I win You Lose

Traditional-Archer · August 07, 2013, 08:04:00 PM

I win You Lose

It sounds worse than it really is (I win You Lose). I've been converted back to traditional gear starting back in 2005, I love shooting recurve. Last summer I started hurting in my left shoulder when shooting and stiffening up real bad, come to say I was worried it was over.

My accuracy had really taken a dive and my confidence was done. I missed a good buck last season and had a bad hit on a doe, I know sometimes things like this happens, depression hit home when thinking about archery.

I would shoot for hours a day before all this happened, and was having a great time with my new found passion. It lasted seven years and I considered myself a good shot or at least a fair shot anyway.

After the smoke cleared from my head, I had to come to reality. No pain no gain was not the right mind set,I am not going to be able to shoot like that all the time. I decided to take a break, I stopped shooting, unstrung the tip and stepped back. Man was that hard, I was addicted to it, I found that out in time.
I stopped shooting in January of this year and only shot one arrow a week, it is true one, at close range mind you. In March I stopped all together, nothing.

In July My brother came to visit from Oklahoma, he was here to help celebrate my sun earning his Eagle award in Boy Scouts. My brother Wade asked me about shooting my bow, he knew how much I love to shoot, I explained what happened and told him the story. I said to him, lets give it a try it's been long enough.

I will tell you, the feel of the bow in hand is awesome, the grip of the Silvertip just hugs your vise grip and lays in your hand like an old friend.
I was elated not having any pain, I almost wanted to cry, I did the right thing taking this break. I shoot a dozen arrows a night now, and am shooting better than ever. It took me a day or two to find my back, hit my anchor, and follow through with my focus after the release of just letting go. Some will never know how close you come to losing a passion, a love, a simple way to relaxation from shooting a bow, I do. I win you lose.

fmscan · August 07, 2013, 08:10:00 PM

Am I happy for you. Just in time for the season. It is true we sometimes take too much for granted until life takes it away. Enjoy your second life!!

MR BILL SHORTY · August 07, 2013, 08:11:00 PM

August 07, 2013, 08:16:00 PM

I can't imagine not being able to shoot my bow. The thought scares the crud out of me!

Bisch

Frank V · August 07, 2013, 08:16:00 PM

Good for you, glad it worked out.

iohkus · August 07, 2013, 09:00:00 PM

Bisch ....X2

Traditional-Archer · August 07, 2013, 09:15:00 PM

Thanks everyone, I am grateful For this gift God has given us. I think sometimes we need a reminder of who the boss is.

Rob W. · August 07, 2013, 09:57:00 PM

I feel ya brother. I took about a 6 month break this year even after a successful season. TP was really taking hold and I was holding on too tight. A very hard thing to do. I'm glad it worded out for you.

Rob

Mudd · August 08, 2013, 06:27:00 AM

Tom · August 08, 2013, 08:48:00 AM

Sounds like a win-win to me, welcome back.

Gene R · August 08, 2013, 09:26:00 AM

Good for you! I can't imagine not being able to enjoy traditional archery. I hope that as father time keeps pushing along he leaves me the ability to shoot the stick! Praise God for your recovery!

Crash · August 08, 2013, 09:58:00 AM

I understand completely what you are talking about. The fingers of my drawing hard are making it very difficult to continue shooting. I have dropped down in poundage just so I can continue shooting. Worst part is, they still hurt. I can't shoot as often or as much as I once did and my accuracy is suffering. My time with this passion that I love is limited. Enjoy it my friends, as the old saying goes, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

I'm glad it worked out for you.

Keith Langford · August 08, 2013, 05:32:00 PM

Been there, could not shoot for 15 months because of elbow. never want to go through that again, its great to be back, I started shooting again in April and try to shoot 3-4 nights a week, about 20 minutes

RecurveRookie · August 08, 2013, 09:50:00 PM

Glad your back, don't overtrain like I did recently. I've quit for about a week now to heal up. Gonna shoot my light bow for a while. I know how you feel. Best wishes.

critman · August 08, 2013, 09:53:00 PM

Doc Nock · August 08, 2013, 09:57:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Bisch:

Traditional-Archer · August 09, 2013, 04:09:00 PM

We can't give in to easy, that's why we shoot traditional. Nobody can explain why we do this, heck most of us can't explain why we shoot a traditional bow and shoot instinctive. Most of us say it's more of a challenge or is less complicated, in reality that could not be further from the truth, other than the challenge part.
A friend of mine was telling me he wanted to shoot a traditional bow. I started to tell him it's less complicated than shooting wheelies, I had to stop myself. I thought for a moment and told him, unlike a compound you will most likely not go to an archery shop, pick out a bow from looks and from what a salesman tells you is the best on the market. Or pick out your arrows to fit your weight of bow, draw length, or tune your arrows by cutting them down one quarter of an inch at a time until the arrows fly like they are attached to your eye, and hit right where you are looking(most of the time). None of that happens when you shoot a compound, the archery shop will show you the equipment you will need and will tell you when it is time for adjustment, just bring the bow back because it has a three year warranty wow.

I told him to expect to shoot hours in training, he would have to learn how to tune his bow and arrows, he would have to find a bow that fits him like a glove. He would learn about spine, FOC, EFOC, FF, Dacron, String tuning, Brace height, shooting from the shelf or elevated, split finger or three under. I went on and on.
Easy you be the judge.

we can't give in to easy.