Bigsmooth35 - Not so much with a compound, but my longbow at times kills my shoulder. Same thing too, sore and sometimes pops in my shoulder socket actually ... but then my Dad has bad shoulders and I figured I kinda got it from that.

55#recurve - Heres my shot - I hold the bow out, much like I did when compound shooting with very little push/pull action, kinda like olympic style shooting. This is the best for me, the push/pull of Asbell kills me. I shoot with a cant, and I only hold for a moment at my anchor before release. I am going to joing a trad club this spring and shoot with guys in the know, but until then, what are your suggestions for me ?

A newbie that joined our club last year had the same problem with a painful bow arm shoulder. I asked him to shoot a few arrows while I watched. Very first arrow his problem was obvious. His shoulder was up around his ear when he was shooting. It took me several weeks of working with the guy before he learned how to relax that shoulder and hold it low throughout the shot cycle.

The difficult thing about getting those shoulders relaxed is that many people are under a great deal of stress these days. Many, many people carry that stress in their shoulders. You have to learn how to release the tension in your shoulder muscles before that shoulder will drop down where it's supposed to be.

Once you learn how to release that tension, you will be learning how to deal with your stress level too. Clearing your mind and concentrating on shooting a few arrows every day is a big help. Especially if you can get a picture of your boss to shoot at. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

I agree with 55 # Recurve.. it sounds like a form issue. It could also be exaggerated or brought on by a bow fit issue(like draw length and poundage). If that shoulder is riding up you'll have troubles. Don't overshoot!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm with 55# and the rest on this and can probably prove it. The ONLY time I EVER get any shoulder pain is when I have to tune a 31&quot;+ bow at higher poundages. I tune thousands of bows a year and I hate to tune those longer draw lengths. I'm 29 1/2&quot; so we're talking in the neighborhood of +1 1/2&quot; too long for me.

I can shoot all day long and not experience any shoulder pain until that draw length gets too long for me. Get it checked out.

Stealthy, If you are indeed serious about asking me about form, this is what my coaches tell me.
So I will pass the info along, whether it be traditional, or whatsoever. Practice this, if you have one of those warm up band's, (surgical). Grab it with the bow hand and draw it. As you draw the band keep your deltoid relaxed and allow your front shoulder to sink into your body with the help of your shoulderblade moving toward's your spine. Do this alot, and before everytime you go to shoot. For alignment, don't hyperextend the elbow, alway's keep a slight bend in the elbow, to allow the force of the bow to run down your arm through your shoulder and into your back. My coaches taught me a different grip style that puts the top of your hand on a 45* angle. The grip style puts an auto bend in the elbow, and causes very good alignment all the way down the arm, as long as your deltoid is sucked into your body you should shoot very comfortably. My suggestion, and this is comming from someone that isn't of the highest experience, but my suggestion is, take all the tension out of your arm's-deltoids, or as much as you can, and transfer it to your shoulder blades and back where all the big muscles are. Even at a canted position this can be acheived. My coaches have done alot of shooting, different styles, Dianne has done olympic, compound, traditional. Red&Eileen, have shot alot of the same stuff, Eileen has a few canadian records that just recently got beatin so I listen to her alot. Red is the form guru, so have to take heed to what he says. We have a few other good coaches here as well. Good luck and good shooting.
Dylan

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I have the same pain. It can be a constant ache, but most often comes on like lightning out of the blue when I lift something or even just lift my arm.

The pain is on the front side of my bow arm deltoid,, and it can be so intense that it can make me drop something.

In addition to a form problem, it sounds like it could be caused by a draw that is too long. Or is it the other way around, with the lengthy draw causing me to slip into poor form?

Keep 'em all in the Bull.

Edited by - bulzeye on 02/11/2002 12:57:30

went to my local proshop today got fitted for a new bow and was 1&quot; to long on first bow got setup with a q2 29&quot; instead of 30&quot;. Maybe this will help and I was practicing form and I hold my shoulder way up by my ear I think I need to relax it. Thanks for the help

55#recurve - Dead serious

I started canting my bow about a month or more ago, and with that, yeah, I think my shoulder does come way up when I do that. I have been sitting here pretending and yeah, thats where the discomfort is. Keeping my shoulder down is what my problem is I think (or one of many )

THATS what this bowhunting forum should be about - learning and discussing things ! Darn glad I opened this thread up - THANKS

This link is a link that I have in my bookmarks, Haven't looked at it in a while. But I figure it will give those in need an intresting look at proper form. Read up, and notice the picture of the guy at the top, don't know who he is, but the form is pretty good.
http://www.neoreality.com/archery/sh...ead%20Position
Good shooting, and I hope this will help you ot a bit. Stealthy, Im going to find some pictures and do a little anatomy drawing of bones, and muscle movement for archery, Could you please post them, when I send them to you.
Thank.
Dylan

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Yes, send them to me.

Good article there .... so Koreans are the best of the best ??