An Important Lesson Relearned...

[Dick in Seattle]

Some lessons we learn, know well, but still end up having to re-learn.

I knew Smoke, my most recent build, was a stiff pull for me at 41@28, but I'd shot a few shots in the yard and managed them OK, plus the chrono shots. I couldn't shoot my full course in the yard as we have a new lawn down and can't walk on it yet, or I'd probably not have made the decision I did. I took Smoke out to the range today. What a disaster! Worst round of shooting I've done in a couple of years.

So, I get home and decided I really, really needed to go back and check what the draw was on my favorite regular shooters. OK, Sweet Georgia Brown is 27@28 and Bamboozle is 31@28. (For those that don't know, I'm muscle impaired.)  That's 15# and 11# difference! A ten pound jump is a lot at 45 to 55. Percentage wise, from the level I'm used to shooting to this bow, it's huge! I'm used to shooting a wide variety of bow weights for a few shots for test purposes, but a few shots and a full course are entirely different.

Now I'm sitting here really exhausted and with an aching shoulder.  I can see where Georgia and Bamboozle will have to take care of my shooting at Moses Lake.

So guys, when someone tells you not to try to take too big a jump in poundage (which advice I've given many times!), believe them!  Five pounds is more than enough to move up at a time, and shoot that for a goodly time and get really, really used to it before you try another notch.

Amen, brother! I bit off more than I could chew on a new Sarrels 3-pc longbow before I went to Africa in '09. I have had the weight shaved off on that bow twice and finally got it where it should be.

Good advicw, Dick.

Bisch

[straitera]

Yep that's a jump at those weights. Take it easy Dick. Ever try shooting LH? Lot of the old guys used to years ago.

[GRINCH]

Due to a neck injury 55 is my max now and at that only a couple of rounds,ordered a bowfit to try and build back up but I'm happy shooting 45-50lbs seem to shoot better.

[DeerSpotter]

I have the same problem ,My bow arm .  I can take and throw a piece of paper watered up to A waste can and I throw it the wrong way ,I'm really hurting.  I'm going in Tuesday ,And the doctor will be turning my arm every which way but loose to figure out what's going on .I'm hoping I don't hear those words "You need surgery "

My max poundage is 36# consistently ,42 pounds once in awhile ,At least for right now.

And I have gotten some good advice from Dick because of that . And I did not know that Dick ,That it's called "muscle impaired"

I've had weak arm all my life, I was 2 1/2 pounds when I was born over 60 years ago.  My muscles never did develop. So I've never had large arms .

But I've learned to be happy with a lower poundage bows .

You just take care of yourself Dick. So you can keep given us that good advice from experience .


Carl

[jacobsladder]

Dick..what is most important is that you are still enjoying the flight of an arrow... I admire you for keepin on !

[George Vernon]

Well placed hit from a bow you can handle trumps a miss or bad hit from a heavyweight.

[Friend]

A. Listen to your mind

B. Listen to your body

Now which one do most non veteran traditionalist pic. Even as veterans we may not be immune.

Trad draw wt's should be w/i our comfort zone thus providing enhanced comfort, accuracy, pleasure and longevity. Optimize your arrow before condsidering moving up in draw wt. if there is a qualified need.

[JohnnyWayne]

I tried to jump from 40 to 50 at the range, overdid it and took my shoulder out for like a week, scared the daylights outta me, thought I wrecked myself.

Shooting a 46 pounder now and quite happy with it. Working up to the higher weights a little more slowly, don't wanna head down that road again anytime soon  :eek:  

Lesson learned    

[Stone Knife]

That's why i just stay at 46 pounds on my recurve and 48 on my Hill. I have nothing to prove and get by just fine at the range and in the woods with that.

[SS Snuffer]

I'll get younger and better lookin about the same time I get stronger sooo  42lbs will have to do.

[Dick in Seattle]

"I'll get younger and better lookin ..."

Let me know how that goes!  I like the concept...

[7 Lakes]

I built several 30# bows for guys that wouldn't listen to what their shoulder was saying.

The bad thing is all of them were in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery and probably should have started with 15-20 pounders.

[bsoper]

Sorry to hear that, but it makes me feel better that even the old guys make the same mistakes as us rookies sometimes