Moving up in weight..

[DanielB89]

I was wondering how everyone found the process of increasing bow weight.  I am wanting to move up to around #60 and currently have 2 set ups that are both around #52@29.  


I was just wondering how long it took you to get used to the heavier weight.  


Thanks Fellas,

Daniel

[atatarpm]

If you have not read "The argument for heavey bows" thread yet you should there is a lot of good and useful info in that thread.

[M60gunner]

Kind of depends on you and what kind of shape your in. Also your age factors in as well. When I was a young buck, 40 or so, I increased my draw weight from 70# to 85# in about a month. Believe it or not simple push-ups 3 times a day plus a normal gym routine of some weight training.
Fast forward to today, at 70 I am starting to struggle to maintain the weights I like which is 60# top end.
The key is not to overdo any one excersie and quit before you pull a muscle or worst. For starters simple bow excersies, pull bow back to full draw, or as far as you can, then slowly let down in stages counting to 10 at each stage. Do this with both arms to build both sides. Work yourself up to 10 reps on each side. Of course you will take some time to get there but agian you want to proceed at a pace your body tells you is OK.

[MnFn]

When I moved up in weight about twenty years ago, I talked to Dick Robertson because I ordered a 60# longbow from him.  He suggested building up strength by easing into shooting the heavier bow by limiting myself initially to 5 shots per day, and gradually work up.  You will know when to increase reps.  That worked for me.

[kill shot]

I used 45-50# bows for years when a friend of mine bought a new bow at a heivier weight. He said he could shoot a bow with more poundage better. I thought he was crazy till I did the same. A bow with more poundage to me is less spungy at full draw. I like the solid feel at full draw. But thats me.

[threeundr]

Personally, I shot 60 pound bows when I was alot younger. I ended up doing alot of damage to my shoulders because I simply shot too much. I typically shot every day, hundreds of arrows. Over the years I continued to shoot every day, but I had to keep coming down in weight. I eventually was shooting 40 pound bows and dealing with alot of pain. I stopped shooting for awhile, and when I started back, I started with 40 pounds. I decided to limit my shooting to once every 3 days. In the process I was giving my muscles time to heal and building strength in the process. Each time I became comfortable with a given weight, I would move up 5 lbs. I am now shooting 70 lbs and I am 25 years older than I was when I shot 60 lb. bows. This is just my personal experience. It may not work for everyone.

[Possum Head]

We will all have a different story. Mine is I went up 10# and loved it. If you are the ACTIVE SHOOTER I think you are you'll do just fine. I went to a H. Hill shoot years ago right when I stepped up and after shooting all day long fatigue set in but not since. Let us know how it goes. Frankly I enjoy the extra oomph.

[pdk25]

Daniel, you are going to be fine.  You are young and healthy, and it isn't that big of a jump.  Ranger 3, I guess anything is possible, but we all are different.  Most of the archers with shoulder problems have injured them through other activities.  Leo markert still shot 90# bows while in his 70's without shoulder problems.

[Terry Green]

thanks Patrick. .....not sure what the issue is but we are dealing with it.  this is not the only post we've had to deal with

[Russ Clagett]

One thing to keep in mind...and I think Terry brought it up in the heavier bow discussion...while you're training yourself slowly to draw the heavier bow it's truly important to do it on both sides...even though you're not actually gonna shoot the right handed bow left handed...you still need to train both sides symetrically...

That make sense...?

When Terry mentioned that it made sense to me in terms of strengthening both sides of the body and hopefully avoid injury.

[Sam McMichael]

I guess I'll relearn the means of increasing in weight (maybe). I have shoulder surgery scheduled for Feb. 18, which will take me totally out of shooting for a time. The doctor says I may never be able to pull bows as heavy as I used to.

As a young guy, I simply got the heavier bow and shot only as many arrows as I could do comfortably. Over a few weeks, I could shoot more and more arrows until ultimately, I could shoot as many as I wanted. I hope this method works again as I build up after my shoulder is fixed. The doc reminded me that I am no longer a teen ager and that heavy weight may not ever happen again.

[Terry Green]

Yes Russ....that and properly drawing the bow.  Doesn't hurt to warm up either...when training with a heavier bow that what you want to hunt with...

You should 'train up' till you can shoot the weight you want...then 'train' with a little heavier bow so you wont have to 'warm up' with the bow you want to hunt with as you may not get a chance to do a few draws before you get your '1st shot' at an animal.

[Jabar]

Thanks for keeping this site on track.  I started to say something then decided not to, but now I have reconsidered.

I saw the post that was removed, besides the other, the quote 'XX#s is fine for what I hunt' - Thanks, but it not be fine for what I hunt, or what I want to hunt.  I might want to hunt more than butterflies and parakeets.

[Terry Green]

BTW....there is a lot of info on the thread 'The argument FOR heavy bows' about 'how to' train.

[Pointer]

I've found the best way is to just shoot a few arrows with that heavier bow each day. After a week I add a few more and then just continue that for a few weeks.

[Archie]

I haven't shot at all for about 2 months.  As I work back into shooting, I like to just pull my bows for exercise.  I do a couple of sets of 10 with each arm, pulling and holding for about 5 seconds each time.  I may do another set of 10 after I'm "worked out", or else maybe 2 or 3 sets of 5.  If I feel weak or tired -- maybe just due to a hard day at work -- I just stop and come back to it the next day.  I feel that there's no need to push it or hurt myself.  I still haven't shot recently, but when I start, I'll be ready for it.

Also, I like to work my bow-draw exercises into a broader regimen of biceps/triceps/shoulder exercises.  It becomes another exercise tool for me... instead of a Bowflex, I just draw my bow!

[NY Yankee]

LOL, Just had a good memory. When I was a teenager (early 80's) I saved up and bought a high end compound. It was rated to 80 pounds but I had it in my head I was going to shoot 80 come hell or high water so I cranked it right down to the stops (which I learned later is not a good thing to do).
I just yanked her back and shot an I could hit tomatoes at 40 yards. One day I had her put on a scale at a shop and I found out I had been pulling like 89 pounds to the brake over. Regularly. Couldn't do it now though. We had a good laugh about it. Sorry this didn't pertain to your post.