Building up to heavy draw weight

[Stick n String]

#7133

I will begin this post by admitting I am extremely conflicted about “heavy” draw weight traditional bows. I firmly believe being “over-bowed” is one of the greatest mistakes an archer can make in terms of accuracy and the establishment of proper form. However, I have likewise held a long-term belief that we archers should hunt with the heaviest poundage bow which we can comfortably and accurately shoot. Most of my existing hunting bows are between 45 and 55 pounds.

With the foregoing stated, I was recently given the gift a new Martin Mamba recurve which is approximately 62 pounds at my 27 inch draw length. I can shoot the bow, but not without feeling as though I am fighting it tooth and nail. I actually believe I am currently short-drawing the bow as a result and my release feels far from fluid.

What do I do? Have any of you well-seasoned archers faced this predicament and, if so, how did you overcome the sensation of being over-bowed. It seems to me the logical approach would be to shoot the bow frequently to strengthen my pulling muscles until the sensation of being over-bowed departs.

I would really, really like to hunt with this bow. However, I don’t want to sacrifice my shoulder and the game I hunt merely to accomplish this arbitrary goal.

Thoughts?

[Homer]

#58484

I’ll start the bidding and hope other will add more and better. First, does the Martin stack? Lots of factory bows do, including my last one, years ago, which was a Martin. 62 pound with a smooth bow is a whole nuther ballgame from 62 with a stacker. If it stacks, let it go.

Second, why do you want up go up from 55? With the right Ashby-informed arrow setup you can shoot through pretty much any animal in N. America with #55.

Those issues aside, it’s a fact in all physical training that to be most effective your training should be use-specific. In other words, pulling a bow or one of the divices made to imitate pulling a bow is your best bet. You can user one of the lighter bows for this exercise until it gets too easy, then move to the 62. Trick to doing it without injury is do it in short sets, then rest a good long while and do it again, off and on all day. If you get sore to tired, skip a day or two. Pull-ups and push-ups will help you gain upper body strength in a general way, but pulling the bow, holding a couple of second, and letting down slowly is your focus exercise. While I was a trainer in an iron gym when young, it was a long time ago, but I think this is solid advice. Homer

[Stick n String]

#58504

Homer, I certainly appreciate the advice. No, the bow does not stack all that badly (it is 58 inches, however). I own four custom recurve bows and several custom long bows and the quality of the Martin is excellent in comparison. Keep in mind, I did not buy the bow. However, I certainly like it and would love to shoot it in a hunting situation. I will likewise refrain from arguing with your logic concerning the inherent lethality of a 55 pound class bow. I have killed dozens of animals with less poundage, ranging from North American elk to large African plains antelope and more wild hogs than I care to count.

I am merely curious whether anyone has attempted (successfully) to “step up” their poundage. I am treating this as a physical/mental challenge… much like a morning jogger deciding one morning to attempt a marathon.

[Hubertus]

#58640

Hi Stick N String! As I’m one of the less experienced archers & hunters here, please don’t inflate the value of my $0.02. But for what it’s worth…
A while ago I went from a 50lb bow to 70lb. I couldn’t say no to a sweet bow at a sweet price. I had to sell my lighter bow so I was quite over-bowed for a while. As Homer suggested, what I do to compensate for my sporadic practice is to draw my bow (preferably in front of a mirror, to watch for form) to full draw, hold briefly, and let down, repeating as stamina allows. It’s helped me. I also do upper body excersises.
As far as how much poundage is needed, I would think that even if you continue to hunt primarily with your lighter bows, practicing on the Martin would make shooting the other bows that much easier.
Happy shooting!

[purehunter]

#58666

Like Hubertus, I went from a 47 lb. recurve to a 70 lb. long bow several years ago. I am also one of the “less experienced” archers/hunters. I found that because I really liked the way the heavy bow shot, I shot it frequently, although not more than 20-30 shots at a time. I started doing push ups, sit ups, dips, lunges, etc. I didn’t know any better or about being over bowed.

I didn’t sell my lighter bow(s) but I don’t shoot them that much either. I just stuck witht the heavy bow and with in a few months, I could shoot 50-70 arrows without tiring. Now I can do a full 40 target 3d shoot (80 or so shots).

Oh, and I’m mid 40’s. No shoulder problems in my life so far. I think that if you like shooting the Martin, you will be very happy shooting it and within a few months, it will seem “normal”.

Craig

[Robin Conrads]

#59307

Don Thomas wrote an article in the Apr/May 2003 issue, Gearing Up For Heavy Bows. If you don’t have that issue, (it is no longer available in print, but Premium Members can access it on Tradbow.com) let me know and I’ll see if I can send you a copy of the article.

Is there enough interest from the rest of you for me to post it as an article for everyone to read?

[Hubertus]

#59611

TBMADMIN wrote: Is there enough interest from the rest of you for me to post it as an article for everyone to read?

I would certainly give it a read.

[Steertalker]

#59664

Stick n String,

I firmly believe being “over-bowed” is one of the greatest mistakes an archer can make in terms of accuracy and the establishment of proper form.

If done correctly you should not have a problem. I am an average sized guy…5’9″ tall and skinny. I regularly practice with an 82 lb recurve; my “go to” elk bow is 72 lbs. Do not attempt any target shooting with your new bow. You should spend time soley on the “bale” reenforcing your shot sequence with that bow. I would spend a month at the very minimum on the bale before transitioning to the target.

I’m in a hurry and haven’t read the previous post so I may have repeated what someone else has already told you. And 62 lbs is not that heavy in my book. You shouldn’t have any problems if approach correctly.:wink:

Brett

[bruc]

#59702

What exactly is “bale work” and how do you do it?
Bruce

[Polar Bear]

#59709

Is there enough interest from the rest of you for me to post it as an article for everyone to read?

I would be interested.

[purehunter]

#60094

I don’t think I’ll go up any more than what I have but I would be interested in reading the article.

Thanks,

Craig

[David Petersen]

#60450

Bruce — There was an article on this very thing not too long ago in TBM. Basically, you shoot at a backstop with no target, not trying to hit a particular spot, but working purely on form. It’s one way to go after curing problems of form, whereas if we’re concentrating on “the spot” we’re more likely to go lax on form. Last winter I realized I had somehow started short-drawing, and likely had been for quite some time, which explained various problems in accuracy and lethality. So I put a target up in the loft, range maybe 20 feet, and practiced in short sputrs several times daily for weeks purely on re-integrating an absolute full draw and solid anchor so that when I next need it in the field, it will once again be automatic. In this case, since you’re actually releasing arrows, it’s a more interesting way to build bow muscles than drawing and slowly letting the bow down — although, the resistance of a slow let-down is superb exercise in itself.

[Steertalker]

#60476

Bruce,

The bale, if utilized properly, is where you experiment, investigate, explore etc different aspects of your shot. It’s the place where your shot should begin and where it is maintained. It is the place where no thought whatsoever is given to aiming. It’s all about focusing on your form and committing all parts of your shot to the subconscious. The bale can be anything capable of catching your arrows as long as there is no target on it.

Brett

[Robin Conrads]

#60530

The article Gearing Up for Heavy Bows has been posted in the Feature Article section. It is followed by a short article called Sand Bag Training by Mark Viehweg that I thought might also be useful. Enjoy.

[Stick n String]

#8810

TBMADMIN wrote: The article Gearing Up for Heavy Bows has been posted in the Feature Article section. It is followed by a short article called Sand Bag Training by Mark Viehweg that I thought might also be useful. Enjoy.

Robin,

Thank you for noticing this post and placing the Don Thomas article on the website. I am actually quite pleased by the highly constructive advice this topic has generated. I lurk around the shadows on various other archery forums and am more than a little used to posts being quickly co-opted by individuals attacking one another for offering opinions they do not immediately agree with…

I will definitely work toward bale training on a progressive basis with the heavier poundage bow while continuing to shoot my standard draw weight recurve for target practice and league shooting.

[Robin Conrads]

#8882

You are welcome. I’m glad to help when I can.

I also appreciate that our posts don’t often go off the deep end, and I have to thank David Petersen for his diligent and friendly moderating on these forums. We couldn’t do it without him! And I have to thank all of you for being mature if and when you disagree. Keep up the good work! 😀

[codger]

#10620

I work out with weights to build my upper body for shooting. im 60 and have crashed my body over the years fallign off my motorcycles. i bench press do curls and rowing exercises while bent from the waist which builds up the back muscles used ofr drawing and holding the string. Im shooting 65lb and working back up to 80lb. I just enjoy the way high poundage bows shoot and want to continue until im relegated to shooting lighter bows.

[Author]

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