shooting light bows.

[smooth shooter]

Have been shooting traditional bows for 5 years now. When i started shooting every body was shooting 55 to 60 pounds. Im not a small person and strong enough. What i saw was to many people struggle with the weight of their bows. now im shooting 45 pounds instead of 56 pounds and can not believe how much better my shooting is and how much more i enjoy shooting.

[alex m]

Me , too. I went from 65# to 50# and lately to 45#.  This was all due to an injury, but the kicker is that just like you, my shooting and enjoyment have both improved.  I'm holding the line at 45# as long as I can, but if I have to drop to 40#, I will if that's what it takes to keep hunting.  I've noticed I draw smoother now and hold longer without thinking about it. Alex

[Larry m]

Definitely easier on the wear and tear of the shoulder. Everything I shoot now day's is in the mid to lower 40# range. Matched up with the right shaft the cast is still excellent.

[gillchaser]

I've just started back shooting after a few years layoff and I'm  shooting 40# and loving it . It's  put the fun back into shooting . Less damage to arrows when you bounce one off a tree too.  gillchaser

[Roy Steele]

Maybe your like me and just getting older.I thought I was bad going from 61#s down to 55#s

[redant 60/65]

Hey Larry
I too have dropped down in weight for my 3-D shooting #48 on my Morrison much more fun. But I still hunt with #54.

[Larry m]

Larry
Trying to stay in the game as long as I can. Have had shoulder problems to much in the past and refuse to even think of picking up a wheelie. With low #s I no longer have problems.
Hey, missed you and Mark at Bear State last week....

[zetabow]

Seems the older I get the lower the poundage I shoot lol

[PrarrieDog]

Used to pull 62 on a regular basis. Had it reduced to 57#. It's now the heavist bow I own.
The next bow is 55# it's the one I shoot the most. The last bow I shoot regularly is 52# and it is the most fun to shoot. My next one will be 46/48. I guess this is self explanitory

[Andy Cooper]

I guess I'm just wierd. After a bowhand bone spur and a shoulder injury, I'd dropped back to 50#...now I'm wanting to work back up into the mid 60# range. I don't know what will happen as I age, but I'm only 54 now, so I should have some time, yet, to find out.
                       

PS: I don't, though, regret giving away the 80# Martin!

[ncsaknech1ydh]

Your absolutly right, I shot heavy bows for years and for me it just added all kinds of problems such as bad shooting form and alignment, I'm now shooting several bows from 48 to 56 pounds at my draw length and am now enjoying shooting more than ever before. No more unwanted snap shooting, not being able to come to full draw. To me its like so many people running way to much only to have bad knees, hips and other joints as the get older, I want my shoulders and elbows to hold up as long as possible as I get older, I've got alot of 'hunting dreams' to fill in my golden years...Ha!    And I'm only 48, so I have along time to take care of myself! With the right broadhead 56 pounds will kill anything on this continent, and thats good enough for me! DK.

[jhansen]

I'm chasing 60 years old and had some pretty extensive surgery to my throat as well.  My newest bow pulls 46# and I can shoot it comfortably.  I think I'll just stay with it.  46# is plenty for anything I'm likely to hunt.

John

[smokin joe]

I agree about the effects of age on shooting. Lower weight bows become necessary as our joints get more arthritic. Even if our muscles can handle higher weight, often our damaged joints cannot.

I am now in my early 60s. In moving from 60# to 50# and under, I have found that my release needs more attention. With the heavier bows the draw weight took care of the release -- now I just have to concentrate on a cleaner release. Nevertheless, the ability to hold longer at full draw is such a big advantage for me that I am deadlier with a lighter bow.

Well placed shots with sharp broadheads are the thing that gets the job done. We all know that.
Joe

[HARRY CARRY]

I get "chided" by my "kiddie weight" bows, especially when new folks join our little gang at 3D and golf shoots.  Chided, that is, until they watch me shoot, and my results.

My Archery program is all target, not a hunting program.  Bales, DART, 3D and golf/stumping is what I truly enjoy.  Since I'm not out tracking nor taking game, my emphasis is on hitting the target, striving for a repeatable good form, and not loosing arrows.  My lefty bows are all between 31# and 37#, with corresponding 17xx and 18xx series alums.

I put in enough time as a competetive racewalker to realize that I no longer need to prove anything to anyone else.  I do what I enjoy, and try to do it well, for my sake alone.  If someone needs to get bent-out-of-shape because I shoot a 33# Damon Howatt Vigilante, I will not shoot with that person.

Shoot well, have fun!  Aloha & 73!  Randy

[kenn1320]

I think as long as you continue to shoot a certain weight, a 5-8lb lighter bow is always going to feel easier and fun to shoot. When I first started trad, my 45lb bow felt heavy and I struggled to get good form. Then I found a good deal on a new bow that was 55lbs. I felt I would "grow" into that weight. Well Im shooting it, but have tingling fingers and find myself not consistent on my anchoring. However that being said I pick up the 45lb bow and its like a toy. I can hold anchor forever and focus on the target with ease. Ive thought about getting a 65lb bow just to make the 55lb one feel easy, but havent found one with the right price.

[gillchaser]

Originally posted by HARRY CARRY:
I get "chided" by my "kiddie weight" bows, especially when new folks join our little gang at 3D and golf shoots.  Chided, that is, until they watch me shoot, and my results.

My Archery program is all target, not a hunting program.  Bales, DART, 3D and golf/stumping is what I truly enjoy.  Since I'm not out tracking nor taking game, my emphasis is on hitting the target, striving for a repeatable good form, and not loosing arrows.  My lefty bows are all between 31# and 37#, with corresponding 17xx and 18xx series alums.

I put in enough time as a competetive racewalker to realize that I no longer need to prove anything to anyone else.  I do what I enjoy, and try to do it well, for my sake alone.  If someone needs to get bent-out-of-shape because I shoot a 33# Damon Howatt Vigilante, I will not shoot with that person.

Shoot well, have fun!  Aloha & 73!  Randy

Great post Randy , I totally agree with you . It's all about enjoying what you're doing . And if you're hurting , you ain't enjoying . gillchaser

[royking]

I shoot 42# theses days matched with 5/16
wood arrows no problem reaching out

[d from phx]

I am an Ol Dude and am shooting a 37lblongbow for target and 3D.

[Stumpkiller]

I'll tell you one thing: when you go stumping with a 60# bow it costs more by the end of the day vs. a 48# +/- bow.      

I keep a selection of bows (note the bows on my signature line are all spaced 2 to 3# apart by design) and I wean off my heavies after big-game season and shoot the fun bows until late summer.  Though right now I'm still playing with my mid-range 52#@28" Browning Explorer.

With some work and futzing you can get the arrows from various weight bows to fly about the same arc so switching doesn't mess your mind up so.

Depending on your release, a light bow can be more difficult to get a good release with.  You just stop holding back a heavy bow.  It's easier to hook your fingers and "pluck" a light one.

[bowrocker07]

49# seems to be my magic number.  There are NUMEROUS bowyers that make bows with ample speed, and matched with the right arrow, a mid 40s weight is enough to take down most North American Game.  Not only does shoes shooting a lighter bow promote better form, but they also are MUCH more comfortable to shoot.  Being over-bowed can not only hurt accuracy (and your shoulder), but cause strain on your form, whether it be not reaching your anchor, poor release...etc.