What does a 1# increase in draw weight gain for you?

[toby]

Just curious. If all else is kept equal, in proportion, dl, gpp, etc.

What is gained for each # increased?

[nineworlds9]

Inertia

The physics of inertia / momentum dictate that all parameters being equal any increase in draw weight will increase the arrow's resistance to being stopped, thus you will see an increase in penetration.  1# is kinda measly but do the experiment with a 50# bow vs a 55 or even 60# bow and it will be quite apparent.

A heavier arrow flying at the same speed as a lighter arrow will penetrate more.

Throw a tennis ball and a bowling ball above your head, gravity has a constant velocity, which one will be harder to catch/ stop?

[ChuckC]

More muscles ?

It just seems, to the untrained eye, that "all else being equal in proportion" you not only get that extra pound, but a few extra grains of weight  (arrow), hopefully flying at about the same speed.

Adding weight gives the potential for sending heavier projectiles, which may fly at similar speeds and thus give more momentum and better chances for deeper penetration.

Heck, take this to the extreme and you can have a boxing glove on the end, knock the critter out and have catch and release !
CHuckC

[ron w]

Not much........  

[damascusdave]

With a bow that gains 3 pounds per inch at full draw that one pound increase is simply drawing the bow an extra third of an inch...I like the image a friend who is a bowyer puts forth when he says "your draw length is whatever feels comfortable to you AT THE TIME"...I once chronographed a bow with the same arrow in the morning and again in the afternoon...in the morning my three shots gave identical velocities of 185 fps...in the afternoon my three shots gave identical velocities of 180 fps...that particular bow, a 1960 Kodiak, increases/decreases by 2 pounds per inch and I doubt that I was drawing it more than a half inch less for the second series...so let's speculate that a pound of draw weight might be worth as much, or as little, as 5 fps...more likely is that I was getting more of a dynamic release effect, pulling through the shot better, in the morning and, more of a static release in the afternoon...my advice to people lately is this...spend the time you would thinking, and asking, about equipment differences on thinking and studying about solid repeatable form and you will be far better off...and by the same token spend the money you would buying equipment on coaching...and of course recognize that I do not take my own advice since I have already spent an average person's lifetime of equipment expenditure this year...that being said I spend an awful lot of time working on repeatable form

DDave

[damascusdave]

I was just checking the Border Archery website, which by the way is a great source of general archery information, and found a reference to the fact that 2 to 3 fps change in velocity is roughly equal to 1 pound difference in draw weight...those people do a ton of bow testing so they know

DDave

[toby]

2-3 fps per pound, that is what I am looking for. So, a ten pound increase will gain 20-30 fps with a heavier arrow. Seem pretty significant.

[Prairie Drifter]

Originally posted by toby:
2-3 fps per pound, that is what I am looking for. So, a ten pound increase will gain 20-30 fps with a heavier arrow. Seem pretty significant.

No, That would be w/ the same weight arrow, not heavier.

[ChuckC]

Heavier weight often allows you to beef up the whole system, and still get the same (near) speed.  Keeping the same arrow weight will often gain you speed, but also often gain you noise in the system, and with some bows, more felt kick.
ChuckC

[ScouterMike]

Simple answer - with trad bows you will gain depending on the efficiency of the bow between about .6 - .8 foot pounds of kinetic energy with each pound increase in draw weight. Velocity difference will be greater with lighter arrows (back figure from the energy increase to verify).

2 fps might be possible with very light arrows and high performance bows. Average will be 1-1.5 fps for most trad bow/arrow combos.

[JimB]

Since you mentioned gpp being equal,the speed would be the same,no increase.Additional arrow weight,even at the same speed,will increase momentum some.

[beachbowhunter]

It makes your beard grow faster

[Cavscout9753]

I'd rather keep my weight the same and gain an inch or so of draw length.. But that isn't happening

For a fifty pound bow, a one pound increase will get you about 2% more wear and tear on your shoulders.

[Archie]

Less money in your pocket.

[Gooserbat]

1# is mostly a mental thing but it multiples quickly when you begin adding 5, 8, 10...

[pdk25]

Couldn't see spending my money for anything less than a 5# change, all else being equal.  Pavan, I thought your issue was with your fingers?

[Marshallrobinson]

IMO 1# doesn't gain anything in practical terms. Technically you do gain force but only the force gained by adding 10 grains of weight, traveling at the same velocity.