So right now I am shooting a 50lb super Kodiak. I only have a 25.5 inch draw however so I know its a lot less prob bout 45lb. I would like to shoot a bow about 60lb at my draw. How should I build up to this ? Should I just buy it and start shooting it? I don't want to developed bad habits becouse if being overweighted to begin with.. Just need some advice. Also any recomendations on a good bow maker? I am wanting a custom made bow just for me, instead of the run of the mill mass produced bows. Thanks in advance guys!
my advise is buy the 60 pounder and start shooting. just shoot less arrows in each session until you get the stregth to shoot full sessions.
it wont take long and you will be shooting it just like your 45 pounder.
10 #'s can be a big jump, you might try a heavier bow before you buy unless the 50#'s is just too light for your strength level. Being over bowed is one of the biggest problems for new shooters or guys switching over from shooting a compound bow. Good luck ...
There is a thread somewhere about someone working up to 100lb or something ridiculous like that on here somewhere.
From memory they suggested chin ups and push ups as good exercises to build the muscle required (especially chin ups in my opinion with a pronated grip. Also getting a heavy bow and drawing and holding NOT shooting using both the right and left side I think.
I will see if I can find it.
This thread might be helpful.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=095151
YB
We don't know anything about your experience, age, size, or strength. If you move to too much weight too quickly your upper body will simply 'collapse' to compensate for the new power thereby shortening your draw 1/2-1"; no I am not kidding!
I would get with a person who knows about trad archery and especially form and make sure you don't have a longer draw available to you. Many of us who have attended Rod Jenkins two day seminar had to get longer arrows! Some a lot longer
Do some research on your form and back tension before you sink your hard earned cash into a new bow-just my humble opinion.
Just FYI I am only 5ft8. I am pretty heafty, over 200lb, so I dont think that 65lb would be a crazy weight for me, I just have never shot a recurve that strong before. None of the bow shops around here have anyting over 40lb, as they are mostly compound/crossbow shops. I have shot a recurve for 6 years, starting with a 40lb browning wasp, and moving up to my super kodiak. I like my bow I have now, but I worry about shooting a deer with it, or any bigger game(going on a elk hunt next year).
I keep a bow fit (3riverarchery) in my desk and pull it 10 times several times a day - during my regular gym workouts I incorporate pull downs and other shoulder back specific exercises to strengthen my bow pulling muscles on both sides of my body. I'm 60 at 170lbs and shoot 60 lbs regularly with ease. If you work at it and use caution so you don't injure yourself you'll get there....
have fun with it...
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Glenn
Welcome to the forum!
I shoot a SuperK 60 @ 28 & I draw 29.
I think if you get a 60lb SuperK it'll be about a 51lb bow at your draw. That might be enough of a jump to start with.
I like the SuperKs too. Some weight training with arm weights will be helpful too. If your bow is extreemly comfortable to shoot going up 5-7 pounds shouldn't be too big of a jump.
Good luck.
It is less a question of how hard it is to work up as it is how long it takes. To move up in weight you need to be sure to loosen up well. This can be done with exercise, shooting your regular weight bow, or perhaps a combination of these two before grabbing the heavy bow. Shoot a relatively few arrows at first as you improve condition. There is no need to get it in a big hurry. Shoot only the number of shots that you can reasonably control. When you get tired, stop as accidents can happen and form is lost. As you shoot over time, you will pleasantly find that you can control the bow and maintain form for a significant number of shots. As even more time progresses, you will be able to shoot more and more arrows and still maintain form and control for a full shooting session. The trick is to follow Dirty Harry's admonition, "A man has to know his own limitations". How long? Well, it takes how long it takes. For some its longer than for others, but don't be intimidated by it. Although, I was younger then, I went from 58# to 78#, and yeah, that took a while. However, it was not that hard to do, but one last time let me emphasize that a big jump in weight needs to be achieved over time, not just a couple of weekends. Sorry about the long post, but I want to be totally encouraging in your effort, while making sure you know to take it slow and easy.
Thanks for the advice guys! I am talkin to Bigfoot bows and I think he is going to build me one . My current bow I can shoot about 100 times before I get to noticing bad shots from being tired . So Mabey along with some weights, I can just shoot it each day , and try to increase the number of shots as time fora on. You guys are awsome!