How long can you hold it?

[Millertime10]

I did a little test this evening to see how long I could hold my bow at full draw. I held it at a solid anchor for 45 secs and had to let down just after 1 minute. I would not feel comfortable taking a shot at an animal after 45-50 secs of holding at full draw.

Is this acceptable, or am I over bowed? Has anyone ever timed their self?

[fireball31]

I would say since fred said your good if you can hold for 10 seconds. Your doing fine. I can hold without shaking for about 25 seconds

[JamesKerr]

I can make an accurate shot after holding for 10 seconds. This is good enough for Fred and Byron so it's good enough for me.

[L. E. Carroll]

As far as shooting goes, I shoot 53-58# and can hold it 25 seconds or a bit over if need be...

I have to admit though, when I saw your user name.."Millertime10", I thought perhaps we were discussing something else      

[Geezer]

My wife was timing me the other morning and she said my longest time was 20 seconds, but sometimes I couldn't hold it much longer than 15, or so.

[BOWMARKS]

With the "When nature calls" topic going now I thought the same as you Gene!!      

[xtrema312]

10 sec for sure.  Much longer and I just let off a little nice and slow.

[Hermon]

For me anyway, the time I can hold at full draw in the back yard and the time I can hold at full draw with a nice buck in front of me are two different things.  Call it buck fever or whatever, but I shake a lot more when hunting.

[Looper]

Long enough, I guess. I don't know that I've ever timed myself. On one doe, I held my 64# Hickory self bow for a long time waiting for her to step out from behind a tree. I had drawn when her head was hidden and was expecting her to continue walking. She stopped right as her head came into to view and stared right at me. After about 30 seconds, she dropped her head and took one step. I shot her through the front of her lungs at about 8 steps. I couldn't have held another second, though.

[Archie]

Interesting question!  I had to sit at full draw for what seemed like an eternity yesterday afternoon, on a doe that had busted me.  I just now timed myself on my 48# @ 31" longbow, and when I glanced at the watch, it was 1 min 12 sec.  I could have held some 10-20 seconds longer, but that was good enough to give me some confidence.  I may be considered a cheater, though, because I often hold for up to 10 seconds on every practice shot.

[Pat B]

I shoot mostly selfbows and wouldn't dare hold it more than a second or two. I could probably hold it for 10 seconds with no problems but wouldn't. When it is time to shoot I draw and shoot.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I've always found my accuracy seems much better with a shorter hold time, and rarely hold more than 3 seconds when i do. i prefer a one fluid motion shot and release as i hit anchor as i exhale.... works for me.

When i get busted, I'd rather let down, than blow the shot trying to stay at full draw too long.

[David Yukon]

I'm with Kirk, I never thought about timing my self, but never tryed to old it realy long! I feel like I shoot better if it is in one fluid motion!!

[legends1]

WHEN I SHOOT I OFTEN HERE FROM PEOPLE "HOW DO YOU HOLD SO LONG ? " SO I GUESS I HOLD LONGER THAN MOST.IT WORKS FOR ME.

[Thumper Dunker]

Four days ten minutes and thirty seconds.     Maybe about 20 seconds like the rest .

[Bjorn]

I aim before the draw and during the draw hold for 2-4 seconds and shoot; or let it back down. I can hold my bow for 20 secs but could never see the point in the field.

[BobCo 1965]

For strengthening, we do SPT's. One of the SPT's includes a hold. When we reach 5 sets of 1 minute holds (two minutes in between sets) we move up in weight (can add therabands on the same bow).

In a shot sequence, though, I would say 4 seconds would be about max.

[Bowhunter57]

I've never timed how long I can hold, but my standard draw is approx. 10 seconds, before I release. I am  not  a snap shooter, nor could I ever be, as my accuracy deteriorates with a quick draw/release.

Bowhunter57

[AllenR]

I can keep my bow drawn for about a minute.  However, I can maintain good form at full draw for about 10 seconds.  After that my bow arm gradually comes up and my alignment is lost.

It's something that I should work on. The old "over train" theory.  

Allen