You’re not dreaming. Don has written several times about shoulder issues. The article “Ouch!” is in the Feb/Mar 97 issue, and Ouch Revisited is in Jun/Jul 97.

He wrote a more recent article, “Achilles Shoulder” in the Aug/Sep 2015 issue.

All of these issues are available in print if you don’t already have them. The recent one I can get in pdf version, if you like.

Another one that might be of interest, “Shoulder Preventative Maintenance” by Dave Cole is in the Oct/Nov 2000 issue. Don’t know if I can get that in pdf or not.

Robin

I am new to this site but have been shooting traditional bows off and on for about 20 years.  I injured my string shoulder in a LEO training accident over twenty years ago.   I was told that I had a partial rotator cuff tear.  Regarding surgery, the doctor advised, “let pain be your guide.”   I will never be able to achieve a “high elbow draw and release.”  I do the best that I can and try to be consistent.  These days, I shoot 3 fingers under and use a deeper finger curl.   As far as practice, I lean toward shooting a few arrows several times per day.  My advice: see a doctor, warm-up, stretch and strengthen, and take care of yourself.   The injuries sustained early in life really hurt in the late 60’s.  That being said, I am off to shoot a few arrows.  Needless to say, I love shooting a trad bow.

Rucksack;

Greetings and salutations from S.E. Arizona. Welcome aboard !!!!  Where-abouts are you located ?????

If you can find a u-tube video of the Wilhelm (sp?) Brothers shooting it’s amazing.  One of the brothers had a shoulder / collarbone injury  and drew to his chest.  Some of the stunt shooting they did would put a chill down your spine.

Hi Rucksack

Welcome to the forum…

I too am having shoulder issues also now,  I can still shoot ok but,  I am going to have to do something in the near future

Glad Richard asked about those articles I can review them myself..

Scout aka Ray

I’ve got some snap, crackle and pops going on in both my shoulders these days. Some of it comes from 3 hour weed eater sessions and three hour mowing sessions I’m sure. I have spent hours and hours shooting in the backyard but I’ve decided to back off on that and shoot shorter sessions and less arrows. One cannot improve a problem by shooting to much and making muscles and other parts tired and sore.

I got in a pickle on my 4 wheeler in early May and wrenched my shoulders. Not help full. At my age it’s smart to back off and take it easy.

My 79 year old self has no desire to go under the knife.

My right (string) shoulder was giving popping sounds and grated like it had sand in it, shooting a 50 pound bow.  I dropped down to 45 pounds and all is good again.

~Kees~

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Kees.

Kees

I think most of us, here are heading that way with shoulder issues. I know l have them. So far I can still shoot 50lbs or so. Don’t do long shooting sessions anymore though….

Scout aka Ray

Got my Mojo back !!!!!

Recently my shooting has gone downhill. I lost 5 yards on my point on, going from 45 yds to 40 yds for no good reason. I would shoot a paper plate sized group at 30 yds but below the paper plate I was shooting at. Very annoying and affecting my confidence.  I was also noticing that the Deltoids in my left shoulder hurt. Not the happy soreness after a good work-out but that pain that starts to cause concern kind of hurt.  Not good.

Then the other night, I was cruising some U Tube videos and ran across one by John Schultz that I’ve seen before on the Swing Draw.  That’s pretty much my style of shooting except I hold at full draw a bit longer and then expand on thru.  It took a minute but the ‘dumb light’ came on and I realized  that somewhere along the way my form had changed over time.  I was now bringing the bow up and the arrow back to anchor in one movement putting a massive strain on my Deltoid muscle on the bow-arm  instead of bringing the bow up, partial draw and then drawing the remainder of the way straight back to anchor. A small thing with huge implications.  Once I got my mind right and my form back, good things started to happen and I could work on back tension & bow-arm again. Now, I’m a little taller, a bit better looking and shooting is fun again.

Seriously, I hope that I caught this before I did any damage to muscle, tendon, or cartilage.  I’ve now written out a detailed check-list of shooting steps that I read aloud before each practice session.

Much Thanx to John Shultz. …….R.I.P.