Proper Draw Weight

[nybuckboy]

I had heard or read some where... that the best way to determine proper draw weight for an individual was to do this:

Sit on the floor with your legs straight out and draw back the maximium you can w/o lifting and drawing down on the bow to pull back. Then make all your adjustments from that draw weight, i.e. sighting it in, etc.

The reasoning behind this is because this way, you will always be able to pull your bow back even after sitting in the cold and having to pull back in an awkward position.

Make sense to me.

Edited June 5, 2012 by nybuckboy

[Elmo]

Makes a lot of sense.

To really simulate any possible scenerio, I'm going to have to try that with a peanut butter sandwich between my teeth, a cellphone wedge between my shoulder and ear, and a thermos full of coffee held between my legs, while bobbing back and forth from holding in my pee for an hour.

Seriously though, I'm thinking of going up a few pounds. I think I may be able to draw more than what I'm at now.

Edited June 5, 2012 by Elmo

[Doc]

I have never heard that before, but I'm thinking that method may be right on target. It never ceases to amaze me as to the silly looking gymnastics that some people go through try to draw their bow. So much has been written about the need for super arrow speed that people regularly over-bow themselves. This "rule of thumb" would definitely keep that from happening.

[nyslowhand]

The reasoning behind this is because this way, you will always be able to pull your bow back even after sitting in the cold and having to pull back in an awkward position. Make sense to me.

And... to ensure your drawing with the correct set of muscles.

My personal test is to hold the compound bow as if sighting it and draw straight back horizontally to my anchor point.

When I can no longer do that when adding resistance in a smooth and fluid motion, I go back down in draw weight.

If you can't do that, you're setting yourself up for disaster with physical damage &/or scarring game with a "windmill draw".

The 2nd, seldom discussed and probably the most important criteria of max poundage is how long can you hold the draw weight your ego has set for you?

What's reasonable? How, where or what do you hunt...? Do you stalk, ground hunt, nest with the eagles or sit in a stand closer to the squirrels playing?

For me, some where between 60-90 seconds. Hell, at 65 I can draw more than 70#. I'd be a fool to think I could hold it for more than 15 seconds...

I'm comfortable at giving up 5-10% of arrow flight time, KE &/or fps with my 58# over increasing to 65-70# and still getting a typical "pass-thru" into the chest cavity.

So I guess the moral is; it's all about trade-offs for your situation or preferences, but let your body decide what's sufficient not your ego.

IMHO - The efficiency of modern compound bows gives diminishing returns in performance above ~60#.

Ever see the bow reviews with the fps vs wgt charts? Most plateau around 60-65#, intentional through cam &/or limb design by the mfg'ers.

Guess this will be all a moot point in a few years when Xbows are allowed in the fall with 170# & 350 fps. Sorry, that's another topic!!!

[NYbuck50]

lol.. you forgot with your fly unzipped bc u just finished peeing out of the stand

Makes a lot of sense.

To really simulate any possible scenerio, I'm going to have to try that with a peanut butter sandwich between my teeth, a cellphone wedge between my shoulder and ear, and a thermos full of coffee held between my legs, while bobbing back and forth from holding in my pee for an hour.

Seriously though, I'm thinking of going up a few pounds. I think I may be able to draw more than what I'm at now.