Bow to heavy?

[PHC]

#7171

How long should one be able to hold their bow at full draw before fatigue sets in and trembling begins?

[WyoStillhunter]

#58922

This calendar year I have worked up from a 35# bow to shooting 50# and 55# bows. I have a shorter draw length so my actual draw weight is approximately 5# less than what the bows are rated.

That said, instinctive shooting as I understand and practice it does not require any significant “holding” at full draw. Once a solid anchor is reached the shot continues with little or no pause before the release.

Being over bowed is a legitimate concern and should be avoided. Others will have more eloquent responses.

[codger]

#58930

That to me shouldnt be an issue you dont hold a traditional bow at full draw for an extended period. you should be able to hold it at your anchor point steadily long enough to concentrate on your target and then let the arrow fly. Its different from shooting a compund bow where you draw when the deer enters the county and hold until he walks in front of you. The main concern to me anyway is getting to a consistant anchor point and holding the bow and your draw arms in a stable position until your release. I once had a compound shooter ask me why i shot so fast he said cant you hold the bow at full draw? it was a 75# longbow so i said ok tell me when and we both draw and see who can hold their anchor point the longest well he gave up and let down before me but its really not important i was just being macho he was shooting a 60# compound with whatever letoff. as long as you can hold long enough to concentrate on your target and stay stable and get a clean release you should be ok. I do a lot of working out with free weights to help maintain my shooting conditioning. now hitting what i shoot at is another thing entirely.

[PHC]

#59126

While it’s true you normally don’t hold full draw for long, I have had game move so as to cause me to have to hold off releasing, sometimes only for a couple of seconds sometimes longer and sometimes I’ve had to just ease the arrow down because I couldn’t hold it any longer. Which has as often as not spooked the game. But really that’s neither here nor there I was just curious as to how long most archers can hold their bows at full draw before they begin to show signs of weakening.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#59139

While comparisons to what one can hold with a compound bow with 80% letoff are unrealistic, I do believe that there is an advantage to being able to hold a hunting bow at full draw, even if it is only for 10 seconds or so. Being limited to only being able to draw and shoot immediately will likely eliminate some shot opportunities.

[PHC]

#59171

That’s what I’m thinking. About 10 seconds and I start shaking pretty bad. That’s with a 52# @ 28″ and I’m drawing about 29″. So I’m considering dropping down to a 45# bow just to see if maybe my shooting will improve as well.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#59183

If I can’t hold a bow at full draw for at least 10 seconds without collapsing and still execute a proper shot, it’s too heavy.

[William Warren]

#59335

I agree with what Jason has said. I can hold with 45# but it ain’t going to happen with my 55# bow. I would have to practice diligently for months with a 55# bow to be hunt ready. With exercise and persistance though you could do it with your 52# bow. But you can’t let up.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#59342

Proper back tension becomes key, imo – let your back muscles do real the work, rather than your arms, and you might be able to hold more than you would think.

[codger]

#9198

There are some simple exercises that you can do with free weights that will really help you in traditional Archery.

Another thing i like to do is work out with a really heavy bow higher poundage than im planning on shooting. I start out with a bow im interested in shooting say 70# shoot it a bit get loosened up after im shooting decent grounpps and good and warmed up i switch to a heavier bow and shoot it for a while by the time im done when i pick up the bow i started with it feels like a toy which for me really increases my accuracy wheni start shooting it again im alot more stable and relaxed. besides it was a feeble excuse to pick up another bow! Thi is the same technique i use when getting back in shape after redislocating my draw arm I start low 55# and work up. Does it hurt dam right and its worse with age but its worth it to me. my bows range from 55# @28″ to not sure definitly somewhere between 85# and 90# i havent had the last two on a scale yet. They make bows of the same design that i have scaled at 72#@28″ feel like toys. But part of thsi sport for me is motivating me to be in better shape good shape for shootign and good shape for hiking around the hills at altitude stump shooting etc.

[Greg Ragan]

#9446

Schulz described how Howard taught him and his brother Dan to train to draw heavy bows in his book. He describes taking a heavy bow and puilling it back 1/3 draw for 5 seconds and holding. Then to 1/2 darw and hold for 5 seconds, Then full draw for 5 seconds….then reverse the sequence back down to rest.

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