Beginner Bowhunting and Archery Questions Answered: Part 7!
Is archery physically hard?
Developing the strength to draw a bow can feel very difficult at first, but if you start at a low draw weight and shoot often, the strength will come quickly.
Can a beginner draw a 70lb bow?
Almost certainly not. In fact, most athletes who aren’t archers wouldn’t even be able to draw a 50lb bow. Archery muscles are very localized, and there are very few other activities or exercises that will strengthen those muscles.
There are many videos on YouTube of body builders struggling to draw compound bows, while those that have been shooting for years can draw even an 80lb bow effortlessly.
How to gain archery strength?
Shoot! There are very few things that will strengthen your archery muscles other than shooting. During the winter months, you can use high tension stretch bands to simulate a bow being drawn or buy a practice release which allows you to safely draw your bow indoors without the risk of firing. Many bowhunters incorporate these types of exercises into their daily workout routines.
Does archery change your body?
Over time, you will likely see a difference in strength between one side of your body and the other. Right-handed archers are typically strong with their left arm and shoulder, as it is the one that holds most of the weight of your bow.
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Can you get hurt in archery?
It is very unlikely that you will get majorly hurt in archery. It is almost impossible to shoot yourself. The biggest risk if having the string hit your arm as you shoot due to poor form or having your draw length set incorrectly. This has about the same level of pain as a wasp sting.
Long term, archery can throw your body alignment out due to the repetitive and one-sided nature of it. It is important to train your non-dominant side to avoid this. Using stretch bands or a bow training device to draw using your opposite arm and equally develop strength is an exercise that will pay dividends if you intent to shoot for many years.
Is a compound bow dangerous?
A compound bow is as dangerous as a gun at close range, but without the risk of being able to shoot yourself. The danger to yourself comes from the possibility of derailing your bow. Derailing is when your bow essentially blows up at full draw due to extreme torque or twisting of the bow. This won’t kill you, but it can seriously hurt you and scare you.
Is it easy to blow up a compound bow?
If you dry fire a bow without an arrow, or excessively twist or torque the bow at full draw, it will almost certainly derail and blow up. If you never shoot your bow without an arrow, and always follow proper shooting form, you will probably never experience a bow derail.
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Does height have any effect on archery?
Taller archers may benefit from longer draw lengths on average, but not always. Draw length is only mildly correlated with height. It is not uncommon for a 5’ 9” man to have a longer draw length than a 6’ 2” man.
Longer draw length allows you to have more speed for free essentially, but it won’t increase your accuracy. Shorter archers have the benefit of being able to fit in tighter treestands and blinds when bowhunting.
Can you learn archery as an adult?
If you have the strength to lift dumbbells and other medium sized weights during a workout, you are not too old to start archery. In fact, adults may have a better time with archery as beginners than children because of the mental focus and patience that it takes to get good.
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If you have any questions or would like to discuss the topic further, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@toothofthearrowbroadheads.com
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