"Promoting bows in the 20's and 30's for guys in their 50's and 60'swho shot bows in the 60's and 70's when they were in their 30's and 40's."
My Shooting Philosophy
It's great fun to be the best arrow on a 3D target with a 22# bow when everyone else is shooting 50# and up and while I get a lot of fun out of chiding heavy bow shooters, I'm quite serious about promoting the idea of shooting lighter bows. I am in my 70s, and, of necessity, I'm getting a lot of experience with light bows, real light, and I'm pretty impressed with what you can do with them. I've become convinced of the following things:
1. You can have a tremendous amount of fun with light bows.
2. Many, if not most, people, could shoot ten to fifteen pounds lighter than they are and still accomplish what they are trying to do.
3. Shooting lighter when you're younger will avoid setting yourself up for joint problems later in life and thus lengthen the time you can enjoy shooting. Even a drop of five pounds can be beneficial to joint life over time.
4. If you shoot lighter, you'll shoot better, especially if you're just starting out.
The usual first response I get to these ideas is either "But I need to shoot 175 pounds for moose (or elephants... or dinosaurs)" ... or "I know all that, but I just like to shoot heavy bows"... or "I need the flattest trajectory humanly attainable or I can't hit anything".
Let's deal with these in order:
1. I'm trying to speak to "most of us". Sure, there are a few who live in moose country and hunt the larger game regularly, but most of us don't. Is it worth damaging your joints shooting heavy bows for 30 years if you're likely to hunt really big game only a couple of times in your life? You can shoot lighter most of the time and work up in the few months before a hunt. You'll have better form and be more likely to hit.
2. Shooting a heavier bow than the next guy may be satisfying, but is it worth shortening the length of your actual bow shooting life or would your rather keep shootiing into your 70's and 80's?
3. Speed, speed, speed... It's much like wanting to shoot a heavy bow. Shooting faster, like shooting heavier, carries a price. Making a faster bow generally involves front loading the power curve, so you end up pulling more weight even at the same draw as a smoother but slower bow of the same ending draw weight. You start out with more weight and end up pulling more actual poundage through the draw. A fast bow may be capable of being more accurate, but will you be? Most game is taken at 20 yards and less. If you can't hit at 20 yards with a lighter, smoother bow, you have more problems than just the bow.
I know I won't convince a lot of folks. The "heavier and faster is better" concept is deeply ingrained. However, if I can get even a few folks thinking ahead to the benefits of a longer shooting life, and maybe a few more trying out lighter weight and finding that they shoot better, I'll have done a good thing.
Most folks won't have to drop down as much as I did. If you're on this site, you probably know that I shoot 20 to 30 pounds. My problems are purely physical. What I want to do is encourage shooting lighter long before you get to the point I'm at so that you won't have to go that light when you get older and, hopefully, can continue shooting as long as you can still get out in the woods or around a course.
Seriously, help prolong the shooting life of archers, support the promotion of lighter bows for greater satisfaction and longer shooting life.
Captain Dick
Contact: rwightman@mindspring.com