When to increase limb weight...

[jaarus]

Hi all

I bought a secondhand bow a while back (from the forums here actually) that came with some 36lb medium which I have been using since.

When I first started using them I found them heavy, well really heavy actually - afterall it was quite a jump from the 30lb's I was using

My technique has now settled and have a good solid repeatable anchor etc and I am getting pretty decent scores.

Now here is my dilemma...
I now find the limbs quite light (I could go heavier anyway) - I also wish to upgrade my arrows (the X7's I am using are about 2"-2.5" too long but cutting them will throw the spine off according to eastons chart)....and I want some Navigators!!


I dont really want to buy some cheap arrows in the meantime as it seems like a waste of funds really. But there is little point buying a decent set of arrows until I upgrade my limbs - afterall I am not made of money!!

So, should I consider upping the poundage now or wait until outdoor season next year and upgrade the lot?

I know I dont need the increased poundage for a 15-20yrd target, but the indoor season could help me get used to increased weight, then I can skip gleefully to the shop to get new arrows for the outdoor season when I am happy with the weight increase.

What do you think?
Should I get heavier limbs or stick with the ones I have currently?


(( if this post makes no sense I apologise, its late!))

[reckless]

stick with the ones you have and cut the arrows down, if there a bit stiff shove in some heavier points,, anyway easton guide is just that, a guide and not a very accurate one.

[geoffretired]

Increasing bow poundage and shortening the arrows will balance each other out possibly. When you looked at the charts, did you use the shortened arrows in the guide?
As for the poundage you can go up to; that is not so easy to assess.As you have already found out, what feels stiff at one stage can feel easy later on. Your technique is better now, so the weight you choose next time will be a better match to your strength. If you could borrow some one's bow and use it over several sessions, you would have a better idea of what you can handle.How stiff the bow feels is not as important as whether or not you are in control.You can get "Used" to the extra poundage so it no longer feels strange;but you need to be in control so you could hold on longer, if you had to.

[Little Miss Purple]

You don't say what bow you have - can you increase the poundage as it is now? Try it and see how you feel, you can always reverse the poundage if it is too heavy

[hypertigger]

if you want to increase your poundage, do it during the indoor season, you can get a chance to adjust while shooting smaller numbers of arrows, and also where momentary lapses in concentration mean that you won't lose your arrows!!

as for winding your bow up, not something i personally would do - it changes the geometry of the bow, and may mean that performance isn't as good. but that is a personal opinion from my research project.

[PorlyP]

I would advise upgarding both next year, as arrow changes for me will always go with upgrading limb poundage, hence me using plats for the moment, as they're good for indoor and out at my level (60 yrds and under).

However, if you need to get out of the rubber-band zone, then go for the lot now.

Not one without the other, basically!

[buzz lite beer]

before you rush into upping your draw weight, can you currently shoot 150+ consecutive arrows with the first as strong and accurate as the last?, I can easily draw 48lb and shoot 60 reasonable shots (my version of reasonable). I've had to reduce my bow weight to around 41lb and can still only just manage 108 effective shots, keeping within the constraints of existing equipment. If reaching maximum distances is a problem, carbon limbs, carbon arrows is the path to follow if finances permit. Keep it as simple and easy as possible.

[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. If you can't do the 10 repetitions without being able to hold steady, then you are overbowed, if you can manage 15 repetitions then you are underbowed.
Can't say i have tried it myself though - it would probably tell me to use my son's 18# limbs!

[Allvyn]

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. If you can't do the 10 repetitions without being able to hold steady, then you are overbowed, if you can manage 15 repetitions then you are underbowed.
Can't say i have tried it myself though - it would probably tell me to use my son's 18# limbs!

I'm overbowed . I think Buzz makes perfect sense on this 1. My two cents, am in no position to give any advise cus I'm a flat out noobie.

[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 ?