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Strength exercises
Swamp Bow:
Thanks everyone.
adb:
Looked at that vid, that helps. I think I'll probably peak at around 120#. I do enough stupid stuff to my body as it is! ::)
Swamp
zeNBowyer:
"None of this holding the bow and pulling the string back nonsense.".
I fail to see how this is nonsense, it's the tried and true method
Davepim:
--- Quote from: zeNBowyer on October 02, 2009, 01:43:24 am ---"None of this holding the bow and pulling the string back nonsense.".
I fail to see how this is nonsense, it's the tried and true method
--- End quote ---
According to who exactly? ???
Rod:
--- Quote from: zeNBowyer on October 02, 2009, 01:43:24 am ---"None of this holding the bow and pulling the string back nonsense.".
I fail to see how this is nonsense, it's the tried and true method
--- End quote ---
What do you understand this to mean?
I teach fundamentals to a lot of folks and the most common error is that they try to aim the arrow and pull the string back with their hands utilising a small muscle set and an inefficient lever.
This is a common but relatively weak primitive method, which is effective only with a bow weak enough that you can do it without struggling.
But it also has the draw back of inhibiting the ability to extend fully and make a direct line of force through the shot.
With a heavy bow however, it is better that you draw the bow using your back muscles and come to your alignment and aim as you hit your anchor and draw-weight.
Whether it be a hunting weight or a fighting weight, the object is to do the least work in the most efficient way possible, to conserve energy and maintain control.
This will not be achieved by drawing with your hands.
A good device for embedding a strong draw not utilising the hands is to use a Formaster harness or similar device, but I would hesitate to recommend that his be used with a really heavy draw weight, since the regular model might be unsafe at high draw weights, but it could be useful in embedding an efficient habit using a lower weight bow and then working up in draw weight in a progressive manner by shooting a heavier bow.
I suppose that the old way is to master a bow that is a little too heavy at a fairly young age and having mastered it go to a heavier bow.
And to repeat this pattern over and again.
But this could involve going through quite a few bows, which could be economically difficult.
What is today looked upon as classic form in actual fact derives from how a heavy bow should be handled efficiently, but usually without pushing draw weight to anything like it's highest limit.
But this does engender the use of a more efficient, rather than a physically/mechanically less efficient method which has the additional benefit of creating a direct line of force through the shot.
It is also clear that some of the blokes currently shooting the heavy bow are struggling a little more than they might due to a tendency to use the back muscles less than they should and the hands more than they ought to.
And that anyone who still has their drawing side wrist bent at their anchor, has not reached full draw and will not do so until the wrist is relaxed and the arm extended until the drawing side elbow is in line with the shaft.
Rod.
Purbeck:
Swamp
I found that using a bow trainer like the one in the photos, has been a great help in increasing draw weight. It is made from elastic bungee cord from a DIY store and a section of hollow bamboo, with some tape around the elastic to protect your drawing fingers. The section of bamboo for the handle helps to protect the bow hand and make the whole thing more comfortable.
Once you can comfortably draw the weight many times over you just add another loop to the set up.
It is not the same as drawing a bow of the same weight due to stacking etc but it is a cheap easy thing to use, and use anywhere.
Having a few loose loops allows you to warm up before drawing the big bundle (then bundle + loose loops!).
Other exercises I have found useful are bent over rows, pull ups and triceps exercises for your bow arm (to stop it collapsing). These have been recommended to me by archers who know far more about this sort of thing than I.
By taking it fairly steady but increasing the weights over the last year these have all worked for me.
Purbeck
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