Draw Help Needed
 

I've got a Martin bow with a 55# to 70# draw weight that's set for 59# right now. Over the last 5 to 6 weeks, in preparation for bow season which starts next week in my area, I've been practicing alot. Unfortunately as a result, I've injured/inflammed the muscles in my shoulder& arm that are usedto draw the bowand currently can't bringmy bow to full draw! Does anyone have ANY suggestions for anything that can allow me to continue to practice or at least,HUNT. Is there anything like a draw assist mechanism (using a foot perhaps) available? I know I could reduce the draw weight to the minimum but I'm all setup and tuned and a 4# reduction may not get me there anyway. Any advice is appreciated.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Sorry about your injury. You don't mention your age /experience so here's some generic advice that's worked for me; Take 3 or 4 days off, Motrin is your friend (take it with food), Check your draw length, too long a draw can put a lot of stress on your joints and make shooting a lot less fun.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Thanks for the advice. Yes, Advil has become my best friend lately and I will certainly check the draw length as you suggest. When I was practicing it did feel OK but, it's a new bow and I'm breaking it in so, the length may have changed a bit without me really being aware of it. Do you know how much it must change before you'd notice or feel it's affect? I'm "middle aged" and, as far as experience, I'd say I'mnew toBOW hunting.
Since my original post I came across this device Draw-Loc Foot Stirrup. Any knowledge of this thing? I guess it threads into the stabilizer insert. Do you think it could damage the bow? Thanks again for your input. It's greatly appreciated.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

I don't know the regs in your state, but in many states any sort of "aid to drawing or holding a drawn bow" is reserved for cross bows(where legal) or hunters with a documented medical condition.

If your bow is hurting you, you need to get; well, your bow checked, your form straightened out, in that order. If you miss a week of bow season this year it's not the end of the world, shoulder surgery is much worse.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Solid points. I will check my local regs because, I don't know if that foot stirrup (or another draw assist device) is even allowed. My post was more of a "what's out there" for this situation than "the plan". Thatmight have been a LAST resort for the LAST week of the season, if at all. Certainly healing comes first. Here's hoping, with a week or so off, I'll be back in the saddle (or at least, up a tree)! Worst case, I've still got regular deer and muzzleloader seasons upcoming. But, I'd really miss the bow challenge. Thanks for your wise counsel.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Rest your shoulder until the pain goes away. Keep taking ibuprofen or, maybe better, switch to naprosyn. One will usually work better than the other, depending on your body chemistry. Use some contrast treatments. Ice for 15 minutes, then heat for 15 minutes. Do 2 repetitions of that and finish with another 15 minutes of ice.

If it's not better within a week, go see the doctor. Or chuck the whole process and get your butt to the doctor immediately. He might give you a cortizone shot or a package of pills that'll help get the inflammation under control. And then he'll tell you to rest the shoulder until the pain goes away.

Next year, start practicing a little earlier and don't shoot so much at a session. ;)

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Thanks Arthur. I'll try the naprosyn, heat & cold. You're absolutley right. Next season, slow and steady with the practice. I should practice year round and stop before getting tired! I appreciate your help.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

sounds to me like you are pulling on the string instead of with your back.
if you feel like your elbow or shoulder are being pulled out of place when drawing get someone to show you how to properly draw.
your wrist,elbow and shoulder should be locked in place and you contract your back muscles like you are stretching your arms wide.
remember at first you can draw more weight by just using fingers than with a release, i was drawing 70 lbs with fingers add release and i had to drop atleast 15 lbs off that draw weight, I am adding pounds back on a little each week

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Great observation. Why is that anyway? Good news is that I can now draw my bow with fingers but not with the release yet.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Naprosyn and ibuprofen are in the same class of drugs making them pretty interchangeable. I would pick which ever one you like best. advantage of naproxen (aleve/naprosyn) is that it has a longer effect and you don't have to take as many pills. I will tell you right now that if in a week or 2 you aren't noticing any improvement it is time to go see an ortho yo get your shoulder looked at. The lnoger you wait on a serious injury the longer the time it takes to heal and be back in a tree,

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Thanks for the info on Naprosyn and ibuprofen indianahunter83. I am seeing improvementas I now candraw using fingers (but not with my mechanical release yet). Actually, in my last post, I was asking why it is that we (I) can draw more weight with fingers as compared tousing a mechanical release? I'm sure some different muscles are involved but a mechanical release really seems to reduce my draw weight ability (at least right now). Any thoughts on this?

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

The only time I've run across people who were having trouble drawing equal weight with a release as fingers was becasue they were trying to draw the bow purely by pulling on the string (you can't pull on the string as well if you haven't got a grip on it). It should be an equivalent push and pull motion incorporating the back muscles more than the shoulders/arms. It's hard to describe but try drawing it by pushing the bow away from you rather than pulling the string to you and feel the muscles at your scapula while you do it, those are the muscles you want to incorporate.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

That's what I had thought too. I was responding to the post by AL...F where he stated that:

"remember at first you can draw more weight by just using fingers than with a release, i was drawing 70 lbs with fingers add release and i had to drop atleast 15 lbs off that draw weight, I am adding pounds back on a little each week "

When I recently drew my bow with fingers and was able to come to full draw and then tried with my release and couldn't, I thought there was more to this than I was aware of. Poor form may have contributed to my initial injury more than the repetition from a great deal of practice!

Thanks for your input.

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

first, sorry it took so long to respond.
try this.
first pinch the release, knuckles up, like you were gonna grab someone by the nose.Then wrap the rest of your fingers around the release behind the pinch grip. now strap the release to your wrist.
you can also try this, most releases can twist, so turn your hand like you were drawing with fingers then turn your hand the quarter turn after you get to full draw.

I still wonder how my "little brother" uses a release and has had 1 bow set to a draw weight of 105 lbs and his current is 92.5 lbs

RE: Draw Help Needed
 

Thanks AL...F. I'll give that a try. Good news is my shoulder is getting better so, I can start to draw again. Just have to make sure my form isproper so I don't hurt it again! Thanks for the advice.