naturegirl Report post Posted July 18, 2012 I'm looking for ways to build my left arm strength (I'm a righty). Im a pretty accurate shooter but my arm that's holding the bow gets tired & shakey way before my draw arm. I had a plate put in my wrist in March so I'm recovering from that but I feel about 90% with it. I shoot a lot but I'm looking for ideas to build up my left arm strength so i can hold the bow longer. I do try to hold back my last shot for a long time before releasing just to test myself. also how often do u replace your hunting broadheads? when I'm out hunting ill accidentally knock weeds or trees with them. I'm thinking prior to my elk hunt ill buy all new ones. I've had them for 2 years (some less) and I've been on probably 6ish hunts in that timeframe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
120carp Report post Posted July 18, 2012 just do some band workouts. wal-mart sells them cheap. you can look online and see what workouts help the archer. with the broadheads just touch them up with a stone or sharpening tool and they should be good or just buy new blades. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
outdoor rush Report post Posted July 18, 2012 Strengthen your delts, anterior, medial, and post. Front, and side dumbbell raises will help. So will shoulder presses. Strong shoulders will help you keep your arms up longer. Jake www.facebook.com/BTPFitness Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reganranch Report post Posted July 18, 2012 Steriods Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted July 18, 2012 If you happen to go hiking a lot, you can work out your arms while hiking. We take our dogs walking out on USFS land most everyday and if I have an archery hunt coming up, I grab two equal weight stones and use them as if they were training weights. You can do all kinds of arm excercises with the stones while you are hiking. That way your work out doesn't take extra time or money! You can increase the weight of the stones as you get stronger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ready2hunt Report post Posted July 18, 2012 +1 to the bands especially if you have a plate in your wrist. Focus on your triceps and most importantly your shoulders. Youtube as about a million videos on different exercises with these. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6ANut Report post Posted July 18, 2012 Bands are a must, also I would recommend getting some 5 lb weights and do some wrist excersises ( http://armexercisesthatwork.com/Wrist-strengthening-exercises.php) Big key is to make sure that you stretch your arms Before and After you excersise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted July 18, 2012 all the exercise feedback is awesome but may i ask which bow you are shooting? i have physical limitations and have had to alter my gear a whole bunch!!! 80% let off a must and a bow with a nice valley so you are not constantly fighting that wall that that you are up against.. these things greatly reduce the constant pressure that arm is feeling.. if you have all that well then exercise and maybe lightest weight legal.. many elk have fallen to 40lbs. and as 6anut said.. stretch-stretch-stretch-stretch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just like when you were a kid in PE, swing arms rotate little circles then big circles!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Becker Report post Posted July 18, 2012 I believe short practice sessions are better. Maybe 10 to 15 shots or perhaps less, once in the morning and then evening or whatever your schedule permits. Remember you don't have to shoot long distances to practice. Check out Cameron Hanes. He shoots in his office all the time!!! hahaha Just need a small target and five or ten yards to shoot. Using this technique has allowed my wife and I to get into archery shape rather quickly. By this I simply mean developing your muscles and muscle memory to make a repeatable shot. I notice a lot of people feel the need to go out and shoot 1000 times everyday, but I think practice as long as you are fresh. When you start getting fatigued and keep shooting I think you start developing bad habits. Remember MOST hunting situations only require ONE shot, maybe a follow up shot. I don't personally see the need to be able to pull my bow back 100 times, when all it takes is one or two shots. Being confident in your ability to draw the bow and make that first shot count is the key to me. Make every shot count when you are practicing, just like it is an actual hunting situation. Thats just my 2 cents and I might get ripped for it but it works my myself and my wife. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antmo23 Report post Posted July 18, 2012 When I first started shooting again, I kept my sessions short(12arrows) and I lowered my draw weight. As I got stronger, I shot more arrows per session, more sessions per day, and raised the draw weight until I was back up to 70 lbs. Go slow so you don't get hurt and set yourself back even more. Good luck to you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigorange Report post Posted July 21, 2012 Lots of good ideas here. If it seems to be holding the weight of the bow up that fatigues your arm, try dumbbell or bands and do front and side raises for the shoulder. Repetitive raises, raise and hold, and slowly lower...mix it up. If it's fatigue from staying at full draw then use a band and hold full draw for a minute or so at a time. You can even do this watching tv or whenever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted July 21, 2012 Pushups. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturegirl Report post Posted July 21, 2012 all the exercise feedback is awesome but may i ask which bow you are shooting? i have physical limitations and have had to alter my gear a whole bunch!!! 80% let off a must and a bow with a nice valley so you are not constantly fighting that wall that that you are up against.. these things greatly reduce the constant pressure that arm is feeling.. if you have all that well then exercise and maybe lightest weight legal.. many elk have fallen to 40lbs. and as 6anut said.. stretch-stretch-stretch-stretch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just like when you were a kid in PE, swing arms rotate little circles then big circles!!! Mathews passion. I believe it has 80% let off. its not my draw arm at all but my left arm that holds the bow. my biggest problem I think is I don't want bigger muscles (I've got enough in my upper body). just the opposite of guys who want bigger muscles I know. I want to build the strength in my left arm without getting bigger muscles but I don't think it works that way...lol I think I'm gonna try bands or light weights. thanks everyone for your ideas. much appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uofahughes2 Report post Posted July 22, 2012 Lots of good info. Another thing I would add just in general is Core strength. I think that a strong core is really essential to helping you hold on target, and for longer. Very rarely do you get to shoot at an animal when you're standing straight up and down like most of us practice (guilty). Having a strong core allows you to make those shots when you have yourself woven around two different cat claws, shooting over a rock and under a mesquite branch! Planks - Designed by Satan himself, but they help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buffhunter Report post Posted August 23, 2012 What I like to do is get an old milk jug and fill it with water. When I'm at home just sitting on the couch watching tv I get it and hold it out like I was aiming my bow and hold it as long as I can. And just repeat it until I can't do it anymore.......... do that every nite instead of the 12oz curl..lol. it make you rock steady when you go shoot your bow!!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
