How long can you hold at full draw?

[Tom Anderson]

While shooting with a friend this past weekend, I realized that I'm having a difficult time holding my bow at full draw for very long...perhaps I'm overbowed?  I mean, I could hold it, but I wasn't enjoying it one bit.  Only 44#'s, too, though I've got a "wimp" excuse with bum shoulders from 20 yrs. of weightlifting.

So, how long should I be able to hold comfortably at full draw?

[Cherokee Scout]

It varies, but if you can hold for 3-4 seconds, that should be plenty.

[paradocs]

I tend to shoot fairly quick, but can hold at full draw for 8-10 seconds at my chosen weight.  Are you using your back muscles at full draw?  It'll take a load off those shoulders.

[Biggie Hoffman]

I think I hold at full draw for .002 seconds.

[owlbait]

Long Enough!

[joe vt]

I have always wondered about that question. And can there be a "rule" to this that gives light to being over bowed?

[Larry247]

It depends on where the deer is and when i'm going to get the shot off as to how long i can hold it.


I don't shoot anymore wieght than i can't hold for at least 10sec's.

[Curveman]

I don't believe there is a rule but you should be able to draw the bow all the way to your anchor on a cold morning in perfect form without having to wiggle etc. But to arbitrarily state that it one has to be able to hold it for say "10 seconds" is nonsense for why not 8 or 12 or 40 seconds? etc. If you've been focusing on a spot and then hit your anchor why hold it? I can hold it longer but then I start thinking (and doubting) too much and I am more likely to miss.

[frassettor]

I found out the longer I hold, the worst my realease

[dino]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
I think I hold at full draw for .002 seconds.

I think Biggie holds longer than I do  

[d. ward]

Remember the old slogun,Fred Bear (snap shooting king) showed me how ???? well I learned from watching Fred and I'am a snap shooter.I have always been a snap shooter since the begaining and ai'nt about to change......I'am with Biggie I hold for about.001-.002 10ths of a second,if even that...When I hit my anchor,the arrow is gone.But now thats just me,when your on target let her fly....I don't belive there is any rule for holding at full draw....My buddy holds 65# for about 18-20 second....but he only does it because he can..and he knows I can't.So he thinks it's a big deal to hold 65# for 18 second...bowdoc

[hogdancer]

I think Curveman said something pretty important, be able to draw on a cold morning. I can comfortably shoot 65# but I learned the hard way that on a cold morning after I have been sitting for an hour or so there is no way I am going to comfortably draw that bow, if at all. I shoot about 55# , I am a hunter though and don't care at all about 3d shooting , I guess that could be differant.

[Biggie Hoffman]

So to try and answer Tom's question, you should be able to "hold" at full draw as long as it takes YOU to get a clean release and make a good shot.

[buckeye_hunter]

I've been trying to shoot like they do in the olympics, but without sights.  I probably hold 4-5 seconds.

-Charlie

[BigJohn]

I hold my 70# bow for about a second and then I get er dun.

[Pat B.]

No longer than it takes you to get on.. I'm one that needs to get to full draw, establish back tension while I'm aiming then let it fly.. Once I hit anchor I doubt I'm there over 2 or 3 seconds. Everybodys different.. Wish I would take the time to master snapshooting for 20 yard and under hunting but I get frustrated with  mediocre accuracy when I try that... Sure would be easier on the body though if one had that ability!

[Naphtali]

Originally posted by Tom Anderson:
While shooting with a friend this past weekend, I realized that I'm having a difficult time holding my bow at full draw for very long...perhaps I'm overbowed?  I mean, I could hold it, but I wasn't enjoying it one bit.  Only 44#'s, too, though I've got a "wimp" excuse with bum shoulders from 20 yrs. of weightlifting.

So, how long should I be able to hold comfortably at full draw?

Perhaps this can be addressed from a different perspective. Rather than be concerned about how long you should hold when hunting, how about practicing/exercising with repetitive holds at full draw for -- fill in the blank -- seconds. My number is a twelve count. When I practice holding, then slowly letting the spring down, I think, I HOPE, this removes any subliminal concern I might have that I'll start quivering when steadiness is important.

For me, the only serious downside has been that my arthritic hands have become progressively more uncomfortable. I had been including thumbring successfully and was intending to shoot with it this season. Unh-uh, nope. I'm starting again to practice with a Winn Free Flight C-12 release. And things aren't going as well as they might.

[Plug]

If you are a proficient shooter you can stick a lot of animals without ever varying your draw hold time.  But I've found there are times when being able to hold your draw for a bit comes in handy.  Maybe the deer is walking in thick cover and he hangs up just before he hits the hole you were planning on putting an arrow through.  Maybe he turns his head toward you to lick his backside.  A lot of things can happen.

So just like it's important to practice shooting from various body positions and bow cants rather than just the ideal form I think it's good to practice shooting at various draw hold times.  I practice from snapshoot to as long as 30 seconds. A hold of about 1-2 seconds is ideal for me but hunting doesn't always offer the ideal.

In addition in 30 years of shooting bows I've never once struggled with target panic.  Maybe I'm all wet but I think practicing using different draw hold times may have had something to do with that.

[Curveman]

Well said Biggie. Good points Plug-I'm actually going to practice more of that. Right on bowdoc about "because he knows I can't" kinda people. I try to avoid them myself.  Can't wait for the piggig Hogdancer!

[Tom Anderson]

I wonder why they don't snap-shoot at the Olympics...?