Traditional Archery Discussions on the Leatherwall


Practicing with a low poundage bow

Messages posted to thread:
Timberline2 02-Feb-25
Corax_latrans 02-Feb-25
2 bears 02-Feb-25
charley 02-Feb-25
VanhetHof 02-Feb-25
Viper 02-Feb-25
Maclean 02-Feb-25
Dad 02-Feb-25
Scoop 02-Feb-25
Babysaph 02-Feb-25
Therifleman 02-Feb-25
murphy 02-Feb-25
shandorweiss 02-Feb-25
lost run 02-Feb-25
Swampstick 03-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 03-Feb-25
iowacedarshooter 03-Feb-25
Jul 03-Feb-25
Mike B 04-Feb-25
Chris04 04-Feb-25
GUTPILEPA 04-Feb-25
bugsy 49 04-Feb-25
N Y Yankee 04-Feb-25
From: Timberline2
Date: 02-Feb-25




Will practicing with a 30# bow, help you become a better shooter with your 45# bow?

From: Corax_latrans
Date: 02-Feb-25




Probably the truest answer is “Depends”…. Because it only helps if you’re using the same, preferably Correct form with both.

Right now I’m shooting closer to #47-#48, as opposed to #62, and it’s much easier to really See and Digest the sight picture when shooting Point-On, and I think a lot of guys keep a lighter “form bow” around to help them develop a kinesthetic sense of where their fully-expanded Anchor Point really IS. The trick is then making sure that you’re neither overexpanding with the light bow nor short-drawing the heavier; I’m experimenting with a clicker to help with that.

The kicker (for me, anyway) is that my release seems to be cleaner and more consistent at higher poundage, so my Good Groups were tighter with #62 than they have been (so far) with the new girl….

From: 2 bears
Date: 02-Feb-25




I think so unless 45# is just too much for you. I use a lighter bow to warm up with as well as practice. The lighter the weight the harder it is to get a clean release. You can work on your form as well as your release. If you can't shoot the 45# exactly like the 30# / draw, hold, get into you anchor & same draw length then it likely is too heavy for you right now. You may be able to work up to it. >>>----> Ken

From: charley
Date: 02-Feb-25




More weight will clean up a bad release. Light bows humble me every time.

From: VanhetHof
Date: 02-Feb-25




I do just the opposite: practice with my heaviest bow (56# @ 28") all winter into spring to build strength and then add practicing with my hunting weight bow (47# @ 28") once the snow is gone through the fall hunting season.

From: Viper
Date: 02-Feb-25




T -

A number of target shooters (myself included) drop 10# or more after the outdoor season to "clean things up". Then we gradually build back to our outdoor weights. Burt as C-l said, it only works if you can use the same form on both weights *and kinda know what you're doing ;) ).

And as charley said, the problem is that for a lot of "trad" types, going lighter can be pretty humbling.

Viper out.

From: Maclean Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 02-Feb-25




I've found that working with lower poundage bows has been extremely helpful for developing and maintaining proper form. My form bows are 10-12 lbs lighter than my heaviest hunting bows. I've also found clickers to be very beneficial for consistent draw length across all of my different bows.

From: Dad
Date: 02-Feb-25




I know that with my lighter bows it helps with form. I can shoot more arrows to find my flaws and work on them.

From: Scoop Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 02-Feb-25




Yeah, I am one of those who gets humbled every time I drop down to a lighter bow. But after several sessions of controlling my sloppy release and other sins masked by the heavier weights, all is well, or at least better.

From: Babysaph
Date: 02-Feb-25




I’d shoot what I hunt with but that’s just me.

From: Therifleman
Date: 02-Feb-25




Absolutely. I always set my bows up for the same trajectory so that part of it is a no brainer. The lighter bow let's me shoot more often and focus on refining form and shot process.

From: murphy Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 02-Feb-25




Shooting lighter weights to warm and condition your physical body is good too.

From: shandorweiss
Date: 02-Feb-25




I shoot bows from 19 to 62#. The lighter the bow, the more I have to focus on a smooth release. In fact, shooting light bows has taught me how to have a smooth release at any weight.

For me, very light bows are also just lots of fun to shoot.

Jeff Kavanagh, the awesome trick shooter and online shooting instructor, used to (at least) shoot a 65# bow. His practice bow was 35#. That's 30# lighter! IMO he's the best online archery teacher and one of the best shooters anywhere. For trick shots, at least. I mention him b/c if he's shooting a bow just over half his usual weight for practice, I think there must be something to it.

From: lost run
Date: 02-Feb-25




I hunted with a 52 lb. recurve this past season. I will start shooting tomorrow morning with some guys at the club, I will be shooting a 45 lb. bow mostly at 10 yards working on controll and form.

From: Swampstick
Date: 03-Feb-25




I recently switch from my 47# at my draw to a 42# bow. Even dropping the 5# showed what I was doing on my release and helped sort out some other form issues. I think bringing in a light bow and switching between the two can be helpful.

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 03-Feb-25




I'm most accurate with #60 because of the clean release. I do shoot #35 on occasion, but finessing a light bow doesn't trump whump. Maybe when I'm old it will.

From: iowacedarshooter Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 03-Feb-25




after having a bypass surgery i had to go to a lighter bow for awhile but after three months of rehab and doing some weight lifting i was able to shoot my 50# k-mag again and yes i was and am very thankful!

From: Jul
Date: 03-Feb-25




Just the opposite I shoot 10 arrows a day with 70# then use my 52# for hunting and target shooting. But it fills like a kids bow after the 70#. Lol

From: Mike B
Date: 04-Feb-25




I would say yes. Anything that improves hand/eye coordination should help improve your shooting. Changing back to a heavier draw means the brain will need to make an adjustment, but a bit of practice with the heavier bow should get things in sync fairly quickly. JMHO

From: Chris04
Date: 04-Feb-25




The one Who is training with heavier bow weight can easily , with confort, Master, light draw weigth . The opposit is not true .

From: GUTPILEPA
Date: 04-Feb-25




Exactly Chris04

From: bugsy 49
Date: 04-Feb-25




2x what charley said.

From: N Y Yankee
Date: 04-Feb-25




If you keep proper form in mind as you are shooting, I think shooting lower draw weight is better than not shooting at all and then trying to get back in it with a higher weight. Shooting just to fling arrows may be detrimental if you are not maintaining your good form in practice.





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