How to know when your overbowed, ready to drop down in bow weight

[Maddog20/20]

If I can't reach anchor without farting a little bit, I know its time to back off on the draw weight.

Solid advice.

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I would hope it’s air and NOT solid...


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[McDave]

Yes, I agree, it’s not just being able to hold comfortably for the amount of time you want to hold, it’s that plus being able to do it for the number of times you want to shoot.

[moebow]

  I’m just curious when other members know when they are “overbowed “ and its time to drop down in bow weight.
 Not being  able to hit the target?
 If you are snapshooter, and NOT holding the bow back at full draw,  are you able to get away with more bow weight?
If you are an archer that holds at full draw,  is it the amount of time that you would like to hold back a full draw but shake to much?

My answer to this question and I know MANY will disagree -- THAT'S OK!!  If you cannot move your bones into alignment under the stress of the bow, you are over bowed.   Archery is a MOVEMENT sport (not a strength sport)  and If you can't move or have restricted movement under the stress of the bow and cannot achieve good bone alignment you are over bowed!  Shaking, IMO, is NOT a good indicator, nor is the ability to see how long you can hold at full draw.  Those are muscle strength indicators, NOT alignment indicators.  An archer MAY shake a little during the draw that is using muscles, but can that archer achieve bone alignment and find that muscles can actually be relaxed at full draw without the shake??  Line up the bones correctly and you can hold all day (or nearly) without a shake.  So how much bow weight prevents you from finding the bone alignment??

Arne

[newhouse114]

I shoot 65 lbs in both NFAA indoor 300 rounds and for 3D. As I get older I do need to shoot a lot to keep from suffering from fatigue. I try to shoot 100+ arrows a day.

[SL]

What moebow said.
I shot 60 to 65 until my alignment suffered. Something about getting older that brings things to the surface you never thought would bother you. I dropped weight to 50 on my longbows and 45 to my recurve and shoot much better now.

[GregD]

I am with blackmail Bob, if I can not get to full draw after sitting in a stand in single digit temps for a couple of hours it’s time. What I can shoot in the yard or basement when I am warm and loose doesn’t really matter

[lone hunter]

When you don't want to shoot and when you do it isn't enjoyable.

[kwc]

when shoting is no longer one smooth and fluid motion, from the draw to the anchor,the relase and follow thur, your probley over bowed.

[Terry Green]

Naw Naw Naw Dave.....An anchor point is not a destination ...but an evolution to execution...

Rod Jenkins told me we both anchor the same, i.e. never stop pulling , but I just do it faster.

 If you can't get to full extension with ease  and/or having to struggle to do so, then your overbo'd. Proper alignment must be achieved without hindrance.

[Terry Green]

I shoot nothing over 45# for the past 4 years. And I get pass threw so why do I need more?

 Because you're not hunting what I'm hunting ...that's why. 

[Terry Green]

Richard.....if you are having to ask...then that's a good sign you are.

 I haven't shot a bow since Texas in February..... I just went out  And shot several great shots for the midnight arrow thread at 60 pounds.... No problem.

 However I would have been overbo'd with my 70 pound bow at this point in time.....

But I will no doubt be back in the woods this September chasing black bears and mountain hogs with my 70 pound bows.

I have to stay pretty regularly active shooting to shoot my 70 to 80 pound bows..... And I know that.... Therefore any other time of the year when I'm not active I'll grab a 60 or 65 pound bow.

[GCook]

That 45lb bow ain't getting a pass through on this big bugger.

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[Aaron Proffitt 2]

I'd have to say if the bow weight even enters your mind during a shot, might wanna drop some weight .

[sancoon]

I dropped down from 60 to 50 when I turned 74 ,I'll be 79 this year and still try to shoot everyday and comfortably. Why wait to go down in weight after you hurt yourself. Enjoy it while you can

[Angus]

As always, some really good thoughts here!  I dropped down to 45lbs with the new bow, but having not been able to shoot over Winter (too busy skiing!!), I'm able to draw without any difficulty.  I'm thinking though, that the ability to hold at full draw, or nearly so, without engaging the back muscles, should be able to be expanded by simply working out.  We're talking about muscle power after all, right?  Barring injuries, I would think this is simply a training issue for most.  for discussion purposes, let's assume there's a clicker attached to your bow that will snap when the bow's at full draw.  So when I'm talking about holding at full draw, the clicker hasn't snapped yet, but is almost ready to go.  That make sense?

[RedShaft]

I can pull and shoot more weight if snap shooting. Drawing and holding at anchor for 2-3 seconds wears me down much faster.
There has been a huge influx of archers into traditional and I see them doing it right,  shooting lighter poundage bows to start out. Many are teaching on the internet proper form and execution and that is excellent to see.