Have been experiencing pain in all my joints. Especially elbows after shooting sessions. Started with the left but has spread to my right now. The right really bothers me and I have a hard time holding anything outstretched of any weight

Shooting has become less fun due to the pain during and afterwards. Would dropping ten pounds make a big difference in your opinion. I'm shooting 50 now but have a tendency to short draw due to pain. just looking for any help or input Thanks

I have shoulder and neck issues. I shoot 35-40#. Youd be surprised how much more enjoyable lower poundages are to shoot. And penetration has never been an issue for me. Hand shock kills my neck, so proper tuning is a must.

Normally it should make a difference. Never ever shoot through pain expecting to get away. Even if you feel the #40 is Ok, first sign it hurts stop.

I have a 40#'er I hunt with along with my high forties bows. It will do the same job on a deer. The key is good arrow flight, and the lower weight will maybe allow you to shoot more. Do what you need to do to stay in the game, it's nobody's bidness buy your own. )))

I had elbow and roto cuff troubles. Started taking 2000mg of Glucosamine, pain almost all but gone.

Kind of depends on the weight your shooting now to be realistic. Just to give you an idea, 10lbs. is nearly of 50lbs. Not so much if your shooting 70lbs.

For me short drawing causes me severe pain bit if I shoot a low that allows me to hold at a complete full draw with back tension I have no pain

Yes 10# less and a lighter physical weight bow can make a big difference. I know I'm rehabing from a complete tear in rotator cuff and it's rough. JF

+1 White Falcon

Like Jeff said, it makes a huge difference for me. Even 5#'s makes a difference.

I had a massive left shoulder rotator cuff tear surgically repaired in March. Still doing PT in an attempt to get back to normal. Not working well, and despite dedicated PT I cannot even draw a 30# bow! I normally shoot right handed and even struggled with a lightweight compound bow.

Yesterday I switched to a left handed bow. I can draw it with ease and now I just have to teach myself to shoot it,...steep learning curve for a 73 year old! Didn't want to miss this year of bowhunting and break my string of 60 consecutive years. I'm back in the game and could not be happier! This year will be 61 consecutive years.

Just because you are old and injured it does not mean you must succumb to the allure of a crossbow! 50 years ago in USMC boot camp they taught us to improvise, adapt, and overcome. I have remembered that ever since and have applied that philosophy often, as I am doing now. Good luck to all in the woods this fall. Semper Fi.

Hmmm. meant to say 20% of 50lbs. That's a considerable difference in the strain on your body.

Yes drop your weight. If 10 pounds not enough then drop more

most definitely, I dropped from 55 Down to 43-44 at my draw and it made all the difference in the world.. now my shoulders/elbows and fingers don't ache so bad I can hardly move the next day after shooting.. I am getting back to shooting 53# again but just shoot a few shots at a time each day.

Yes 50# will make 40# feel very easy. I feel your pain and went through the same thing. Good luck.>>>----> Ken

George, have you been drinking? LOL Your spelling is usually flawless!

For joint pain it helps to do strengthening exercises for the muscles -around- the joint. I learned that after a knee problem that required physical therapy. You don't need to visit a gym, some 'rubber bands' allow you to work out anywhere.

And a 'Bow Fit' is really helpful for archery-specific workouts.

I would say that you have no choice but until you do it, you won't know if it'll make any difference. And how the heck would we know.

Yup! Regards

I shoot 56# and bought a new bow at 46#. Much more enjoyable. I am not confident in hunting with it yet as I am concerned with penetration. I know its just me. But I keep re-reading the threads regarding hunting with lower weight and such and that gives me some confidence. Anyway good luck. I do have left elbow pain.

"Have been experiencing pain in all my joints."

Sounds like a symptom of Lyme disease. Do you take an aspirin a day? Do you use an anti-inflammatory? Other than shooting a bow, do you practice a regular exercise of the upper body muscles? Is there any other activity that may be stressing your elbows in particular,like driving,hammering nails,overhead work?

Is most of your pain in the elbows?

You didn't say what type of bow you are shooting. I love my longbows and have some of the smoothest you could find, but my recurves still give me less thump on release. My Bear TD is the most shooter friendly bow I have shot in a long time. If you are shooting longbows (ASL style especially) you may want to go to a recurve which will probably give you a touch better performance at the lower draw weight as well as having a bit less thump. My suggestion may be a moot point if you are shooting a 'curve already. I sure feel for you. I dealt with frozen shoulder pain for a long time and could not even reach into my hip pocket for my handkerchief without pain. If you have not done so, be sure to consult a doctor about this. Mine gave me exercises to do that finally relieved the problem after some painful therapy. Best of luck to you.

Have you talked to your MD (not osteo, not chiro, actual MD)?

Sounds like arthur.

I shoot a 10 to 15 lb heavier bow every third time I step out the back door to my range. I normally keep my sessions between 12 - 18 arrows and shoot 3 to 8 times a day. Stepping up in weight for me makes stepping down 10 feel like a 20 lb drop in weight. I've tried this at various weights as I recovered from neck surgery and shoulder injuries and found it works the same regardless of the weights being drawn for me. Up's a little harder, Down's a huge relief.

M -

Depends.

If your form is decent, then yes it certainly will. If your form is the real cause of the problem, then all it will do is push back the inevitable.

Viper out.

I have always shot 65+..This year I was struggling with 63 at my draw..I ended up busing a 50 lb Montana and love it..I can practice alot longer and reach my 30" normal draw length. .

Crowfoot

Yes, maybe even a lower weight target bow.

Flinging arrows is just the same no matter what weight your bow is.

Howatt Del Rey #33.

https://drydenwire.com/news/weekly-rehab- minute-bow-season-tune-up-your-shoulders/

Try the link above..good sound advice and simple exercises to help the bow shooter.

You don't mention your age, but #50 should not suddenly start to bother you. Do you drink a lot of soda/carbonated drinks especially diet drinks? Aspartame is some wicked stuff. A lot of sugar is also not good for you. Do you drink lots of water? Everyone should. Any chance of Lymes. Study natural ways to help your connective tissue. There is a reason the Standard American Diet is called the SAD diet. I'd drop the 10# and look into the lifestyle/dietary issues. Was this a sudden thing or has it been coming on slowly? Best to you with this.

How the 'H' would we know??? Go see a doctor and then drop 10 pounds.

Bowmania

All my bows are between 40 and 50 lb. You would not believe what 44lb feels like compared to 50. 40 is just crazy light in comparison. Most my bows in the 40 to 45lb range can shoot full length 600 trad gtips with a little point weight adjustment. You will notice a huge improvement with a 5- 8lb drop

Dropping down in bow weight will likely provide temporary relief. For permanent relief you need to see a qualified physician to find out what ailments you have and whether they can be cured.

Sir, I thought the same thing as Wild Bill. Maybe find out if you have been infected with Lyme. And drop back to 35# and don't aggravate any potential elbow tendonitis because it will improve with rest. I know, I have it, from throwing a baseball, in my right elbow. It gets better with rest, at least mine does. Hope you get better and can shoot 50# again!

Yes at our age a lot of joint wear......extend your archery shooting days, shoot lighter, with a couple days rest in between. I think Jeffers advice is awesome shoot one arrow at a time...really forces us to slow down and think form. Also for every shot RH, pull the bow with the opposite arm for shoulder back neck issues. Balance the load. 10 lbs is a huge difference.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oPx070a_dOw

Forgot to add this link.....stretch those forearms!

yes it will make a difference,, also practice good form as suggested,, holding at full draw too long will not help,,,,use good form get the bow aimed and shoot,,

Holding to long was what messed up my shoulder. Dropped down from 48# to 35 and 40# Stopped trying to hold to long and having more fun shooting 3d.Not sure I will back up in weight.

Thanks for the advice Ive been tested for Lyme but I hear a false negative is possible.

Im 57 in a few weeks. Really got worse the last 6 months.

going to see a doctor soon. Thanks again

Been dropping draw weight myself the last four years to between 35 to 43lb. Have plans to purchase even a lighter draw bow that is one I have been looking at for a while, next week when I get back from a 10 day trip overseas (right now in Nagoya, Japan heading to Kunming China in the morning).

Sounds a lot like tendinitis to me. Go see your Doc.

What Viper said, I had a difficult time hitting consistently with my 60lb bow and it started to hurt, I'm 71, Viper helped me by suggesting a 35lb or lighter bow to take the stress off ( I got a 30lb bow) and practice my form, I wish I had done this thirty years ago, obviously my form was not the best, this corrected the problem and I am back shooting a 40lb bow with ease and hitting very consistently and accurately I might add.

Forget about high poundage start low and work your way back up to what may be your limit, I can shoot a 45 without any problems, but the forty is nice.

I can shoot the 60lb one also, but my bod doesn't like to.

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