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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Rob W. on February 23, 2011, 03:33:00 PM
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I got my first custom longbow last year and I simply love it. It's a Don Dow stik 55#@ 27(my draw). It is the quitest bow I have ever shot and is pretty fast. The problem I have is that I shot my old 50# deer slayer the other night and the and the shooting improvement was very noticable. I can hold a full draw longer and never once didnt hit my anchor. I never thought the added weight would be a problem I'm 31yrs. old 6'2" 200 and lift accent chairs for a living. What do you guys think? Do I work with it or find something a little less stiff? Thanks, Rob
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If you choose to work with it, best thing to do would be a lot of close distance blank bailing. Really focus on holding that bow back at anchor for twice your normal time. Let those muscles actually work for a bit before you release. That's the only way your strength will increase.
That's my recommendation that'll keep you in your current bow without having to try to swap it out with something else that may not be as fast or as quiet.
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i don't think 5 lbs is all that much. maybe you can do a pull-up workout a few times a week and see what happens. with all that beings said, putting the arrow where you want is the most important/fun part of archery.
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I forgot to mention the 50# deerslayer is actually 47# at my draw.
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I'd just work with it. If you shoot a bunch you will grow into it pretty fast. Gary
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What got me thinking about this was my 3d scores. I watch these guys pause for what seems an eternity during the shot. I just cant help but think that my scores would go up with that kind of control. I shoot about 50 arrows everyday. Sometimes more.
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Take care of your ligaments and sinew, the muscles are not really the problem.
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8 pounds is quite a difference in my book.
Of course at 31 years old I recall curling Kryptonite without any problem whatsoever!
When I was in college back in 1973 I used to work out with my bow (51# @ 28") by simply drawing it in my dorm room 2-3 times a day and hold at anchor (w/o arrow) for a minute at a time. A couple weeks of this and the bow was very comfortable to hold at anchor.
I hold AT anchor before releasing between very close to seconds. If I hold longer, I'm trying to force-aim and my groups invariably expand. I can physically hold at anchor much longer but my brain starts to get in the way when I do so.
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Pull on a 60#'r for a few rounds, you'll say the same thing about the 55#'r.
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Those Don Dow bows are pretty sweet bows, i shot one the other day and was amazed at how well it shot.
If i were you i'd just hang in there and work with it more. It'll be worth it...
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You can do it, but next time you shoot, commit to working on it, not just flinging arrows. To start off, draw the bow without an arrow and hold for 10 seconds, it's important to feel your back holding the weight. Make sure your alignment is solid. Sometimes when we start shooting heavy weight we collapse inward which makes it difficult to hold the weight.
Next try doing the same with an arrow, only shoot after you reach 10, not at 10. What your are trying to do is build endurance and muscle memory and proper alignment. Work on it for a few sessions, I bet 55 won't be so bad.
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Thanks for all the input. I will try some blind bail and holding at draw. I think maybe I over think things this time of year and seeing you guys posting all these new bows doesn't help. :D
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I took my heavier bows (52 lbs) and left them strung. Every time I walked passed them I pulled it back and held it for a while. It seemed to help after a couple weeks.
If you like the bow work into it, If yo dont like the bow or could care less, that may be the larger problem.
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i drew my bow and held for as long as i could without shooting. a few times each day with both hands, yes your weak side too. and kept up with this day after day. and i noticed a great increase in strength. do a serch on my name thed guys here game me alot of goos advice. you will get it just do the draw and hold and you will notice a dif...
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What ever you do, don't loose your joy. shooting should relieve us of stress and put a smile on us. If thats the case it is good.
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What ever you do, don't loose your joy. shooting should relieve us of stress and put a smile on us. If thats the case it is good. :bigsmyl:
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Seems to me that it takes about a 5# difference before I take notice.
My suggestion if shooting the 55#'R is your goal, would be the following:
Shoot the 50#'r and hold at anchor for a count of four on each and every shot. Take ~45 seconds between shots. As soon as you realize you are not able to hold using the correct back muscles or groups start to spread, then stop for that day. Once you work up to ~50 arrows(an estimate) and the last one is still solid, you should be able to smoothly transition to the 55#'r. The process may take a few weeks if you shoot at least four days/wk with at least one rest day in between. This process should permit you to transition w/o compromising form.
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I shot blind bail for awhile in the basement tonight. With my eyes closed the weight seems like nothing. I come to full draw and hold for as long as I want no shakes. Looks like the TP that I dealt with in my compund days has caught up to me. :banghead:
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Yes you could increase your strength to the point of shooting the 55#'er well or a heavier draw weight for that matter.Some questions to ask,Is that an important goal for your hunting or recreational shooting? Will it make any difference in your shooting enjoyment?
If you want slightly more arrow speed/hunting penetration you can certainly build-up. Don't feel guilty about shooting a bow at any particular poundage.Your enjoyment of archery should be first concidered.Everyone is different in form,strength,draw length,and what their archery means to them personally.Shoot what you enjoy.It is your archery.
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Can your bowyer reduce the poundage or make new limbs?
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Nope! Get some 60# weights & do straight up lifts simulating the bow pull. Do with both hands 2-3 times weekly & at least 2 sets of 10 each and. Exercise heavier than what you intend to shoot.
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You should be able to work into it without to much trouble, just take your time and concentrate on good form and a smooth release. A little each day and you will get there. It takes time to build muscle memory and learning to utilize your back muscles to reach and hold at full draw. Like mentioned enjoy what you are doing and if you like this bow, it is well worth working into the extra 5 pounds. Best of luck to you!
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Just a thought, but the problem may be more than just the weight difference. Don't know how old your Deerslayer is, but many older bows were built with more consideration to smoothness of draw than speed. Today, speed is the thing and I have had new bows that were so front loaded or pre-stressed that I couldn't draw one of the same weight as an older bow that I could. Starting out at a higher weight means you end up pulling more by the time you get to anchor. A bow that starts at 20 and ends at 40 is going to be easier to pull over x number of shots than one that starts at 25 and ends at 40. Your muscles don't care about speed, just how many pounds you pull for how many inches how many times. As several said, if you want to keep shooting the bow, you'll have to train up to it, or decide to go back to the bow that's sweet for you. 50 pounds is plenty... I'd keep dancin' with the girl that likes me :)
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I practice with a much heavier bow than I would hunt with or shoot 3 D with.
Why? So the bow I will actually use will seem light and give me plenty of time at anchor, if I feel like I need it.
I say "work with it" Heck get a cheap 60# bow and the 55# will be easy in no time.
Matt
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Well,
You mention that you hit anchor every time with your old bow. The key to accuracy is repeating the same shot sequence over and over again. I take it, your not hitting anchor EVERY time with your new bow. That within itself points to being over bowed. How long have you been shooting? The muscle group required to draw/hold a bow are different then the normal muscles we use thru out our normal day. Those muscles have to be trained for the motion to build and retain muscle memory.
Compairing the two bows via just the weight factor could be misleading. One could be a Hill style LB grip and the other a full palm swell recurve grip. I personally prefer a recurve grip, shooting with a straight wrist. If I shoot via the broken wrist style, I'm all over the place. I'm not familiar with the two bows you mentioned.
I recently traded a 54# bow for a 48# bow (6# difference) and it made a big difference. I attend several traditional shoots where I'm shooting a lot, over several days. If I'm on the bubble with the draw weight, I'm going to be wore out going into day 3 of shooting and accuratcy will suffer.
You can have 5#'s or so shaved off the limbs of the newer bow to get it your comfort range. It is always best to shoot a weight that you are 110% comfortable with. If the draw weight is a issue, you'll redirect your attention other then the shot, where it needs to be.
JL
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I appreciate the help guys. After shooting blind bail this evening and reading some posts on the shooters forum I think what I am perceiving as over bowed is target panic. I have dealt with this before(compound) but in different ways. Actually target panic is one of the reasons I switched a few years ago to traditional. One good thing is I have never gave it a second thought when drawing on game. I'm sure with all the great people on this site I will figure it out. Thanks guys!
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I would be curious to measure your draw with a 25# bow and see what your draw length is. I'm 4" shorter, and draw a full 28".
y thought is because of your strength you have been cheating your draw, and not fully engaging the back muscles, but relying more on triceps. Some bigger athletic guys can do that up to a point, and then the form catches up with them.
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I've always thought my draw was a little short for my height. Just pulled back my sons bow with my eyes closed and only came up with 27. It's hard for me to tell if im using the right muscles. I have been shooting the same way for 4 years now.
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Rob W. - One indicator that you are using the correct muscles is if you are able to almost totally relax the forearm of the drawing arm at anchor... with a flat hand... and with just enough finger tension to hold the string. It is nice to be able to relax at anchor and actually feel the string pulling against the fingers up to release.
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ow boy... target panic i know just where you commin from brother! God bless you lol.
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Fifty pounds will kill 3D targets all day long..
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Do you want to work on drawing a specific weight bow or enjoy shooting a bow at a weight you can handle ? The biggest improvement to accurracy is shooting a weight you can handle COMFORTABLY . If your not a young man , don't waste time trying to increase your strength . If you are see above posts. You have already diagnosed the problem , the bow is to heavy for you . GET A LIGHTER BOW - LONGBOW OR RECURVE ....
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One way to tell is slowly draw your son's bow back,and have some one stand behind you and either watch, or lightly touch your shoulder blades. There should be noticeable tension as your shoulder blades are squeezing inwards towards each other.
With some archers, they either overuse triceps on the draw arm, or do not fully push to tension on the bow arm. It will be distracting for you, but just concentrate on doing things how you do it.
A basic way to get a feel without drawing a bow is to stand with fists to edge of chest, elbows out (ie-chicken dance position) and have someone push against your elbows forward while you try to push your elbows behind you. This will engage the muscles you need for drawing a bow.
Also remember that creeping your neck forward to anchor will also shorten draw length. Ideally, find a local coach, and spend an hour or two getting some 1-1 instruction.
Just have fun, and enjoy shooting. It really is what it is all about.