Over shooting yourself - Bad thing?

[BT]

I will be taking a BK backup for worse case scenario on the upcoming hunt but aside from that I really think I am shooting much better from the over stress of shooting the last few weeks with the heavier bow.

Keep in mind that the jump for me would be the same as a 50# jump on a compound of 80% let off for those shooting a compound

10# sounds like a snap but when your holding it dead still at full draw it is a bit more

[SPIKER]

Which is exactly the reason not to overdo it!

[BT]

spiker said:

Which is exactly the reason not to overdo it!

Agreed......dont over do it for weight is a no brainer
(this assumes that I have lost my mind )

[smj]

A couple things here, I think...

I don't know that shooting until you can't hold the bow is a good idea for everyone. You have a great understanding of your form, and what your form needs to be in order to shoot well. I think a beginner could just develop bad habits and bad form by doing so. They don't really know what good form is all about yet, and it is hard enough to figure out when well rested, much less when you shoot past the point that the muscles start to quit on you! Typically, new shooters do things like start pointing the bow towards the sky to draw, or wrapping a finger around the arrow to keep it on the rest - and so on, once tired out. Also, not knowing how to find good form, the shooting tends to fall apart big time and this does not leave them with a very good feeling about the outing.

For someone who knows what they are doing I agree that this is a way to find form issues. However, I question that it is getting tired that is the key here. I think the key is the number of arrows shot. That and an honest evaluation of ones shooting - which is not always a joy to admit to!!! I think the being tired just beats down ones ego a notch or two and you get ready to admit the truth, and then fix what needs fixing.

When I am really at the point of being that worn out, I toss every third arrow or so way left. WAY LEFT! I start watching the arrow fly and loose track of what my bow hand is doing. This does not happen when I am not tired, and is not a normal flaw in my shooting. On the other hand, after 150 plus arrows, I can tell you exactly what I was doing wrong when I started, and what I am still doing wrong and need to work on, or just plunk the arrow right where I want it.

The best way I have found of helping my form with a given bow is to go shoot a heavier draw weight bow for a month. Wanna shoot the compound better, spend a month with a traditional bow and then go back. You are strengthening very specific muscles, and stronger is better with a bow! If you can't draw the bow, or hold the bow, or tremble while trying - you won't shoot well. You can go to the gym and pump iron, which helps a lot, but shooting a heavier bow is the specific action and muscle use you want!

[BT]

You know....I put this up here working on the assumption that we were talking about seasoned shooters
That was really stupid!

Good points smj

I need to watch out for someone who might be listening ;D

Thanks for catching that

I am of course , not advocating what I did or am doing as I typically will do many things in an effort to find solutions.
(even when I am not looking to do so )