder trouble. Sorry for the long read. Give me your thoughts.
Thanks, David

[Pat B.]

I guessing only you know the answer...

Me, I wouldn't want to chance having another surgery because of a few extra pounds. I've had two back surgeries, ain't fun...

[dadto2]

What Pat said.If it works dont fix it.I would not push it.There are a lot of people shooting 40-45 on here why not go with 47-48 if you want to go up in weight?

[mike g]

As mentioned only you can tell what a confy weight is.
    Nothing wrong with a good performing 45# Bow.
Make sure your arrows are flying true....

[Dick in Seattle]

always being known as shy and retiring, and unlikely to express direct opinions, I will say, "It's enough too much to border on being foolish!"   But of course, that's only MHO.  

Seriously, what do you need that weight for?  Going moose or elk hunting, maybe.. .anything else, 40 - 45 is fine.  Thing is, you can probably build up to the 53# OK and do fine... for awhile, but it absolutely will tell on you and you'll have to drop down in weight eventually... maybe drastically... or maybe stop shooting all together.  So, it's a question of shoot 40# comfortably and well for maybe another 10 years or longer, or shoot 53# with some strain and pain for a couple of years, then have to drop to 20# or stop altogether.   Think about it.

Oh, yeah, what are my qualifications for such a strong opinion...   I've spent the past winter selling all of my 45 - 60# bows because I can't pull them anymore without pain and replacing them with 35# bows in hopes of a few more years of shooting.   Once the shoulder starts to talk to you, listen to it!

Dick in Seattle (temporarily in Cleveland)

[inthecrease]

Thanks to all for your thoughts. Im primarily a whitetail and turkey hunter (bow only) and came to the realization after reading so many posts that I probably over did the poundage when ordering this bow. Ive emailed the bowyer (Mike) and waiting on his reply as to whether I am too late to make the wt. change. Hope not...he is pretty much backed up right now, but if so Ill just deal with it accordingly.Have a 15 year old son who would be glad to take it out of my hands. Once again, Thanks gents and this is a great site.

[laddy]

I would advise to look real close how Howard Hill drew his bow, it takes some of the ware and tare off the drawing shoulder motion and makes it a bit easier to get the bow back.

[Chris Surtees]

I would start out with what you know you can shoot comfortably. What your practice session numbers are is what you need to be able to do with little or no pain.

8#'s is a big jump and something you may want to work up to. Better safe than sorry and a big plus is you will need to buy another bow and we all know you can not have too many bows.

This is just my opinion and only you really know what you can and can not handle.

Good luck brother

[JEFF B]

stick with 45 to 48 # i have a bad bow arm and i only shoot 43 to 48# bows any more than that and it hurts. good luck on that

[beachbowhunter]

If you practice good form using back tension you really can protect your joints. Let the big muscles do the work. I bet you won't even notice.

I watch my friends shoot wheelie bows with their releases, with their wrists bent and arms crooked and doing the wiggle to pull it past the break over...talk about bad ergonomics! They all have shoulder problems.

[Bonebuster]

Be brave.

Shoulder injuries nevery totally go away, regardless of surgery, or thereapy. They are always waiting for a chance to reappear. Strength, and knowing your limitations is the key in preventing further injury.

Rehab is a SLOW process. Some types of injuries prevent further strenghtening of the shoulder. There is not much that can be done except limit stress to the injured shoulder.

Any type of use that causes pain should be avoided. The pain, as you well know means inflamation, and irritation. Pain indicates a set back.

However, any activity that can increase strength WITHOUT causing pain can help strengthen your entire shoulder to help compensate for weak areas.

I`m forty two now, but before I was twenty five , I had dislocated my right shoulder twice, and my left once.(motocross) My injuries were severe.

SLOWLY increasing strenght is the only thing that has helped me prevent pain and further injury.  

In short, depending on your particular type of injury, if you treat your shoulder as if it is weak, it will ALWAYS be weak.

Shooting a bow, WITHOUT causing pain is VERY good therapy for a bad shoulder. If a person can increase bow weight a little at a time WITHOUT causing pain is better yet. The stronger you can become, the better, regardless of age.

Only you can tell how 53 lbs feels. If it feels good, then go for it. Just like the forty pound longbow, start slowly, with short shooting sessions, and move up from there.

Good luck.

[DeerSpotter]

David,

I have done the same thing as you have, only I have not had surgery, but as some have said;
" when your shoulders talk, you will listen" I started out with 53# and found that I was, for one, not accurate, and my shoulders hurt, I have reduced my bows, to 43 lbs., I did have one custom-made and I found out that it is actually 45 lbs. instead of 43 lbs., 45 lbs. is my maximum of what I want, I have found that I am accurate and my shoulders do not hurt.

And 45 lbs. is enough for hunting deer, it is limiting as far as hunting elk, but not enough if you stay within the limitations and discipline yourself.

Besides it's more fun reading the stories of others going elk hunting, and you don't even have to break a sweat !  I'm also going bear hunting with my 43#, I think I'll use the Bob Lee "Hunter" it's good for tree stand, and is also good for shooting inside a blind.  It's 56", it's a great little bow.

And like others of said, you will have to make the decision, there are a lot of guys on here that shot between 40-45 #, I also think you have more confidence in a bow that doesn't give you pain.  If you look on the classifieds, you will find more bows with higher poundage for sale, and the lower poundage bows do not stayed on there very long.

Pastor Carl

[inthecrease]

Thanks for all of your thoughts.I have really worked hard on my shoulders since all the surgeries and the screws in both seem to be doing the job they are designed to do. Really, I think they have gotten stronger and more flexible drawing and shooting. Yall just helped me solidify the thoughts I was having about an 8# jump being to much and I certainly do not care to go under the knife again. I spoke (email) with Mike last night and I caught him just in time. He has the riser cut and ground and was working on lams. for the limbs and looks as though it is going to finish out around 47 to 48. This is going to be right in my wheelhouse! I think it will take care of these old broke down shoulders and make sweet work of these 150# deer that I hunt and... should be showing up at the door in 2 weeks rather than 6. Once again, Thanks for your input.