Riser Weight Question

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Hi guys

Im still doing my beginners course at the moment and using a low poundage KAP surprise bow to practise with.

I bought a Hoyt GM riser from Radar that arrived this morning and my first observation was how heavy it feels compared to my practise bow at the club. I tried holding the riser in my bow arm as if i were taking the shot (this is minus the limbs as they havent arrived yet!) and it feels much heavier, almost too heavy. The practise bow at the club I feel I could shoot all day without getting tired, yet when I hold the Hoyt riser in my bow hand I can feel the weight on it right away and feel like I could barely take more than a few shots without getting tired.

Tonight I went on a few archery shop websites to compare the weight of the riser, and even weighed mine on my scales (1.1kgs) and to my shock I see that the kap surprise and the Hoyt GM are almost identical in weight. This is weird as there is definitely a difference in the perceived weight when holding it.

So, I guess my question is this. Once you add the limbs, string etc does it affect the balance somehow and therefore the riser doesnt feel as heavy when made up to complete bow or am I just imagining things?

While Im here I do have one other quick question. I have worked out how to make sure I use my back muscles rather than arm muscles for drawing the bow but still seem to be using my arms for holding the bow. Any ideas on how to engage the back muscles for bow arm as I just cant seem to get the hang of it (and will probably help counteract some of the riser weight issue too i guess)?

Thanks for your help as always.

Witchie Poo Cat

[johnnyb]

Hi WPC,

Yes I was the same, had my riser (a stylist) some time ago and yes it felt heavy,but then when the bow was strung and even more tackle was loaded on (stabilser, v-bar and short rods) it felt even heavier! However when I drew the bow up everything felt good; carrying it round it felt like a dead weight, but once drawn, the weight seems just right! I think you'll find the same.

As to using your back muscles to hold the bow up with your bow arm - well I'm pretty sure you can't! Yes the 'drawing arm' should engage the back muscles - and you can feel when it does - but the 'prop' that holds the bow is just that, I think trying to bring the back into play might give you an unusual form to say the least!

[PaulT]

I see what you are saying there johnnyb, of course the arm is the 'prop' that holds the bow but it is possible to bring the back into it.
The trick is to (as you raise the bow arm) push up from the ribcage, this employs the back muscles and results in a more stable bow arm.
If this doesn't make sense Carolyn pop down Thursday and I will demonstrate (don't think that I will be there next Mon).
Not sure about the percieved weight bit - probably is a balance thing.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Johnnyb - phew , so its not just me then! Thanks for the reassurance. I thought it must be something to do with the balance/distribution of weight etc when the bow is made up. Was beginning to think I was going nuts!

Paul - I knew I had read somewhere that you should use your back muscles for both holding the bow and drawing back on the string. I even found a video clip on the internet a few weeks back where a guy had videod himself without a shirt on so you could see the relevent muscles in action. Mind you, I have to admit it was all so quick I couldnt see anything! Thanks for the offer, I will pop down on Thursday for a chat and you can show me how its done