Draw length increased!

[S.C. Hunter]

Glad to report I have made a few small changes in my shooting style and my draw length has moved a full inch. I read a little training technique on here for a bow workout or should I say bow ready conditioning. I have been working on holding the bow at full draw using back tension for 20 seconds at a time. I am currently able to get 6 good reps and if I rest I can squeeze out the other 4 reps. 20 seconds seems like forever for me as I am a touch and go shooter and have always shot pretty well. I shoot 55#-57# @28" bows for the most part. My old draw was 28.5" and now today I had mt daughter check it with a marker and she put the mark on the very back of point. My arrows are 29.5" to back of point. I repeated this 4 different times, one time the mark was barely on the shaft itself. I guess I need to make my next set of arrows a little longer. Looks like I picked up 2#-3# on my bow as well.

Any pointers for getting the most out of this training tip I have been trying would be appreciated.

[moebow]

If you aren't yet, eventually, you will start to feel the bones supporting the weight of the bow and your muscles only holding your bones in alignment.  You will almost feel like you get a "let off" at full draw like in a C bow when done correctly.

Arne

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by moebow:
If you aren't yet, eventually, you will start to feel the bones supporting the weight of the bow and your muscles only holding your bones in alignment.  You will almost feel like you get a "let off" at full draw like in a C bow when done correctly.

Arne

I am starting to get a little of that feel but not 100% yet. I can tell you though after I do this routine I definitely feel it right between my shoulder blades and on the rear part of my shoulders. Like I said I am a touch and go shooter so this seems like forever for me when I hold at full draw for this long. Now for that feeling you mentioned when I first draw and hold for about the first 5-10 seconds I do feel the bow being supported mostly with the bones and the muscles in my back squeezing together.

[South MS Bowhunter]

What are some tips/exercises to increased the strength of the back muscles and how do you know your there?  I there a surefire  way or  feel to know your correctly engaging them?

I have TP bad and would like to get my back into the shot as I believe this would help me to gain control of the shot.

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by South MS Bowhunter:
What are some tips/exercises to increased the strength of the back muscles and how do you know your there?  I there a surefire  way or  feel to know your correctly engaging them?

I have TP bad and would like to get my back into the shot as I believe this would help me to gain control of the shot.

Moebow or Terry may be able to help more with this subject. What I can tell you is I watched a few videos of Moebow and another video for finding your back on this same forum. You can definitely feel it after the first workout when you are engage the proper muscles. I feel it mostly between my shoulder blades and the back of my shoulders. I also held the bow in my bow hand a little more loose than normal for me and let the bow settle against the bone at the base of my thumb. I took a deeper hook on the string and focused on drawing with a small J shaped motion around and to the rear. I do my exercise with a arrow on the string but no target. I don't know what it is but I can hold the bow longer with less effort when no target is present. The only reason a use a arrow is because I check my hold in the mirror and see if I start to collapse.

I hope that helps maybe Moebow or Terry will come along and chime in as well. Sorry I forgot to mention Ranger B made the video I was referring to for finding your back.

[moebow]

South,

S.C. gave a pretty good answer.  Most folks don't really need to increase their back strength, they just need to learn to use it correctly.  Many tend to be unable to allow the string arm to be as relaxed a possible and to move their string shoulder to the back. Most want to "strong arm" draw rather than use leverage. This is an area where the "form master" can help you learn the feel.

It is also quite difficult to LEARN to do this with a hunting weight bow.  As S.C. mentioned, Ranger B (Jimmy Blackmon) has a good video out called " finding your back" (I think it's called).  I also have done a couple videos that show the shoulder movement, one, the rubber band video shows at length the shoulder movement you are looking for.

Using that shoulder movement to "lever" your upper arm bone into the bow, once learned, really helps when you want to shoot a heavier bow.  The movement is just very hard to LEARN on a heavier bow.  Even with just the rubber band, you WILL feel it in the morning but it doesn't take very long before shooting 50 or more pounds will be pretty easy.  Again, not really a matter of strength but of leverage and learning the shoulder movement required.

Arne

[South MS Bowhunter]

Thanks Arne and Kerry,

I did view Jimmy’s video and went out today and shot a lot working on trying to perform the proper back movement.  Arne and I see your point with a hunting weight bow (i’m pulling 56# when at full draw) with TP it will take so work to get it down.

[S.C. Hunter]

Moebow, thanks for your tips that you gave in response to my PM's. I have seen very good improvements in my form and back tension. I no longer feel the urge to release the arrow upon reaching my anchor like I did before. I feel comfortable holding at full draw if I need to unlike before when I would shoot at a target.

The practice you suggested without a target present was a huge help. I am still working to make it my own and not let the old habits creep back into my shooting. Thanks!