What % or lbs less of your desired hunting bow weight should a training bow be? If I have #47 limbs that I get about #42 out of at my draw and I handle "ok", would #28-30 be light enough to get form practice with?

What is the focus of your training? If you want to do strength training, use weights or resistance bands to work all your muscles and thus you can then manage your hunting weight bow. If you want to train for hunting, use your hunting weight bow to then practice form and accuracy.

As you say form practice, what are you striving for?

Well wild Bill that's a great question. I'd say what I'm striving for is the complete control of the draw, anchor, and release I see people display.

I've been weight training now for 27 years, so I think the strength is there, I just can't control a hunting weight bow like I want

If you want to build archery strength, a lighter weight bow isn't the answer. UNLESS you have the time to do an extreme number of reps. The light bow IS the answer for learning a shot sequence, learning what a proper shot should look (in relation to the target) like, as well as how the shot feels when it is correct, what a proper anchor feels like etc..

To build strength, you have to shoot a heavier bow, or imitate shooting a heaver bow. You can do that in a number of different ways. You can actually use the bow you have now, and set of exercise bands of whatever flavor you choose. Put the exercise band around the string, with the 2 loose ends under your hand at the grip, and draw the bow. You have increased the draw weight considerably. That will help you build strength. Start with a band that while increasing draw weight, will still allow you to get to anchor. (somewhere on here there is a pcture or 2 of me demonstrating what I'm talking about). That will allow you to effectively draw a heavier bow, without buying a new bow. Use a training regimen just like you would use whn trying increse your max weight while weight training.

So, in my experience you would be better off using a combination of the 2 systems to achieve the maximum result.

If I understand correctly, Briar is referring to form.

I shoot about the same poundage and most of my form work is done with 28 pounds.

That being said, I just bought a pair of 22 pound limbs. Can't give you an answer on how they work yet. The great part of ILF is that the limbs with shipping cost 62 bucks and I didn't get the cheapest, because they didn't have them in 22 longs.

Bowmania

Briar,

"I'd say what I'm striving for is the complete control of the draw, anchor, and release I see people display."

Ok! I see you left out the "aim" step before the release.

Control does not come from your muscles. Having enough muscles should mean that you don't have "creep" at full draw, that is, your draw hand moves forward away from you anchor point. Once you reach anchor and you feel the string on your fingers and the tension in the back of your shoulders(by getting your drawing elbow level or above you shoulder), you aim and then release with a rearward motion of your hand, as the string slips from your fingers. With a steady push on your bow arm you should get little motion forward, on the release, and try to hold that push until the arrow gets to the target. When you train, you are running so many things through your mind that will eventually become not a thought at all as you shoot.

The focus of your attention should be your target and what you see at full draw. Without sights to hold on the target, you have to look at the position of the arrow, relative to the target. This is best done if you are drawing the arrow to the dominant eye side of your face, and having both eyes open.

Can you relate to what I'm saying, or is there another question in your mind you want answered first? Are you having other problems with your shooting?

What do you know of aiming methods?

Thanks a lot guys. Wild Bill I understand what your saying. I think my issue has been since starting this journey is that I shot a compound for nearly 30 years. I went from nearly 70 lbs down to #51 about 5 years ago. I was used to drawing and holding for 10-15 even 20 seconds with that #51. I felt like I could settle and hold with complete and utter control.

Compared to that I think my much faster shot sequence with the recurve feels rushed. I've seen indoor shooters standing and holding and aiming for what seems like eternity, and I'm nowhere close to that and it concerns me constantly I'm doing something wrong

Are you training to hit or training to hold?

"Compared to that I think my much faster shot sequence with the recurve feels rushed. I've seen indoor shooters standing and holding and aiming for what seems like eternity, and I'm nowhere close to that and it concerns me constantly I'm doing something wrong."

Stop comparing yourself to others. If you are confident enough to release, there is no reason to hold longer. If you are rushing yourself, don't. Control yourself, be yourself, enjoy yourself.

While I hear you about holding, I was watching some high level archers shooting recurves. Hold times ranged 4-7 seconds. If you need to hold longer than that, you may have some other problems.

While I hear you about holding, I was watching some high level archers shooting recurves. Hold times ranged 4-7 seconds. If you need to hold longer than that, you may have some other problems.

https://youtu.be/QRcxcZiXYZk

One problem is your changing bow and weight. Both shoot different and your brain needs to adjust for it.

I practice with what I hunt with.

I personally like to train with a heavier bow (8-10 lbs) more than what I hunt with, alternating practice sessions between my 51# and 54# longbows, and my 61# Wes Wallace Royal Longbow. I shoot less arrows with the Royal, but I’m forced to concentrate more on form and really take my time in between shots. As you would expect, the Royal does shoot differently than the two lighter bows largely due to the increased velocity. In point of fact, the heavier Royal is more forgiving of my form errors because it shoots faster. For me, I believe these alternating heavy and light(er) sessions translate to increased physical strength when shooting the light bows, and enhanced form. About a month out from hunting season, I practice exclusively with the 51# and 54# longbows, and with the arrow/broadhead combination I’ll hunt with.

Thanks a lot fellas. I have a bow here I just love. I think half my problem is overshooting and overdoing the weights. For an incredibly stupid reason, I just keep shooting til things go south and get frustrated.

If I go out, shoot 10-20 arrows and let it go I do pretty good at the ranges I'm interested in. I need to get more filming done if myself shooting so I can see if what I think is really bad shows up in the video. Thanks again. I'll keep at it!

This might help: I started retraining in September last year, with a 31# that I made "too light" but was/is perfect for learning what my back tension told me about anchor. Bought Viper's book, Shooting the Stickbow, and could not have learned as much at 51#,45#, or even 41# as I did on 31#. Hunted in January with a 40# bow, and while I did not release (trotting shot),I felt way more confident in my accuracy. I am building up to 50#, or thereabouts. But the lighter bow, 62% of my desired draw weight, helped immensely.

Good point SIL. KSL says once you reach transfer the odds of making a strong shot go down after 5 seconds.

Bowmania

Just shoot 1-2 arrows for practice. You will shoot longer and handle the weight but as been stated when you start to get tired stop, there's always tomorrow.

That draw weight thing is a two wway street.

First bow was 48lb but didn't draw it back and shoot it well until an instructor helped. When I acquired a 32lb bow a year later, learning got a whole lot easier. I've heard some of the experienced instructors on here mention see a lot of good results with bows in the thirties. \ However, I've had relatives and friends learn well with 40lb and low 40lb bows too. Think about all those 45lb bows sold to folks who just wanted a bow to go deer hunting and that's a whole bunch of bow owners, so keep that in mind. If your 47lb bow seems too much then might try another lighter one and then go back to your 47lb one a little later.

A whole lot of guessing going on above. But it is a fact that for many decades a great many fine target recurves have been made and well used with draw weights in the mid 30s. A lot of them still exist in the used markets and are among the lovliest and sweetest shooting bows ever made. I have owned about 2 dozen of them and still have 3. Viper seems to have kept all of his.

Many of us use them for form and indoor shooting in the cold months. With appropriate arrows they are suitable for all target purposes to 100 yards. I have found that shooting thousands of arrows with them is fine training for heavy bows. Better get a nice one and shoot it all your life. - lbg

This may sound like questionable feedback, but it works for me. Do yoga.

I'm a healthy, 55-year-old. I've been athletic most of my life, served in the Army with over 20 years' active duty, including several deployments. I am a certified USA Boxing coach. When I'm not traveling, I shoot nearly every day. I've had several exercise regimens over the years and I believe Yoga may be the best all-round form of obtaining and maintaining good fitness and flexibility. Combine 20 minutes of daily yoga with regular shooting (every couple days or so) with a bow that has a draw weight of 70% to 80% of your hunting bow and my guess is you'll see a dramatic improvement in your form and your ability to handle your hunting bow's draw weight.

It may only be worth what you paid for it, but that's my advice.

Good luck!

I’m no expert and won’t go into technical stuff I don’t know so will only say what I’ve seen. If you’re struggling with form with your hunting weight a bit of disciplined work with a bow about 10# lighter can perhaps help you rediscover some of the form your missing, but only if you know it’s missing. The results can take awhile but be quite eye opening.

My hunting bow is my training bow I guess, 69.5#, a lesser draw weight would only encourage muscular atrophy. I have no need or desire to manufactor a problem.

Me, I don't have a training bow. The weight I shoot is the weight I use for all shooting. That's just me. I have no use for a heavy bow. Howsomever, I do exercise with stretch bands. Keep them in the bathroom so every time I go pee I do some repetions. If I find my shoulder hurting I back off the bands. Now, all that said, I do shoot a girly bow.

Girly bow

https://www.espn.com/espnw/story/_/id/1313595 5/archer-khatuna-lorig-being-41-confident- happy-espn-magazine-body-issue

Do yourself a favour and get advice from a coach,someone who knows and not from a person here who probably has bad form and shoots worse than you do.

The first thing the OP had to decide is what he is working on. Perfecting form with a string bow or a light weight bow is not going to increase strength.

I don't know, what he wants to do, but he initially indicated Indicated that he wanted to be able to hold longer, and more steadily.

You don't hold a 25lb steadier linger because your form is better with it, it's because you can over power it plain and simple.

GDP, you nailed that one. My form isn't great. I overpower the bow. When life settles down I plan on taking lessons.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-u3kGspQQh/? igshid=8usa5wnjan42

fdp, not GDP. Stupid phone.

And my post that said girly bow was just to show that some girls shoot pretty hight weight bows by the standards the we use. It was not meant to say anything negative about what anyone is able to or chooses to use.

Think fdp's got it.

If you want or need to work on form a light weight bow is good for that. If you want to work up in bow weight you have to draw more weight. Shooting a lighter weight will not build the muscles needed for that regardless of how many shots you shoot with it.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here