When to increase limb weight...

[Allvyn]

Originally Posted by BasicNigel

Slightly off topic perhaps....
But how much increase in draw weight is recomended before reaching a 'final poundage ?
eg.. I'm pulling a 24 lb draw weight, and (I'm guessing) eventualy I'll settle on 40lb. Would I go straight to 40# or should I go 28,32,36,40 OR 32,40?
Is it possible to estimate what a individuals final draw weight may be ?

This is really based on the individual but from my experience having started and struggled with an 18 pound bow some 4 and a half months ago to my current draw weight of 38-41.8, I would say that lifting heavy in the gym does work wonders for strength but it does almost nothing for control(holding steady on the gold). I am currently unable to aim steady at my current draw weight for more than 4 seconds which forces me to release earlier than I would like to.

If I were you, I'd try all those draw weights out and go with the heaviest you can control and hold steady for a minimum of 8 seconds. I'm sure you'll eventually get to 40lbs with no trouble at all. I'm not sure as to how to estimate an individuals final draw weight but I'm guessing it has to do with body mass.

Oh and do not forget the actual draw weight on your fingers theory whereby having a draw length an inch above 28 would mean having you pull 2 pounds more than the AMO marked draw weight with 2 inches making 4 pounds more and vice versa.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by BowSurfer

One technique that I read of somewhere (Bow International I think) suggested a technique for checking if your bow is the right weight for you. You come to full draw, hold steady for 10s, then come down and rest for 10s. Repeat this process 10 times in a row.

That's a little like the '20 second' test.
The standard recommendation is to draw and hold at full draw, maintaining good form, for 20 seconds then make a good controlled shot. If you can't do it, then your bow is too heavy...

Originally Posted by Allvyn

I would say that lifting heavy in the gym does work wonders for strength but it does almost nothing for control(holding steady on the gold).

That's well understood. You can exercise the big muscles that way, but it's not so easy to do the small, stabilizing, muscles through weight training. In this regard, using free weights is better than using machines, but neither is as good as actually shooting. The term (if you want to dig into it a little deeper) is 'specificity'. (try saying that a few times, fast )