Was overbowed now underbowed

[targets3D]

To make a long story short. I was shooting 40# bow and started to develop short-draw syndrome, it subsided with using the clicker but kept creeping back. I suffered a shoulder injury and was unable to draw bow comfortably for a while to went down to a 20# bow (club recurve) to slowly work up. I noticed my form drastically improved, my draw length increased and I am no have short draw issues. I recently tried a 35# bow to work back up and it felt like a ton - although I could hit my anchor point every time, I could not get that full expansion I was getting with the 20# plus I started to short draw/snap shoot after a few rounds.

Any advise on how to work back up to the 40# without completely ruining my form in the process and short drawing?

Thanks
K

[McDave]

I find that whatever bow I'm using I get used to after a while. A few weeks before hunting season, I'll start using my hunting bow. It feels heavy at first, but after a while it feels normal. Shoot only the number of arrows you can shoot with good form. Never let yourself short draw or snap shoot. Count off a hold time to yourself if you need to, and don't even think about shooting the shot until you reach 3 seconds, or whatever time you wanted to hold.  Let down any shot that doesn't feel right to you.

[targets3D]

Thanks McDave. Sounds like a good standard to go by.


Even when not short drawing (for the first few shots) I notice I can't pull my elbow all the way back as much as with the lighter bow - will that always be the case whenever ones goes lighter?

[Cecil]

Keep shooting the light bow and just pull the 40# bow a few times a day and hold at anchor then let it down.

[McDave]

Even when not short drawing (for the first few shots) I notice I can't pull my elbow all the way back as much as with the lighter bow - will that always be the case whenever ones goes lighter?

 

You should be able to draw any bow you shoot to full draw, which is where your forearm is alligned with the arrow, viewed from above.  When you draw heavier bows, your body may become compressed so your draw length is not as long as it is when you are drawing a lighter bow, even though you are still coming to full draw.

If I couldn't draw a bow to full draw, I wouldn't shoot that bow.  I recognize your problem, in that you want to be able to draw at least a 35# bow, which is toward the minimum end of bow weights as far as being able to get any kind of performance out of it.  You made reference to some shoulder injuries, and I guess the most important thing is to get those taken care of first.  A physical therapist could advise you best, but I would assume you would be told to not push it and just draw whatever weight of bow you can draw comfortably until things are completely healed.

I'm shooting a left-handed bow on alternate days as part of rehab for tennis elbow.  It really does seem to help it to pull one day and push the next with ultra-lightweight bows.  So I can sympathize, as I have a wall full of heavier bows I would like to be shooting, but it is more fun to shoot the lighter bows than not be shooting at all.

[gringol]

Try coming to full draw and then slowly letting the string return to rest without releasing.  This has helped me strengthen my muscles without having to move to a heavier bow.  If your doc will allow it, it might help to do this with your heavier bow without shooting it.  Just exercise.  I also cut arrows to my draw length then feel the back of the point touch my index finger as part of my drawing routine.  Others may have better ideas, but it's helped me.

[targets3D]

Originally posted by gringol:
Try coming to full draw and then slowly letting the string return to rest without releasing.  

Thanks will give that a try. Doc told me to gradually build up - problem is I am using a 20# and my next one up is 35#. I am actually considering getting a 30# bow and shooting that 3D for 6 months or so to get my form down before moving to my 40# hunting bow

[skilonbw]

Have you tried to do any strength building exercises with one of the surgical tubing gyms to work on your upperbody strength?

[TEX-O-BOB]

Whenever I'm having problems with shooting be it short draw, release, or whatever, I always revert back to a lighter bow and a blindfold. I get as close to the target as I can and shoot a few ends with my eyes covered. This takes all the focus off aiming and allows me to concentrate on form and function and nothing else. Then, after I've developed the right "feel" again I go back to shooting my heavier bow with my eyes open and my shooting always improves. I've tried a clicker but found myself getting even more twitchy waiting for it to click. Hope this helps.