I realize that I am overbowed( not the reason for thread ,I know I am) ,my bow shoulder is sore front and back; working on my form etc I'm shooting a Rich Emery longbow 50@28" . I draw 28" .Shooting 30-40 arrows daily. Question is do I keep on shooting it ? I know I probably need to get a lighter weight bow to work on form etc...but don't want to spend the money.I also don't want to develop bad habits. Looking for exercises to do or suggestions to build up to 50#. Thanks ahead of time.

Lol....fruedian slip...or dumb auto correct! "Overbowed"

PS. Love this bow ! Its the bow I want to hunt with in the fall.

Work with the bow then practicing pulling back and hold as long as you can to strenthen your mussels. Then only work on your form.

If you think your OVB then you are so now try to strengthen. The ideal is lighter bow.

Your more than likley going to pick up bad habits to boot.

I agree with Glenn. If you think you're overbowed, you are. If it was me I would get a lighter bow, 40#'s maybe, and work my way back into the 50. Matter of fact, that is exactly what I did when I started. Began with 50, switched to 40 and now I am back to 50.

Chuck..Thot you fell OVERBOARD while fishing or something..:)

I don't know your age..nor health situations.... Shoot..or just draw and hold 4 seconds and let down every other day.. Do some pullups and pushups.. 650#@28' isn't a lot of draw weight..but may be for some..? For hunting..what archery draw weight do you need to comply with the regs?..

I'm 67 and 175# and still shoot 70+@30" longbows and recurves well with no pain or issues..I may be an anomaly tho..:)Jim

and that should be 50#@28" draw..NOT 650#s..:)Jim

There is not short cut to it. You need to shoot the weight in order to become comfortable with it, by building up to it. I like to have two sets of limbs. However, going to the heavier set takes me a while to settle in with them. It might just be too much for you. If that is the case I would look into a replacement. Same bow but 45#.

My guess is that you are either on the younger side or new to shooting a longbow...in either case I find people wanting to get quick results, sometimes at the expense of reason...there is nothing wrong with shooting 10 arrows a day, and even taking a day off once in a while...shoot only in the morning after a good nights rest...and be more patient...shooting a fifty pound draw weight is not all that difficult for anyone in reasonable condition...I am pretty out of shape (check out Rooty's Camo Dave in full camo thread from a while back), and 63 years old...in those pics both of the bows that I am shooting are about 54 or 55 pounds at my draw length...I could shoot either of those bows all day long...I can shoot over 65 pounds right handed and over 60 left handed

DDave

Nothing wrong with dropping to 40#. Since your used to the 50# the 40# will feel easy and your accuracy will probably instantly improve if you go to a lighter arrow. Some peoples bodies seem to be able to handle the heavier bows and some dont. I used to shoot 60# but I had my share of finger pains and shoulder injury's while I was doing it. I only shoot 35-50 now.

Just go up to the search area on this web site and type in rotator cuff and press keyword. That may help you with your decision.

Sorry but this is silly if you are a grown man with no medical/health issues 50#' shouldn't be noting to you if it is man up and do something about it if that is the weight you want to shoot.

Get up every morning and go pull/shoot it 10-20 times, do it again at lunch if you can and if not in the evening shoot it till you can't pull it back it any more and then skip a day and do it again...within a month it it will feel like nothing.

Get some dumbbells or Kettle balls and work the lats and shoulders Just how dedicated to it is up to you.

well have shot traditional archery off and on for about 15 years but getting back into it seriously, I'm 51 years of age 6'2" 205. I think it is just from not shooting for so long and hernia surgery 3 months ago may play a role, and of course the dreaded long term effects of Lyme disease (sometimes I have my bad days) but otherwise fairly healthy.

If your shoulder is sore you may want to put ice on it in the evenings for 15 to 25 minutes. Ice is the best anti inflamatory you can get. and it is practicaly no cost! Works great for my tennis elbow.

3 sets o' ten, every other day, combined with the recommended push/pull ups.... Light weights, you can do every day, but building strength takes a little rest in between workouts.

JMO, you can work on strength or you can work on form, but you can't improve your form while shooting too much weight, and you might develop some really unhelpful habits in the process of trying... then it'll take you twice the time to get back to where you started....

I remember an older guy named Roy.. He said something about how some things are like paying interest on the money you had to borrow to pay for the hay that you fed to the horse that died last winter. Just not a good investment.

Mission man I am a bit younger, but did in essence the same thing. I had shot compounds and decided to go to traditional and my first was an incredibly nice 54# Kodiak Hunter, and it was to much. I sold it and bought a 45 # bow, that was just over a year ago. I now have a 64# longbow that I really enjoy. About a month ago I had a friend let me shoot his 80# recurve. I shot a bit with it just because I was mostly in disbelief that I could handle such. Due to a prior shoulder incident I was suppose to have had my right rotator cuff repaired years back, opted for therapy, and kept on moving. Basically you need to strengthen those muscles that you use when shooting. I agree with pull-ups, push-ups, and dips, all of which will help build up much needed muscles. take your time, enjoy shooting, and don't try to he-man any situation.

-Bones

Jim, you scared me with that 650@28" !:) Thanks guys, I think with some exercises and patience, I'll be fine I'm even thinking of buying a 40# sage to work on form .

I've struggled with both TARGET PANIC and SHOULDER PROBLEMS. I've learned a few things from experience:

1. If I get up close to the target 5-10 yards, I can FOCUS ON FORM with a bow that is HEAVIER THAN I'D SHOOT/HUNT WITH. I maintain GOOD FORM while working the muscles to the max!

2. When I feel form breaking down I STOP SHOOTING!

3. If it HURTS to shoot I STOP SHOOTING!

4. If I hurt, I'm PATIENT WITH MYSELF.

I was shooting my girlfriend's 29# bow over the last week, coming off of shoulder injury and illness. I'd like to be doing the close range workout with the 50#er and maybe taking it to a shoot or two this summer.

Strength and GOOD FORM to you Brother! CR

Don't know if you have ever shot one already, but if you haven't, you won't be dissapointed in the Sage, Chuck

Mission man..I think I corrected that typo..:)

Whatever you shoot..enjoy your archery..

Good archery is NOT about pain, nor missing the mark..:)

My old High School latin motto was;

"QUID AGAS , AGIS BENE.."

Which roughly translated from the latin says: what you DO ..do well..:)

and I'd add : Remember to enjoy yourself!.....:) Jim

Here's my two cents:

Only one exercise needed (2 variations of it) that being chinups and pullups. The only difference being palms facing you and palms away. Do a few sets of 3 to 5 at a time, or more if you can handle it. two to three times a week will allow huge gains in back strength.

Incorporating pushups is a good idea because pulling a bow is actually a push/pull action so why not train antagonist muscles.

As far as switching bows, I would simply shoot less. Shoot an arrow, go get it (allowing for a little rest), repeat. Cut back to 10 or 12 arrows a day.

Good luck. Dan

You guys are awesome!

So.... you fell out of a boat? How we 'spose to help?

Luckily I can tread water !:)

The "Bow Trainer" is very helpful.

The Carpathia is on it's way.....keep paddling!

You need to listen to your body, its trying to tell you something! YOUR SHOOTING TOO MUCH!!!! Lay off until the pain subsides, then don't continue shooting if it hurts, listen to what your body is telling you. When building strength shoot every other day, not every day. Shoot 6-8 shots and rest, until you've shot 3 sets, the quit. I agree 50# is not that difficult to build into, give it time. Bob

What aromakr says. If you need to do something to stay loose walk a couple of miles. Talk to a real physical fitness person. They may train everyday but different muscles.

If you are already able to pull and properly hold 50 pounds, why in the flipping world would you buy a lighter bow? If you are shooting 30-40 shots a day as is, maybe go every other day and let your shoulder heal up some instead of pounding it in the ground. Or shoot 20 times and stop. You are never going to build up to shooting 50 pounds, 40 times/day without fatigue or soreness, shooting a 40 pound bow.

Push ups, Pull ups, dips, lateral rows, power bands, all around physical labor, and shooting a 50 pound bow will build up your bow shooting muscles to be able to shoot your current bow of 50 pounds, soreness free. Shooting a 40 pound bow won't. It doesn't work that way. If it did, everyone would be shooting 100 pound bows by now. God Bless

great suggestions above everyone thank you I am doing face pulls right now suggested by a fellow leather Waller it is really helping.

https://youtu.be/rep-qVOkqgk

YOU CAN FIND SOME REASONABLE PRICED LIGHTER BOWS. I THINK JIM IS AN OUTSTANDING EXCEPTION AND HAS REALLY GOOD UPPER BODY STRENGTH. I STARTED OUT AT 70 # AND IT WAS A PIECE OF CAKE AT EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD THE SAME BOW AND COULD PUT BOTH BOWS TOGETHER AND PULL THEM WITH EASE. HE IS STILL PRETTY STRONG BUT OPS TO SHOOT 40 POUNDS. DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR AND GET A LIGHTER BOW. NOT JUST 2 POUNDS LIGHTER EITHER. I THINK YOU WILL BE QUICKER TO DEVELOP GOOD FORM QUICKER AND BE MORE CONSISTENT IN YOUR SHOOTING.

RON

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