Head weight, overdraw or ??

[Squints08]

I recently switched from a Bob Lee 48#@28 Corbracurve to an ILF 50#@28” Uukha with 21” riser. The ILF is smoother, faster and easier to shoot even though it’s a higher weight. But, my elbows hurt. Especially my left arm and I’m a righty. This never existed with my BL which I shot/hunted successfully for years. Do I need more head weight? Just looking for suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Justin.Medcalf]

Do you mean your elbow hurts from vibration at the shot ? Or from holding a higher weight?

 

[Wrench]

How's your brace and how's the hand shock? How similar are the grips?

 

[Squints08]

Grips are definitely different. The ILF is much narrower and the BL fills my hand. I don’t think it’s from pulling more weight bc it’s easier to draw and hold. Hand shock?

 

[Btaylor]

How do you grip the ILF? knuckles vertical or turned out to the left at a 45 or close. Any bend in your bow arm?

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

Hand shock?

Recoil basically. Are you getting a jolt up your arm on the shot, or feel a thump at release?

 

[LostArra]

Outside of elbow ("tennis elbow") or inside (golfer's elbow)?

With the adjustment available in ILF you might check the tiller which could be related to possible hand shock. Otherwise, I would play with your grip as mentioned above.

 

[Squints08]

It is a dull pain after I shoot in the very point of my elbow. What should I vary in my grip? My left arm is straight when I’m at full draw.

 

[LostArra]

Jake has a lot of good recurve form videos. Here is one discussing grip.

 

[Btaylor]

It is a dull pain after I shoot in the very point of my elbow. What should I vary in my grip? My left arm is straight when I’m at full draw.

The way I hold the bow, the top of my knuckles run on a line from the center of clock to roughly 7:30- 8:00 rather than from center to 6:00. I was having pain in my bow shoulder when shooting much over a dozen shots and changing my grip stopped it immediately.

 

[Btaylor]

Jake has a lot of good recurve form videos. Here is one discussing grip.

I had not seen that video but that is exactly how I now grip the bow and his point about torque and right impacts is 100% what I have seen as well. If I dont get my hand rotated into the grip like he talked about I will 100% of the time be right of point of aim. Great video explanation that my experience absolutely agrees with. It is a very comfortable position to hold the bow and it also made it easier for me to get in better overall alignment for expanding in to the shot.

 

[sveltri]

Is the ILF loud? If so, as mentioned above, the tiller may be slightly out of whack and causing hand shock.

 

[Squints08]

I’m going to watch that video now and the bow is very quiet. Thanks for the information everybody.

 

[Squints08]

I figured I’d report back after shooting a bit the last few days. I believe the culprit was my laziness and lack of focus on my grip. Apparently I had let it fall too vertical and just wasn’t paying any attention to it. This morning I got outside with my son for an extended session and no pain. Probably shot close to 40 arrows as well. Thanks for help everybody.