Warbow

[Sir William]

That's some cool stuff right there.

[Sir James A]

Yeah, longbow archers from the time, using bows in the weight range of 150 to 200lbs, typically had to practice for about 2 hours a day to keep up their strength and accuracy. Skeletons recovered from the Mary Rose, a ship that sank with a compliment of archers on it, shows that many of the archers had fused bones in their backs, from all that longbow usage.

If you're going to shoot casually, 50 lbs sounds great. At 150 lbs and more, you need to be serious about being an archer.

That was a crazy discovery!

Compounds are definitely "lighter" at the same draw weight, especially if you have the "aim assist" (or whatever) where it kind of "snaps" into fully drawn position.

[Sir Wolf]

law in england to practice after church. 6-60 year old men. in 15th c

[Lord Dane]

Yeah, longbow archers from the time, using bows in the weight range of 150 to 200lbs, typically had to practice for about 2 hours a day to keep up their strength and accuracy. Skeletons recovered from the Mary Rose, a ship that sank with a compliment of archers on it, shows that many of the archers had fused bones in their backs, from all that longbow usage.

If you're going to shoot casually, 50 lbs sounds great. At 150 lbs and more, you need to be serious about being an archer.

That was a crazy discovery!

Compounds are definitely "lighter" at the same draw weight, especially if you have the "aim assist" (or whatever) where it kind of "snaps" into fully drawn position.

Already known fact. The Huns used compound bows from horseback with extreme precision long before the English archers trained with heavier Longbows. Longbows aren't exactly ideal bows for mounted soldiers. Standing is only way to use them.

[Sir Edward]

Already known fact. The Huns used compound bows from horseback with extreme precision long before the English archers trained with heavier Longbows. Longbows aren't exactly ideal bows for mounted soldiers. Standing is only way to use them.

I think you mean composite bows. Compound bows are a modern invention.

[Lord Dane]

Already known fact. The Huns used compound bows from horseback with extreme precision long before the English archers trained with heavier Longbows. Longbows aren't exactly ideal bows for mounted soldiers. Standing is only way to use them.

I think you mean composite bows. Compound bows are a modern invention.

Yes correct. Yet again I misquote history. Composite.

[Leganoth]

haha ill be on the safe side and start using my dumbells again, pullups wont be enough

[Sir William]

Actually, continual practice with your bow will be your best bet- you'll work the muscles exactly as you need them to...who knows, in time you may step up the weight.  Or not.

[Leganoth]

i casually lift 15 pound dumbells

[Sir William]

Leganoth, you'll need to do A LOT of reps to build up strength with weights that light...you'd be better off just doing continual shooting with the bow you have.  Do you have time and opportunity to shoot?  If you get it in at least every other day your muscles are going to form up just due to the routine if nothing else.

[Sir James A]

If you don't want to work the bow, use a resistance band instead of a dumbbell. It'll work the same muscles better, IMO.

[Sir William]

SHOOT THE BOW.  lol

[Lord Dane]

My longbow is a bee-atch to restring!!!

[Sir James A]

SHOOT THE BOW.  lol

Agreed. As long as he has the space to do it. At my old place, you couldn't shoot a bow in your own yard, so if you wanted to practice, you had to drive to the nearest range - about a half hour each way. Lacking the space/potential to shoot the bow, I'd settle on resistance bands.

[Sir William]

Yea, if you can't shoot a bow, a resistance band attached to a fence post or column can mimic some of the movement, most of it even.  Or he could draw and slowly release (don't let the string go) as a form of isometric workout...without the arrow of course, so he doesn't accidentally shoot it off.