Dan, you should be able to draw your bow by holding it straight up, and pull the string back by squeezing your shoulder blades together, slowly. Do it with no arrow to get use to how it feels. It’s the best thing I ever learned how to do. I watched this video to learn how.

https://youtu.be/Wu8PSs-4HCg

I will say something that will go against all the "common knowledge" these days.

Option one: Use the swing draw and keep the string hand close to the body during the upward travel until the string hand is above nipples level and push your elbow straight back to get to the anchor. You will avoid the strain on your string arm shoulder and the back is engaged early. And no, you don't have to snap shoot if you use a swing draw set-up.

Option two: Use a variant of push-pull draw. Hold the bow hand and string hand like you are ready to start a boxing match - bow hand a bit forward, string hand as guard, close to the chin. Push the bow hand (like a slow motion jab) - the string hand should not move. When the bow hand is in place push the elbow of the string hand back and go to anchor.

Closer the string hand is to the body, earlier the back gets involved.

PS In all options, the elbow of string hand is close to the body too, not just the hand.

You need to shoot a bow you can easily control, especially if you have physical problems that cause your form to be less than stellar. If that is #35, bfd. Shoot 35.

Dan, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way you are shooting. I have a friend who has shot that very way for years and not because he has to due to physical issues, and he is an excellent shot. After a few spine and shoulders surgeries he probably finds it still works best for him but it has worked extremely well for years before those surgeries. You need to do what you need to do, not what someone else tells you. Too much of that stuff on these trad sites.

What you actually see in that video is that every muscle group from what you can see at the arm guard through to the elbows is heavily engaged. The reality is you can shoot without fully engaging back tension which is why it is so important to learn to use back tension. But it also highlights the role that the rest of the body plays, throughout the loadpath.

Germain to the question, you can see the lower back is not heavily engaged, and presumably the abs aren't much either. It is that girdle through the shoulders, chest, and arms that is fully employed.

I never used my back muscles correctly which is why I could never really shoot good above 50#,, most people I know who did use their back muscles could all shoot in the 60's and 70's and I mean in our primes when 55# to 65# was normal in these parts..

I wanted to post here because of recent shoulder surgery I had and I blame the problem entirely on me only using my shoulder muscles to draw back stickbows for 35yrs,,, I had bone spurs and arthritis in the ball of my shoulder and archery is the only thing that could be the reason,,,,, so use those back muscles..

Dan -

If you can't comfortably draw the string back to anchor with the bow elevated (arm horizontal), you need to reduce draw weight. It's that simple. Any variation from that makes the movement harder, not easier - and the compensations can do more harm than good.

When you find a weight you can handle, you can work up from there, either by gradually increasing the weight, increasing the number of shots per session, or reducing the time between shots.

Just reality.

There are ways of modifying the draw to compensate for specific injuries, usually shoulder injuries, but not really "easier" to compensate for a strength loss.

Viper out.

Yea, try that swing draw if you like flirting with TP!!! Any thing that has you doing two things at the same time during the shot should be avoided. Of course, with the exception of aiming and expansion.

I'd do what Viper suggests and also look at the Arne Moe video. Only makes sense to have gravity help you reach full draw.

Bowmania

I call BS on "anything that has you doing two things at same time" as reason for TP. You look at the target and move the bow up are 2 things. If what you say is true, archery it was populated just by TP shooters. There is a difference between being aware and paying attention you know?

Well Bomania is an archery coach and he gave me an excellent tip for drawing.I have used it ever since. Injuries and surgeries are not to be trifled with without medical oversight. It is a fact that folks that know it all can't be taught anything.Arne,Viper,and Todd are very experienced and have a lot of proof.>>>---> Ken

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