Can't pull back my limbs.... :(

[Leighton]

Well, I wasn't doing so bad while I was using Dacron string and no clicker. But ever since I switched to FF string and once I bought a clicker that worked on the riser, I found that I am a big ol' weakling. Don't even have enough strength to pull back my own dang bow without straining my muscles.

Should I get lighter limbs or can I gung-ho through this and get stronger? Don't really have money for limbs though.
Anyone know how long it'll take before my muscles "adjust" to the new poundage? I used to shoot 36#.

Oh, and before anyone says go back to the old limbs, I can't. They're not ILF. They're pretty old and so is the riser. Both of which are now sold.

[Kuru]

Just goto your local sports store and get some 2kg hand weights. out to the side and keep your arms straight like a T, hold one weight out in front like your at full draw for as long as you can, when your musclus bump and shake let down for 30 seconds, push ups are all a very good start. In a few weeks you'll be pulling thru the clicker with ease. just takes time dude

[TJ Mason]

You can use some isometric exercises to build strength quickly. Try holding the bow (or a Bullworker) at full draw for ten seconds, let down and rest, and repeat several times. It'll gradually get easier.

I've always found, though, that muscle tone is more important than strength. A general workout program with plenty of low-impact upper body movement will be valuable in building tone.

And as Kuru says, give it time and it will come.

[Leighton]

Thats good. Don't have to buy new limbs. Now I can spend the money on a used sure-loc sight. :)

[Flehrad]

A few possibles in conjunction.

SPT.
Draw, hold (don't worry about a clicker) for as long as you can, rest 2x that time, draw, hold etc.
Do that for 30m starting, and build on it every day by 5min if you can.

Then, when you are actually shooting, start with a very close clicker, so that you don't have to draw much past your anchor to bring it through.
Then, slowly move it, mm by mm each session until you are back to where you want it to be.

Otherwise, you should be able to wind down the limbs a little?....

[kgk]

Oh, and before anyone says go back to the old limbs, I can't. They're not ILF. They're pretty old and so is the riser. Both of which are now sold.

I take it that you're talking about a recurve?

It seems to me that you should buy used limbs and slowly go up a pound or two at a time. My coach makes me take the "Russian Test" (hold the bow at full draw for a minute) before he lets me add a single pound.

The problem with too much draw weight is that you cannot relax your string-arm bicep, for example, and problems like this will hurt your form. (And your shoulders will rise, etc., etc.)

A recurve bow is not how you want to build your strength... that's what the gym is for.

kgk

[Leighton]

Oh, and before anyone says go back to the old limbs, I can't. They're not ILF. They're pretty old and so is the riser. Both of which are now sold.

I take it that you're talking about a recurve?

It seems to me that you should buy used limbs and slowly go up a pound or two at a time. My coach makes me take the "Russian Test" (hold the bow at full draw for a minute) before he lets me add a single pound.

The problem with too much draw weight is that you cannot relax your string-arm bicep, for example, and problems like this will hurt your form. (And your shoulders will rise, etc., etc.)

A recurve bow is not how you want to build your strength... that's what the gym is for.

kgk

Jeez man, this thread was old. Why'd you revive it?