I am a new bow hunter and here's my question: Should my shoulder be sore after practicing? I maybe shoot 20x during a practice session. My bow is set at 70lbs.
You probably haven't developed the specific muscle used. I went to the gym all the time before archery and first time I shot I was sore. It'll go away Bowtech invasion CX maxima 350 React 5 Reaper 2 inch
IMO if you are only shooting 20 shots and your shoulder is sore you may be over doing the poundage. I was getting those symptoms and it didn't seem excessive so I shot a few more shots and tore a muscle in my shoulder. I would drop the poundage a bit and work up.
You probably have your poundage set high. I would try going down to 63-65lbs then shoot for a week or so to gain some strength or you might just want to stay at 65lbs, some guys shoot in the 50lb range just because it's comfortable. When I got my reezen after about 6 months of no shooting I could barely do 55lbs and after 3 weeks I got back into the 70's. Just give it time and don't push yourself, I've done before and it doesn't end up great.
I agree with everyone else. Absolutely turn down the weight on that bow! It depends on the sore you're feeling. Is it in the joint of your shoulder or muscle? If its muscle, you're just not used to pulling that much weight for that long. If its in the joint, you're mostly likely irritating/damaging your rotator cuff. Take it from me. I did this a few years back and had a lot of irritation/pain in that joint area. It would go away, then come back to the point where it hurt to lift my arm. I had the bow set high during the summer, thinking I would pull heavy weight to build the muscles, then turn it back during hunting season. Don't risk long term injury. Take some weight off that thing. There is not an animal in North America that needs a 70lb bow
I'm a trad shooter but the form is still the same as far as drawing, if your sore you have too much weight and your also not using your back muscles to draw. You should be drawing with your back muscles more than any muscle.
OK I will agree with everyone else and add something. Here is the danger of doing what your doing. Since your new to shooting your going to be sore. 70# is a bunch for most people. I have shot it for years. And if I haven't shot in a while I get a bit sore. But not overly so. I don't turn mine down. But I have been shooting for years and I know if its too much or what. I generally shoot 20 or so shots and at least wait a couple hours to a day to let myself heal. Then shoot a few more 30 etc. Until I am not sore. Just like lifting weights your building muscles you rarely use. So here is the problem. Generally if your pulling to much weight your form is terrible. If you cant pull striaght back without lifting your bow arm your probably to heavy. Remember it is much harder when your cold in the field. That movement can be spotted easily by the deer etc. Plus even with let off your holding more. You'll rush the shot or drop your bow arm etc. Bottom line is anyone I have ever helped I watch them shoot and see what bad habits they have and generally most come from to much weight. So do yourself a favor and lower your weight. Shoot at a fixed distance. Don't worry about moving your sites. Focus on form. Then over time you can increase your weight. Once at the weight you want then adjust your sites. Did I mention your form...Oh yeah don't forget your form... Seeing a common thing? Doing everything the same every time makes you more accurate in the long run.
Keep your elbow low through your draw, and rotate into shooting form at the end of your draw cycle. After 4 dislocations playing hockey it's the only way I can draw, 70# is not an issue and I can shoot for hours doing this. It's probably not "perfect form" but it works great for a bad shoulder.
Too much weight and possibly a bow with very radical cams?? What kind of bow is it? When I had the Mathews Creed I had a sore shoulder after fighting to get it back even at lower poundage. Some of that was due to lack of shooting in the off season. When I switched over to my Elite E-35 those shoulder problems went away and I am able to shoot several more pounds of draw compared to the Creed. All in how aggressive the draw cycle is.
