i was just shooting shooting a mid 60lb bow for a session then shot my normal mid 50lb bow felt like a toy. im thinking it might be a good technique to shoot a heavier bow once a week or so to get those back muscles pumped. anybody do this?

I use an exercise band around the string and held under my bow hand to increase draw weight. There's a picture or 2 on here somewhere.

That routine sounds like good exercise for the back muscles. A friend of mine at the local range does the same thing.

I have a bow strung and hanging in an accessible place so if I don't shoot for a few days I can draw some repetitions and hold for a while. I like the burn back there. So when I shoot I can concentrate on my form and not think about draw weight.

Periodically I do the same.

B -

It's not a bad idea at all, as long as you can maintain form with the heavier bow.

Viper out.

I shoot a variety of bow weights, but when I am doing my exercise routine, it is just about the muscle group and no shooting. I have a 110 pound set up for just drawing, I grab a fistful, I do know want to pu that kind of pressure on my draw fingers. I also do a variety of shoulder balancing exercises with a variety of dumbbells using my adjustable dumb bell bench. Shoulders are easy to insure, I would not advise on straining too hard, if you are using a heavy bow for the physiological punch of warming up heavy and then shooting lighter.

What Viper said. If you struggle with it, you can develop some nasty habits. Just make sure you think about the pucker factor. )

Sorry for the typos, a lot going on here today. The same exercises that you would do to help cure shoulder injuries are excellent to do to strengthen and prevent shoulder injuries. When it comes to shooting heavy bows, what feels like and what is, can be quite different. A selfie video reference can help.

I have been slowly increasing the draw weight I shoot since I retired at the end of 2013. I’ve gone from 55-65# to 70-74# Right now I’m working on a 1950’s Bear K- 4 that’s 80#. So far, (since 12/18/18) I’m up to 3 controlled shots at full draw. My advice to practice is this; pull to full draw and hold for the count of 5. Do that every time you shoot. That has helped me a lot. My fingers have never been strained, but I guard my shoulder by using my back muscles, rather than my arm/bicep/shoulder to draw back the bow. Wolfie Hughes on youtube has a good video on using back tension. It doesn’t take a lot of repetition at one time, just a few times a week and the strength will show up. The added benefit is that shooting a lighter bow is like pulling back a rubber band.

Been doing it for 10 years. I am 67 and can shoot far greater draw weight than I did at 57. 70 pounds vs. 40

DDave

I'd warm up with a lighter bow, then shoot some with the heavy. Reduces chance of injury. When your form starts slipping, stop shooting.

One thing to remember - when you're near your 'max', tread slowly.

I do but not above my max comfort and control weight. (55#) Come hunting season I drop 10ish pounds (45#) in draw weight and I'm in my best zone.

great input guys. im going to work some that in. when i do shoot heavier im paying close attention to form. i actually think it helps my form a bit as it forces me to get the back working in order to hold for a decent shot. if im feeling fatigued it have to stop or bad stuff starts creeping in. camo and mstyles nice work on the heavy lbage!

I use my 60# bow these days to do some exercises. I do both sides, I pull to full draw and let down slowing stopping at least 3 times. I count to 10 when I stop. If I can only do one or two sets that’s it for the day. I have read to many stories here about blown shoulders by guys half my age. I am pushing 74.

I shoot bows from 44# to 70#. I cycle through my collection using three bows per shooting session. I shoot the heavy weights one day, lighter weights another and medium weights on another day. So that is 60-67#, then 51-59# then 44-50#.

I do what M60 does with a 70# bow. Draw, hold, then let down slowly...five reps using my back muscles. I am 65 and want to keep my shoulders in shape.

My own experience agrees with most of the guys above and the advice from Viper and George Stout. That is, I exercise with a heavier bow; like draw & hold, let off slowly, etc. But I don't shoot my heavier bow because I don't want to change my release habits.

My draw is 55 lb and I don't want to change it - I just want to become as good as I can with it. Heavy bow exercise sure does make my real bow feel lighter and more in control.

So I only need two bows - my 55# shooting bow and my 75# exercise bow. The bands seem like a great idea, then I only need one bow. Although owning only one bow doesn't seem to be a common desire, judging by some of the other threads posted here :).

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