Bow Poundage question

[fredbear92]

For several years now, I've been shooting 45# Bear recurves and did so very comfortably. However, I always dreamed of "upgrading" to a bow in the upper 50# range or even higher. I'm not completely sure why, but for some reason I always associated the idea of jumping up to a higher poundage bow with the time that I sold my 98' Ford Windstar for a 04' Toyota 4runner.
              Anyways, a few weeks ago, I decided that I was going to go looking for a takedown recurve with a "better" poundage. With a little trading and extra cash, I wound up with nice, early 2000s Bighorn takedown recurve with a 61# draw at 27 (pulling about 64# at my draw). As you could imagine, it has not exactly been easy to get used to this weight. For right now, the first several shots are somewhat consistant. However, after those several or so shots, I begin to get fatigued and tired, which results in VERY inconsistant shooting.

               I can only assume that in the coming weeks as I continue to practice with this bow, it'll become less and less difficult to shoot. However, lately I've heard some older guys claim that they are shooting bows in the 40# to low 50# range because of shoulder problems that they say came in part to shooting over 60# bows back in the day.

What do y'all think? I'm only 20 years old. But, have I made the wrong decision to go up in poundage?

(sorry for this being such a long post        :rolleyes:      )

[RunninWild77]

No, I don't think so, I did the same thing. I went from a 49# recurve to a 65# long bow, then to a 70# long bow. But! I was constantly working out at the time! Don't make that jump if you're not in shape for it! Otherwise your shooting form will suffer!! I'm still young, (25), but I took a hiatus from shooting for one year. Long story, but marriage and kids changes things in a hurry, and I stopped working out... couldn't shoot my 70#der like I should, nor my 65er like i should. Need to work myself back into it again. My suggestion? Start doing what I call lawnmower pulls, pushups as well, you need to strengthen your core as well as your back muscles and develope your endurance. What it sounds like to me is you've overbowed yourself. Train yourself to shoot it. Just because you can draw it, doesn't mean you can CONTROL it. Get them muscles used to drawing that bow, every night sight in the kitchen and just work on drawing that bow. Come to full draw, hold for 5-10 sec and let down. If you shoot it, even if its only 12 shots and you feel fatigued, put the bow down. You'll only hurt yourself and your form if you keep going. With a little determination you'll get there. Hope this helps, it worked for me, and is what I'm doing again. Walt

[tracker12]

For me shooting is all about good form and accuracy. I know what my limits are so that I can do that and stick to them.  Plus I like to shoot often and lots of arrows.  I can go in the yard and easily shoot my 45# Bear recurve or 45# Big River Longbow for an hour.  I'm not doing that with a 60# bow that's for sure. The only person that can decide whether going up in weight was the right thing to do is you.  I think your doubts may be telling you the answer.

[dnovo]

Well, first off, moving up 19# is a big jump. You can do it if you work at it properly. Warm up a few shots with the 45#'er, then shoot the heavy bow for however many shots you can until you can tell you are tired. Put it down and shoot a few more shots with the lighter bow to reinforce proper form. After a while you will notice that you can shoot more shots with the heavy bow. I would advise not doing it every day. Give your muscles some time to recover .
I shot 65 and 70 # bows in my prime, but am currently at 53# at age 57. I have shoulder problems telling me to do that, but I attribute those to working construction for almost 40 years.

[gringol]

19# is a lot to move up in one jump.  It might be worth it to hold of on shooting the new bow for a month or two, just use it as a work-out tool.  That way you won't be learning any bad habits...

61# shouldn't be a problem for you once you work into it.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Yeah, that's a huge jump in weight.  You can get to the point of shooting it well with patience.  Maybe try to find a bow or two in between to work up slowly.

I don't know that you made the wrong decision by going up in draw weight but the jump you made was a HUGE one and 19# at one time is a very hard thing to do. Shoulder problems are due more to improper form than they are to heavy poundage. If you are in proper alignment and using good form then shoulder problems should be minimal.

Bisch

[J.T.]

You can shoot the heavier bow you just need to work into it, as Bisch said shoulder problems have more to do with bad form.  Shoot the heavy bow with good form untill you start to fatigue then stop.  Leave your bow out and accesable in your house and practice pulling it while concentrating on form multiple times a day just pick it up on your way to the kitchen ect. and pull it a couple of times, pull it slow hold for a few seconds and let it down slow let your muscles do the work.  Check out the shooters forum there is lots of good info there like Terrys Form Clock.  If you work into it and train your muscles you can shoot the heavy bow all day.  I can shot my 70+ pound bows all day long when I'm not shooting everyday I still try to pull my bow every day.

good luck you can do it!

[beaver#1]

I started with 55# bows  moved to 65 and now 70 and soon 73.  Out ofmy 70# I can shoot 50 to 60 arrows before I start getting tired.  And I shoot better.  Its all about how yiu keep yiur body.  Shoot 10 arrows a day and do some workouts thatyou can do at home.  You will be comfortable with that bow in no time.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I think the 19# jump is going to give you problems until you build your strength up....At 20 years old you still haven't hit your prime as far as strength and stamina goes. i think i hit my prime about age 25.

 At 40 years old i was still drawing 100# bows and shot 84# all day long.... But.... eventually wear and tear on your shoulders will bring your draw weight back down... I'd say enjoy your youth and that higher poundage bow as long as you can.

Take note of what Bisch was saying here about form.... building muscle is good, but bad form can hurt you.

[Dave Lay]

everyone has echoed my feelings, I know Paul Brunner made a very true statement that you will never be able to shoot a heavy bow by shooting a light one, I am 59 and have shot traditional bows in the mid 60's range since i was in my teens,  I guess I started out not knowing any better and never considered it heavy untill i started visiting these forums,but I do enjoy alot of things associated with it.. I have had friends drop weight and find it very difficult to ever go back to the heavier weight....

[damascusdave]

I am 61 years old and still working to go up in weight...my heaviest draw weight bow currently is a measured 63 pounds at my draw length...there are lots of things that we do that can damage shoulders...for a long time I had a bad right shoulder courtesy of some badly managed weight lifting as a much younger man...since I started shooting traditional bows seriously about 4 years ago (with a 35 pound bow) I no longer have any pain or mobility issues with my right shoulder...I am very much of the opinion that for some people shooting a bow is a great way to keep your shoulders in good shape...one thing that I do a bit differently from most is that I constantly shoot both right handed and left handed which I believe helps to keep things on an even keel...I shoot the same draw weights both right and left handed...I would suggest that since you are young you might want to give that a try...I think it will not only pay big dividends in the long run it is also a great excuse to own more bows

DDave

[swamp donkey]

I've shot bows from the mid 70's to mid 80's for over 45 years with no ill effects on my shoulders. I now shoot around 60 lbs because of a serious injury. What you're doing is a big jump as many have said. If it were me I'd keep shooting the lighter bow and workout with the heavy one for a couple weeks to avoid bad habits, then start shooting the heavier one starting with 3 arrow groups. My workouts were to pull n hold the bow as long as possible once during commercials while watching tv at night ,lol. Best of luck. Its very rewarding shooting a heavy arrow with some authority.

[danseitz]

I just bought a backup longbow (Siren) which for me pulls about 53 lbs.  Shooting that makes my main bow (Shrew) at 50 lbs. feel like nothing. Had to have surgery a couple years ago to repair my shoulder.  I'm sure the heavier bows I was shooting was what messed up my shoulder.

Watching the arrows fly out of these bows has convinced me that I'd blow through a broadside deer without any problem.  So the question to me is what more could I want.  

Hi, my name is Dan and at 65 yrs old I am finally over the addiction to high poundage bows.

[David Mitchell]

Please be sure you warm up before you begin shooting--by that I mean loosen your shoulders by doing some stretching, range of motion type stuff.  I see archers just pick up bows and yank them back without preparing their muscles and joints for the load.  No other athletes do that!  Not if they are smart.  

I too think you jumped too far too fast.  Not only do you stand to damage some shoulder muscles/connective tissues, but you can pretty easily develop the archer's absolute worst nightmare--target panic!  Be careful!

[Juan Matos]

I went from 50 to 74 a number of years ago.  On the 74 I rushed the training.  I was holding the draw back for 10 to 15 seconds for a few days and that for me was a step backwards in the sense that pains crept into my bowhand/wrist because of the 10 - 15 seconds thing.  I was 37 years old then.  Maybe 10 - 15 seconds with a 74 was the bad combo or maybe it was 10 - 15 with a bow that was heavy for ME was the problem.  It took years for those pains to go away by shooting lighter poundage bows.  When I had the pains they would go away after a few weeks off from shooting but they'd be right there waiting for me when I started to shoot again any poundage and even just pushups.   But before the injury I was pulling the 74er nicely when drawing it normal shot sequence style.  Don't over do the training and don't rush it.

[Juan Matos]

BTW years later I was able to draw and shoot a 70er ok but pain was still there even though I wasn't doing the 10 - 15 second drill.  It was like the damage was permanent.  Since January I've been shooting a 55er and haven't had any pain at all.  So in case you do injure yourself don't rush the rehab either.

[Bowwild]

Surely what you want to do can and has been done. I used to practice draw a bow 10# heavier than I wanted to hunt with in my early twenties (more than 30 years ago).

The greatest hindrance to shooting well is not knowing proper form. The 2nd greatest obstacle is shooting so heavy a draw weight that proper form isn't possible.

Unless you are planning to hunt Cape Buffalo or Elephant, I see no reason to shoot that heavy unless you simply enjoy it. I can't tell you the number of bowyers who have congratulated me when I've ordered a bow for not being a heavy-weight shooter.

[ron w]

Just my opinion.....but I think your asking for trouble. That big of a jump in poundage is a lot. Your young and that is in your favor but a slow build up I think would be much better to help keep you away from building any bad habits or form issues. I blame shooting heavier bows for developing my case of target panic, as you get tired it's very easy to modify your form to compensate.....and that is not good! I hope you can find the right thing for you!

[Hill Hunter]

at 20 you should be able to handle the jump, as many have said just work into it, try to avoid falling into snap shooting, which the heavy weight jump will encourage, come to anchor and release, when you get tired quite for a while, and eat your Wheaties.