Increasing Pull weight Strength


bowhunter97

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A muscle is a muscle. Gradually increase poundage about a half round on the limb bolt, then shoot a week or so till it gets to be in your comfort range, then repeat to get to where you want to go. Obviously we all hit a natural wall at some point depending on your build, and when you hit middle age you'll find you can't push as fast as you used to because when you do have an injury the recovery time is longer. Shoot at a comfortable weight though, not a number. Todays bows are deadly with just a 50 lb pull (or even less).

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I know exactly what you mean!

I killed my first deer pulling about 40 lbs, with a LOT cruder bow than the cheapest thing available today, there's no comparison. What are you pulling now? Don't feel like you got to keep up with the Jones's to shoot well, you'll continue to outgrow your current set-up over the next few years, but doesnt matter where it is you end up, if it's at 53lbs, then that's fine, if it's 75, then that's cool too.

Edited by redkneck
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im at about 55 or 56 right now and its fairly easy to pull but i had a bad experience with about at like 53 pounds that should have been a kill but the deer just ran off with it and never went down. but i hsve gotten s new bow since then. That was an old bow but i'll never forget that and i dont ever want that to happen again. I got the doe in my avatar with my newer bow.

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I hate to tell you this but it will happen again if you keep hunting. As sure as you'll occasionally miss, you will wound a deer. There is always a trade-off, lower poundages hurt you somewhat with longer yardage shots, but also let you pull at almost any angle and hold back longer. What good is a 70lb pull if you had to let down when that 10pt stepped behind a tree and you had to let down and spook him? Its great to step up, keep practicing and build muscle, but dont push it, if you cant draw smooth and easy you're pulling too much.

Just my 2 cents

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yea ik but then i was sure it was the poundage and arrow speed but basically now thinking about it i think it was just the bow all around it was a old bow i think it was just worn out and i think that because it was a good shot if it penetrated then it would have been center lungs and it was a 22 yard shot but this bow i have now is faster im still at about 200 fps but the other one was only probably about 140 so im just going to do what you said and that was just a bad experience thats all it is. Thanks very much for your 2 cents and that makes 1.05 now i can go buy an arizona sweet tea lol but seriously thank you very much

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i know of a couple people shooting the Diamond Edge (model before yours, basically the same bow) at 50 pounds that have killed deer the past two seasons. you're shooting enough, but like Redkneck said something things happen. i'd try using a cut on contact head and definitely stick with shots 25 yards and under. they do make bands and other trainer stuff, that said good advise is already given. as you get stronger your form will change a little which will effect your point of impact slightly. better shooting your bow, resting when you start to get tired, and getting the practice. one thing is make sure you draw with your back muscles along with a pull and push with both arms. do that naturally and then bend or twist at your waist to aim. that's the advice i got for ya.

happy shootin' but don't over do it!

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For the most part.......doing a lot of shooting, with the correct form, will hit the muscle groups you are looking for. Overall, average workouts/weight training should take care of the rest. But like John stated earlier, sometimes one's frame and make up have limitations and knowing when you get there is key. Not everyone, even the most fit, will be pulling high poundage efficiently and with correct form.

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Shooting the bow a lot and increasing poundage gradually definitely works.

Practicing drawing and then letting the bow down as slowly as possible several times really works all the muscles you need to improve better. If you can do that 10 times every day for a couple weeks it will make a big difference.

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Come March 20th I'll be 63.

I shoot just about daily. A few arrows Monday thru Thursday and then maybe 100 per day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

My normal hunting draw weight is 67 pounds, but when cold moves in I drop to 62 pounds.

My 3D bows run from 55 to 62 pounds. ASA shooters here, my Martin Shadowcat is set to 55 pounds and with 282 gr arrow nails 285 fps. I can shoot this just about all day long. Well, a Field round is 112 shots and whatever warm up shots I take, about 10 or so and this just to see if I'm on... Figured up the shots on my Shadowcat, 23,340 shots in 1 1/2 years, not counting a few 3Ds and practicing for hunting.

Normal year for me, some 15,000 to 16,000 shots.

Of note; It seems more people drop out of archery due to pain. Find a comfortable draw weight and stay with it.

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In other words we can't all draw 82 lbs like you do stud!!! :flex:

It helps having started in archery at an early age plus being a pitcher in baseball. Everything just worked out that they all complimented each other. I can tell you that SonnyThomas is spot on with the new bows. My new bow pulls harder than my old one, but then again it is the offseason and I don't shoot league anymore. I am rusty since season.

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The definite benefit of a faster arrow is less arch at 30 and 40 yards. I don't think anything out to 25 will make a difference.

However, The comments above are correct. It is called muscle specificity - if you want to run fast, you have to run fast. If you want to run long distance, you have to run long distances.

So the advice above is extremely accurate. Concentrate on working that bow, every week or two increase the poundage a few #s. It'll take you only a few weeks or a month of working it every other day to get up to 65#s.

if you want to work some weights, I'd work dumbbell rows:

= I'd work the weight a little higher and closer to the face to simulate pulling a bow.

Other than that - you're good.

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