What weight recurve do you draw (men)?

[StinkyPete]

This poll has been promped after a hot discussion at the club. Some people seem to think there is no point shooting more than 30lb, as todays arrow can get you 100 yrds with that. Other people seem to think that shooting a higher poundage will give you more accuracy, and should be done if you're capable of it. What weight do you shoot?

I've also done a poll for women, just to see if there is any significant difference between the two.

[Furface]

There is no doubt that some archers use extra draw weight as a substitute for technique (eg a dead loose on a 44lb bow will still fling the arrow down; a 36 lb bow needs an active release). And machismo is a severe problem ("I've cranked my poundage right up", he bragged, "so now all I have to do is added weight training to stop the tremours"). Conversely, a bow that is too weak can feel so easy that technique also goes out of the window (why bother with back muscles when you can draw the string with your little finger?).
The answer is to strike the balance, to find what feels best for the archer. Just because you can draw the weight, doesn't mean that you will be accurate over 150 arrows.

[Barry C]

I shoot 47 pounds on my fingers.

[English Bowman]

I shoot 38lbs with my recurve, it will reach the distance with no problem, so I don't need any more. I could shoot a heavier bow if I wanted to (I shoot a 70lb longbow) but would probably tire myself sooner, and would suffer at the end of a round.

Daniel

[celticjedi]

Not sure if I asked this somewhere else on the forum but how do you measure draw weight on the fingers? I currently shoot a 34# recurve and a 60# Longbow.

[radsbow]

celticjedi - 22/8/2005 3:42 PM Not sure if I asked this somewhere else on the forum but how do you measure draw weight on the fingers? I currently shoot a 34# recurve and a 60# Longbow.

</p>

I shoot 44 on the fingers. </p>

And in answer to the question above you add or minus 2# per inch that you draw over/under the standard 28&quot;. So if you draw your bow 27&quot;, you'll actually have 32# on the fingers (approx). If you draw your 34# limbs 29&quot; you'll have 36# on the fingers.</p>

[Armchair Archer]

I shoot 34lb on the fingers, although i've only been shooting since May. I've thought about moving up to 38 or 40lb but then I'm only up to 60yds and find that i can hit that without too much problem. I decided that as and when i'm struggling to hit the target, or my sight settings are a problem / can't get them, then i'll move up. 34 seems ok at the moment and it feels like i could shoot all day if i wanted, so for the moment i'm staying with the 34's.</p>

Like somebody else mentioned, some people make up for bad form by cranking the weight up, personally, i'd rather get the form right first, then move up and/or get better arrows (using XX75's at the moment)</p>

[Mick]

48-49lb @ 29 1/2" for me. Worked my way up from 36lb over five years.
Advantages: cleaner release, higher arrow speed, able to shoot more point weight (better FOC) the combined effects of the last two mean arrows are less affected by wind.
On a flat calm day 32lb will possibily do the job just as well as 50lb, but how many calm days do we get in this country

[MrT]

I pull 36# according to our bowscales. There is controversy at the Club as to whether the scales measure 2# high or low, so it could be 34 or 38

I have Hoyt G3 limbs 38# @ 28" in a Hoyt Matrix riser. I can reach 100yds with no problems, and actually have the limbs "wound down" slightly for my drawlength, as I am still trying to find a comfortable style. At the moment I see no reason to increase the bow weight.

Kev

[morphymick]

38lb medium Petron S3 Carbons, probably about #36 on the fingers, must get it checked.

My sight has one more adjustment on the extension. Good job we don't shoot more than 100yd otherwise I'd never get a sight mark without putting it on backwards, as I'd be shooting through the reticule, or have the same problem as LMP in another thread, i.e. can't see the target for the longrod.

At this weight I'm on the limit with A/C/C's, may have to upgrade to A/C/E's to feel more comfortable.

Mick