Wonder how many archers
 

injured their shoulders by going too high on the draw weight? Always wondered the age of the archer, when he reduced the draw weight to save his shoulder(s).

Often thought of lowering mine, really don't need it so high. But as long as I can still pull it back I guess.

I believe this happens more than most archers think. Not only age, but the weather will have a dramatic impact on the body. In the winter when your tight, one draw can do a job on cold muscles or joints.

The amount of injuries is probably a lot more than most people will admit to. That's especially true for men who have this problem with testosterone. And how many are in total denial of their real capabilities?

Typical is the statement, "I can draw 70# all day long". My answer? Sure you can and when was the last time you did so with the lst shot being as accurately shot as the first? I'm not talking about a measley 30 arrow 3D course either. How about a 100 arrow practice session or a 112 arrow field course where accuracy is all that matters.

So what do these things have to do with hunting? A lot really. It builds muscle memory and promotes good shooting form if you're dedicated enough. Sniper said a good thing to think about. When cold and stiff it's harder to draw a bow. Shoot the maximum poundage you can ahndle and it may tear some muscles loose. Make it easy on yourself.

I think I can relate to this. When I was in my early thirties, I saw this video by Dan Fitzgerald. He was shooting a bow at 85#. I thought, well if he's doing that then that's what I should be doing. So I set my bow at 85#, and remember, let-off was a lot less then, and that's where I shot for several years. Now at age 55, I am paying the price. I have constant shoulder pain and must be very careful in everything I do. I'm shooting a more reasonable 65# now and it's plenty. One more testosterone inspired thing I did in my thirties. My local shop had a bow that they had special ordered for someone set at 100#. One day I was there with my brother-in-laws and we decided to try to pull it. Neither one of them could do it. Well, I, who had been shooting 85#, grabbed it and pulled it with seemingly ease. I put it back and said; "that was nothing, what's wrong with you guys." What I didn't tell them was it felt like it ripped my shoulder from it's socket and honestly, I couldn't lift my arm for the next few days and I had pain for probably two weeks. Oh the joy of high testosterone.

Blessings.....Pastorjim

It's not always testosterone driven fellas, there are some out there that have to shoot relatively heavy bows for very different reasons...

When I first started bowhunting, about 8 years ago I was shooting 72# and I wasn't no spring chicken then. I would practice no problem, shot my first deer about second week of oct
no problem. Sitting in my stand late dec afternoon a buck came in and yes I was excited, brought the bow up started to draw
and the string only moved about a inch. I panicked and kind
of yanked on the string, bullcrap I almost had the bow over my
head and was yanking on it hard. The buck ran off of course
and I have been shooting 60# ever since that day and when
I cant pull 60# smooth in cold weather I will go down to 50
than 40 and so on and so fourth.

I draw what feels easy to me. I have to be able to pull to full draw easily without any excess movement, for me that is straight back (no pointing the bow in the air). After all it's about killing a deer not about speed or seeing how much I can pull. I shoot all year to stay strong, for me 68lbs pulls like butter and I can hold it for 3 mins on the clock.

Don't worry about the draw weight, it is what it is, for you to hunt.

i had mine at 65, having wieghtlifted i thought no problem. soon enough though it was totrue to shoot 100 shoots. so i put it down 60, much better. You dont need a bow past 60 really.

I've actually never known a guy that injured his shoulder directly due to his draw weight.

However, I do kow many, many shooters that have lightened up their poundage over the years. I myself have went from the 70# I shot for decades down to a silky smooth 63# these days.

my dad works at an archery shop and he said a lot of people are ordering 60# limbs now a days because thats all they really need with the speed of modern compounds.

I agree, but it's a very small minority. There are people who hunt elephants, rhinos, hippos and such. Other than that there isn't a thing in the world that 70# won't handle.

NOW, if we keep our thoughts to the North American continent there isn't an animal walking that 55# or so won't dispatch. It's proven year in and year out by people shooting elk, moose and such with 55# recurves and longbows, which produce about the same a mount of energy as a compound drawing maybe 10# less.

High poundage might seem good, but that's only if you can draw it and then be able to control it well enough to shoot accurately-----every time.

which should gets injured the most the drawing or the holding cause a doctor told me that the holding shoulder gets alot of abuse. been through one surgery but that was job related throwing tires all day long will do it to it .

I injured my shoulder when I first got into archery around age 14. I wanted a higher draw weight/faster arrow and would not settle for it to be to low. Deer came in and I could not get the bow back it was probably around 30 deg out. I kept trying and ended up injuring my shoulder pretty bad. The adrenaline was running pretty good and I did not know I had injured it until later that night.

Ever since then I stay within a reasonable bow poundage for what I can handle. My shoulder has never been the same since that day and still bothers me on occasion.

It took me over 20 years to injure my shoulders. My right shoulder is hurt now. I still shoot 70lbs, but don't shoot 500 arrows a week any more.

The trad bows seem to work easier on the shoulders. I hear folks say they would like to shoot trad but have to shoot wheels due to hurt shoulders. But if they tried they would find that with a wheel bow you are holding more wieght half way thru the draw than any tradbow. And this is a critical place to hurt the shoulders. By the time I get to full draw all the weight is on my back with a longbow.

Yep. I played baseball in highschool and am right handed, but competitive archery has made my left shoulder have occassional pain.

Holding up a 9# bow for 60 perfect shots, plus 10 for practice really takes a toll on the inner shoulder.

I shoot a relatively high DW for most people who compete regularly, bu my stature really needs it. 55#'s indoors for me doesn't yield enough holding weight even with 65% letoff.

Most people are overbowed tho... Good thread

I'm 77 and had to go to a release a few years ago. I now shoot at about 55lbs with my Mathews but you still have to work at it.

This is exactly why i only shoot 60lbs. Ive played baseball ever since i was 7 and was a pitcher. So my shoulder is completly shot. When i move it it pops and cracks and makes all kinds of weird noises. I just hope i never have to go to a x bow.

At 74 yrs of age I have had 4 right shoulder rotator cuff ops followed finally by a complete right shoulder reverse replacement. I used to do the 65# plus stuff but I find (for me) the lower poundage of 53 PDF is more than adequate for pass throughs and most enjoyable for lots of backyard shooting.

I have one bow set at 70# and another at 62# . I am 68 years old so in the next few years , I might have to lower my draw weight . So far it hasn't been a problem .

My hats off to you sir 74 and still
shooting the arrow.

I dislocated my shooting shoulder playing football, and im pulling just under 80lbs no problem.

60 lbs for me. Don't need anything higher.

I don't personally know anyone that has injured thier shoulder do to draw weight,but after a work mishap injured my shoulder last year I lowered my draw weight to 64# and thats where it will stay!
I do know alot of guys that would greatly improve thier shooting accuracy if they lowered there draw weight,IMO if you can't pull straight back your draw wt is to high.

First of all, I don't think it should ever happen, I think that's more of my father's generation sort of manliness.

Talked my dad into a 60lb peak bow when he was looking, he could pull 70 prob or at least 65, but he's only getting older and doesn't shoot often, and 60lbs is plenty for NA game...

Personally I'd work up to whatever weight I wanted to shoot. People have to remember sitting in a cold stand for 4 or 8hrs before getting a shot, they have to pull that bow back. I saw a guy on tv say you should draw your bow once every hour to kinda keep that shoulder/arm warmed up.

Either way draw what you can, if you're in decent shape and shoot often no reason you can't really be any age drawing any reasonable weight.

Agreed!!!!!
 

there have been days that I wondered "can I even get this string back?" Of course I try to be tagged out by then. maxed my bow at 60 lbs, then twisted the string for another 3. Thinking about dropping it 10 lbs. now. :birthday:

I will be 69 years old in September . My Parker Phoenix is set at 70# . I don't want to hurt my shoulder so I don't have it maxed out .