new at this

[seth30]

Got hooked up today by a good friend from this forum and he gave me a compound bow.  I just got home and of course started playing with it.  After 15 pulls my arm is dead, and was wondering what type of work out do you do to keep your body in shape for the bow. I do my normal work out three times a week, and pushups nightly but those types of workouts dont seem to help with pulling a bow string.  Thanks for reading the post

[PacificNWhunter]

You might need to crank down the poundage until you get your back and shoulder muscles used to the pulling movement. I personally don't do anything lifting wise to improve my ability to pull my bow back. I only shoot 63 lbs but when I first started had it cranked down to around 58. It took about 2 weeks or so to work up to what I have it at now, but I can shoot mine pretty much all day. I shoot right now about 25-50 arrows each day and never get fatigued. The best work out is consistant shooting!

Congrats on the new bow.

[seth30]

The bow is a PSE and its a 65to 70 pound bow.  Thanks for the info, pacificnwhunter  cant wait till this weekend so I can buy a few bales of hay and start shooting arrows.

[brew]

take a little bit of paint and mark your limb screw location to your limb if you are sighted in for that poundage..( i mark the top limb at 6 o'clock and the bottom limb at 12 o'clock)  now you can adjust the limb screw counter clockwise to lower the poundage-adjust each screw equally WRITE DOWN how much you back the screws off ( 1/2 turn, full turn, etc....)  once you start pulling that weight back easily adjust the limb screws clockwise equally (adding poundage) and move your sight box accordingly until you have reached your original starting point.  i did this for my wife and now she shoots 63 lbs comfortably....hope this helps and good luck hunting....if you have any doubts visit your local pro shop and they are usually good at helping a newb out....we all were there once.

[Drifterat]

  After 15 pulls my arm is dead, and was wondering what type of work out do you do to keep your body in shape for the bow

Just shoot. I try to shoot a few arrows every night and go to the range at least once a week. If you can shoot where you live, I'd buy a target and shoot every day. It doesn't matter how far you can shoot, 5 feet or 30 yards it all helps. You muscles will learn quick.

[seth30]

I have a good sized back yard with a good hill that will stop any strays..

[seth30]

take a little bit of paint and mark your limb screw location to your limb if you are sighted in for that poundage..( i mark the top limb at 6 o'clock and the bottom limb at 12 o'clock)  now you can adjust the limb screw counter clockwise to lower the poundage-adjust each screw equally WRITE DOWN how much you back the screws off ( 1/2 turn, full turn, etc....)  once you start pulling that weight back easily adjust the limb screws clockwise equally (adding poundage) and move your sight box accordingly until you have reached your original starting point.  i did this for my wife and now she shoots 63 lbs comfortably....hope this helps and good luck hunting....if you have any doubts visit your local pro shop and they are usually good at helping a newb out....we all were there once.

  Thanks for the info!  I am going to have to take it in, due to it being set up with a guy with longer arms, and I can view through the peep sight.

[Instinct]

When ya buy bails dont shoot ur arrows into the bails, ya will rip fletchings off. Spend the cash n get a target 

[lokidog]

take a little bit of paint and mark your limb screw location to your limb if you are sighted in for that poundage..( i mark the top limb at 6 o'clock and the bottom limb at 12 o'clock)  now you can adjust the limb screw counter clockwise to lower the poundage-adjust each screw equally WRITE DOWN how much you back the screws off ( 1/2 turn, full turn, etc....)  once you start pulling that weight back easily adjust the limb screws clockwise equally (adding poundage) and move your sight box accordingly until you have reached your original starting point.  i did this for my wife and now she shoots 63 lbs comfortably....hope this helps and good luck hunting....if you have any doubts visit your local pro shop and they are usually good at helping a newb out....we all were there once.

  Thanks for the info!  I am going to have to take it in, due to it being set up with a guy with longer arms, and I can view through the peep sight.

While your guy has it on a press, have him see how far you can back the limb bolts out safely in order to reduce the draw weight.  The only exercise you can do is to pull something, rubber tubing works, some resistance type of machine might work as well, but the best is shooting.


Your question reminds me of one day in college.  A couple of body builder types from down the hall saw me with my bow and wanted to try pulling it back, so I let them... neither could do it.  It was pretty funny because these guys could probably bench or press three or more times what I could.  They were amazed that they couldn't do it.   

[seth30]

I will keep working the bow until I get it to the pros, I hope that after a few days my body will devolep the proper muscle memory.  Maybe I wont need the draw weight reduced once i get used to it

[fair-chase]

As mentioned pratice time is the best way to build the specific muscle groups needed. If you really felt the need to add something to your workout then a rowing machine would probably be the most beneficial.

[brew]

you may not need to reduce the poundage if you can shoot 15-20 times now with it before you get fatigued but you said it was set up for a guy with longer arms than you so you might consider taking it to a pro shop to get the draw length set for you and paper tune it so its right for you....small initial cash outlay but will benefit you in the long run....a properly tuned bow for you should shoot broadheads similar to your field points and the confidence shooting the broadheads at game will far outweigh the slight cash spent now.....IMO confidence in your set up is the biggest factor you have working for you initially...good hunting

[lokidog]

I would be careful not to try too hard and hurt yourself before you lower the draw weight.     But then again, I'm getting old....   

[MIKEXRAY]

I saw a workout device made for archers at Cabelas, It was made by Bowfit & was like $ 20. It had a couple of handles with bungees in between & you could chose how many bungees for how much pounds. Go to Cabelas & type in Bowfit, I think they have a video also. Seems like a good idea, you will be glad when you are at full draw on that bull & have to wait 2 minutes for him to turn. Have fun with your new bow. Mike

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Seth, take it in and get the draw length set first and the poundage lowered.  WHat brand compound is it?  Next thing you need to do after that is ncome on out and join the WHidbey Bowmen's club.  WE have a practice range from 20-80 yards and an indoor 20 yard range.  To go along with bthat we have a 32 target 3D course.  Of course joining the club will also puit you next to a lot of people that will help you with your bow, your shooting form etc... including making sure you are shooting the right spine arrows etc.. There are 2 pro shops in our area, Wilderness archery in Bow, Wa and Riverside in Mt Vernor, either one will help you get set up right.