Lighter bows

[kestimator]

I just put another bow up on Classifieds....53# Len Cardinale Wing Recurve because I'm trying to keep my bows 50#s and under. Any older bow shooters doing the same? Maybe your shoulders are older than you due to previous activities or sports.

[trad"Doc"53]

I think my burn injuries are overtaking me rapidly. I have to stay around 50-52#s any more.

[Idaho TradBow]

I used to shoot 65 & 70 lb recurves and longbows, then sold them off, and went to a 60 lb Martin recurve, then gave it away to a young man in need of a start in bowhunting and I obtained my 55lb Super Kodiak which is what I'm using now. I have been flirting with the idea that a 50 lb version of my Super Kodiak would be a better option due to the shoulder thing you refer to. Playing ice hockey up in Canada was pretty rough on my bones, and especially my bow shoulder, as that was the part of me that was taking the hits (and doing the hitting most often). It's pretty gritty/grindy feeling and is the part of me that fatigues and gets shaky first when shooting long sessions...so yeah, kestimator, I think you're spot on there...a 50 lber may be in the works for me within the next few years..

[El Paisano]

As a young man in the early 70's I shot 65#, now shooting 40-45# and shooting better than ever. I have a Bob Lee that really shoots good with 40# limbs.

[Kingslayer]

Im not that old but my body sure feels it everyday..A shoulder injury forces me to shoot bows in the range of 45-50 pounds..

[Night Wing]

I prefer light weight bows as anyone can see in my signature. Been shooting lightweight trad bow poundages going on four decades now.

[GILBERT]

Time does take its toll on the body. Back in the 60s the saying was "SHOOT THE HEAVIEST POUNDAGE THAT YOU CAN HANDLE COMFORTABLY". I whole heartily agree with that old statement. The key word here is "COMFORTABLY". I use to shoot 60 to 65lbs out of my Super Ks and Super K takedowns VERY comfortably back in my young days. The poundage that i could COMFORTABLY manage went down as the years rolled by. I am now shooting 50lbs, and come to find out that it is very adequate for big game hunting. I often shoot thru on whitetail deer.

Like i said "Time takes toll on the body". Your bones get brittle, your muscles lose their tone, your hair falls off, your spring in your legs start to go also,and the list goes on, and on. But all is not lost because their is one thing that does improve with age, and that is your ability to reason. As in my case common sense prevailed, and i give my old body what it can comfortably manage.

Now because of the my common sense improving with age i am still enjoying this great sport of archery....until the very end.

It is sad to see so many people over bowed. I guess that is just a way of life for the young....i myself at one time was made out of stainless steel and was going to live forever.

GILBERT

[meangene1969]

good deal on bows

[mkcharlie]

I hope this statement doesn't come off wrong, but I have a few comments on this subject. During my bicycle racing career in the 70s, I broke both clavicles (collar bones) - one, one year and the other, the next. They broke right at the end near the connection to the shoulder. They can never heal when broken that close as there is too much movement (25º)in the joint .

I had to give up archery in 1972 because I couldn't pull a bow. I did learn to exercise the shoulder area so that my strength would return. From 1972 until 2006, I rarely shot a bow, but noticed that I could pull a reasonable weight due to the weight training I have done regularly over the years. In 2006 when I resumed an old love of shooting, I discovered that I could comfortably pull 55-60 lbs. I bought a couple of heavier bows that I could NOT pull initially, but with systematic effort, it didn't take very long until I could pull and hold them comfortably. Rather than bone support for my pulling, I now have to rely on tendon and ligament strength but that said, my point is that one can train to pull a heavier bow if desired.

As to age making a difference, I shout AMEN! But, I also have found that taking care of the body by proper nutrition and exercise can delay the aging process for quite a while. I gave up fried, processed and generally any junk foods years ago and am now reaping the benefits. I only eat organic, mostly raw and nutritionally positive food. Bottom line; even with the broken shoulders at 70 years old & 170 lbs body weight, I shoot a 70 lb bow well and expect to do so for some time.

Lastly, why shoot a heavy bow? Really, there is no objective reason, as with modern materials, we all know a bow in the 45-55 lb range is perfectly fine for hunting and certainly for 3D shoots. I shoot a heavy bow as a part of my continuing exercise program and because I like the clean release and the feeling of the power being loosed. That along with the bicycling I still do, gives me a well rounded workout. I hunt with a 56 lb bow which is very easy to control because of the time I spend shooting my heavier bows. Main point: You can work up to or continue to shoot heavy bows so long as you do it sensibly; Take care of your body and It will last longer; It is never too late to change bad eating habits and improve your wellness.

Sermon over.

Charlie

[GILBERT]

I hope this statement doesn't come off wrong, but I have a few comments on this subject. During my bicycle racing career in the 70s, I broke both clavicles (collar bones) - one, one year and the other, the next. They broke right at the end near the connection to the shoulder. They can never heal when broken that close as there is too much movement (25º)in the joint .

I had to give up archery in 1972 because I couldn't pull a bow. I did learn to exercise the shoulder area so that my strength would return. From 1972 until 2006, I rarely shot a bow, but noticed that I could pull a reasonable weight due to the weight training I have done regularly over the years. In 2006 when I resumed an old love of shooting, I discovered that I could comfortably pull 55-60 lbs. I bought a couple of heavier bows that I could NOT pull initially, but with systematic effort, it didn't take very long until I could pull and hold them comfortably. Rather than bone support for my pulling, I now have to rely on tendon and ligament strength but that said, my point is that one can train to pull a heavier bow if desired.

As to age making a difference, I shout AMEN! But, I also have found that taking care of the body by proper nutrition and exercise can delay the aging process for quite a while. I gave up fried, processed and generally any junk foods years ago and am now reaping the benefits. I only eat organic, mostly raw and nutritionally positive food. Bottom line; even with the broken shoulders at 70 years old & 170 lbs body weight, I shoot a 70 lb bow well and expect to do so for some time.

Lastly, why shoot a heavy bow? Really, there is no objective reason, as with modern materials, we all know a bow in the 45-55 lb range is perfectly fine for hunting and certainly for 3D shoots. I shoot a heavy bow as a part of my continuing exercise program and because I like the clean release and the feeling of the power being loosed. That along with the bicycling I still do, gives me a well rounded workout. I hunt with a 56 lb bow which is very easy to control because of the time I spend shooting my heavier bows. Main point: You can work up to or continue to shoot heavy bows so long as you do it sensibly; Take care of your body and It will last longer; It is never too late to change bad eating habits and improve your wellness.

Sermon over.

Charlie

Well said Charlie!, You can handle that weight comfortably, so what can anybody say contrary.

Why do you shoot that heavy a poundage?...because you want to. "That" is the beauty of this sport.

NOW on taking care of your body?...ABSOLUTELY!!!!. I FOR MYSELF, IF I HAD KNOWN THAT I WAS GOING TO LIVE THIS LONG WOULD HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF MINE. LOL!

GILBERT

[Mike Murphey]

Gil, I remember when many, many years ago we both had bodies like Greek Gods, now we have bodies like G** D**m Greeks.....but seriously I do remember shooting some of our compounds over 100 lbs on those big gar and never thought about it.....now I cannot pull 60 pounds on a compound because of shoulder problems. My recurves are 50-52 pounds and I still am shooting a Glen Parker long bow at 45 pounds.....

[eisbell]

Gil,
You would come into my shop and tell me all this and then I would have disagreed with you. But since the shop has closed and I have been trying my hand at shooting a recurve, I find that I don't have to shoot 65+ pounds like my father does. I feel more comfortable shooting between 45 & 50 pounds and I get more enjoyment because I am able to be more accurate with the lower weight.

[GILBERT]

Gil, I remember when many, many years ago we both had bodies like Greek Gods, now we have bodies like G** D**m Greeks.....but seriously I do remember shooting some of our compounds over 100 lbs on those big gar and never thought about it.....now I cannot pull 60 pounds on a compound because of shoulder problems. My recurves are 50-52 pounds and I still am shooting a Glen Parker long bow at 45 pounds.....

Murph, you have always had such a way with words,LOL! Thanks for reminding me of those great "ole days". I also remember that both you and i could shoot those heavy poundages very well..... to say the least. I think (correct me if i am wrong) that we could because we were both leftys rather than because we were young and strong,LOL! . But of course i was prettier,LOL!, well, Pam (Folks, Pam, Murph's wife was and is a grogeous lady) will probably disagree with that. Murph,Say hi to Pam.

Just for the heck folks. Murph will probably get after me for saying this but Murph was and is still one hell of a shooter. I had to look over my shoulder when we shot together, as he puts it, many, many, many years ago.




GILBERT

[Idaho TradBow]

Gil, I remember when many, many years ago we both had bodies like Greek Gods, now we have bodies like G** D**m Greeks.....

Uh huh...these youngsters nowadays have six packs (oh, how quaint, titter titter.. ), but I've got 'em beat I tell ya ...he he he...I have a freakin' KEG!!!

[Cottonwood]

I'm glad I got that Kodiak Hunter in 35# now, so when my shoulder gives me fits, I can still have fun with it.

"Cuz it don't mean a thing, unless I'm pullin that string"