During the off season, or when shooting your bow isn’t an option, you can strengthen your archery muscles using a simple tool that works for me. This arm strength enhancer is easy and economical to build, and fun to use. All you need is a 4″ piece of fairly hefty PVC pipe, an 8″ x 3″ piece of leather, and something to provide strength resistance. I used slingshot natural latex rubber tubing on one, and a piece of Thera-band® on the other.
Thera-band® is a shortened form of physical therapy band. The bands come in various colors, based on the relative strength of the band, and you can buy any length you like. Mine is about 5 1/2″ wide and is very thin. I got it at a Physical Therapy Clinic, and they are probably available in many other places. It costs about $1.00 per foot and will last for a very long time. The knot makes a comfortable handle. You can search the web for “latex rubber tubing” or call your local pharmacy. I make lots of slingshots so I adapted that idea for one of my devices. The resistance should be about the same as the draw weight of your bow to do the most good. I used leather for a handle on this one. A Thera-band® is a terrific piece of equipment that you can use to exercise many muscle groups, not just archery muscles. You can strengthen your “swing” muscles for tennis, golf or baseball. It can be attached to a tree, railing, doorknob, or just about anything handy. You are limited only by your own ingenuity.
Draw well below your eye (aiming) line incase the elastic band breaks and wont hit your eye or face ! Cheers
Or wear glasses
For long bow / recurve folks – do this in front of a mirror. Hold a short length of 5/16-3/8″ dowel (or an arrow) in your draw hand to be sure your hand is aligned and you are drawing ‘straight.’
The workout should be more lb of pull than your bow, so when you shoot the bow it won’t be much of an effort.
Yes sir thanks for the tips. I also do pull up and chin ups to increase my back strength. Merely hanging from a pull up bar for 30 second intervals gives increased grip strength as well. Kindest regards.
Fifty push-ups 5 days per week works pretty well also.
Nothing beats the old bullworker cable exerciser.
I like it. Maybe with these tips and little bit of go power I will be able to get back into shooting my longbow.
Thank you, Deed. Fantastic idea and a really useful muscle builder. Just what the doctor ordered!
DEAR BOW INSTINCTIVE SHOOTERS, THERE IS A MANUAL OF INSTICTIVE SHOOTING FROM FRED ASBELL AND HE HAS A CHAPTER IN IT, I BELIEVE IT IS CHAPTER 16, WHICH EXPLAINS THE SIX VERY EFFECTIVE STRENGTH TECHNIQUES THAT EVERY BOW HUNTER CAN BENEFIT FROM! THE BOOK IS INSTINCTIVE SHOOTING TWO, AS I EVEN HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS VERY INTERESTING CHAPTER FOR BOW HUNTING STRENGTH, TRY IT OUT!
mpennekamp@ivytech.edu