Newbie Archery Question: Does draw length affect poundage?

[djnoodle]

I picked up my first bow this year. It's a PSE Stinger 3G with a 60lb max. I want to back the limbs off a bit, say 5 or 6 lbs. My dealer already set the draw length to its shortest possible - 25.5" and he set the limbs at the full 60lb draw weight. I can pull it well enough but I want to see if 5 lbs lighter makes me more accurate.

Did the dealer shortening the draw length lessen the poundage below the 60 lbs that he set the limbs to? Or does that only affect the feet per second of the arrow travel?


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[Crunchy]

Short answer is No. 

[hughjorgan]

Your draw length does not affect your poundage, but lowering your poundage will affect the spine of your arrow.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

The limbs will still pull sixty.  Or whatever there set to.  The shorter draw length will give you less fps and ke though.

[djnoodle]

Cool. That is what I thought.

So the law says that you have to use a certain poundage for big game, but it does not make mention on the fps or ke. So I should be good, correct?


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[dreamunelk]

Are you having problems pulling 60#?   If yes, than being it is after the seasons I would say start working on strength while maintaining good form.   What is your accuracy issue?  This can get real complicated.  Assuming you arrows are spined correctly and you can hold your bow at full draw through the realease you may have form issues affecting accuracy.

[djnoodle]

I don't know what my accuracy issue is. I am hitting about a 6 in area with 5 shots. I am not having issues pulling 60#, but I am a bit wobbly holding it at draw for any length of time. I was just wanting to see if going to 55# would help my accuracy.


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[dreamunelk]

Hopefully some others on here will chime in.  Several are far better versed in explaining the art of archery then I am.
Sounds to me like you may be a little heavy and may have some form issues.  Start Googleing around for video on archery form and check your self.  Now long have you been shooting?
I would stick with shooting five shots and concentrate on form.  Take a break and shoot another five later.

Hopefully your dealer is a proshop and not a mass retailer.  Would not hurt to go back and ask them to watch you shoot a few arrows. 

[djnoodle]

I've only been shooting twice. Literally two times.


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[bowNarrow]

The only issue I see is that your a new archer and yor muscles aren't used to shooting a bow. Once you shoot for awhile you will be able to hold more steady. You can't just come out and expect to shoot perfecty. archery takes lots of time and practice

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

Being new the odds of bad habits being created are very high. You should back the bow down as far as you can while staying within the spine of yout arrow and shoot. Slowly work up to 60lbs.

[hogslayer]

You need to establish a shooting form/routine that is the same every time.  Everything from where the string touches your nose and the corner of your mouth to the slow breath you exhale while holding full draw.  If pulling 60 LBS isn't an issue than i wouldn't go down any weight.  If you are trying to hold your arrow back for more than say 5 seconds you will start to notice your pins become a little wobbley.   Watch some you tube videos on proper form, How to position the bow on your hand/not punching the release.  Stuff like that makes a big difference.  Try not to focus on how many arrows you shoot in one day, but how many of them were serious focused shots.  I only shoot 3 arrows and make them all count and then wait for other people to finish. 

[dreamunelk]

I've only been shooting twice. Literally two times.


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You are expecting too much at this point.  Spend a few hours watching videos on form and reading.  You have a long way to go and much to learn.  Impatience will not make you a better archer.

Hogslayer provided some very good advice.  Follow it!

[djnoodle]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will keep it at 60# for now and watch some YouTube vids on proper form and technique.


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[hogslayer]

Where do you shoot at?  I am in Seattle and could meet up with you and shoot for a few hrs and help get you dialed in.