here is what i did. when i FIRST started shooting a bow. it was a PSE carrol intruder 2 and it weighted damn near 10 pounds all decked out. so i tok a 15 pound weight and held it like it wasteh bow out in front of me for as long as i coudl hold it. VERY quickly those muscles were able to hold and move the bow with relitive ease. i think i got up to 4 or 5 minutes with the 15 pound weight.