I may have to switch to compound this year... advice?

[praharin]

I’ve been a trad shooter for a while now. Several years ago I injured my shoulder and wasn’t able to bow hunt for a 2 seasons. Last year coming up on the season I was suddenly unable to draw my recurve to full draw without intense pain. I haven’t touched it since, but now I need to start getting in practice for this fall.

I’m not sure if I should even try again right now. I don’t want to drop a grand on a nice compound just to hate it, which is why I stopped using them to begin with.

What would you do?

 

[5MilesBack]

If you can't get your recurve back to full draw without intense pain, why would you think that you could get a compound back to full draw without that same pain?

 

[praharin]

If you can't get your recurve back to full draw without intense pain, why would you think that you could get a compound back to full draw without that same pain?

I don’t. But I think after I hit full draw the reduced weight would allow me to hold it and aim with less or no pain.

 

[5MilesBack]

That could be........but you'd still be damaging or aggravating whatever it is that's ailing you with every draw.

 

[LostArra]

I’ve been a trad shooter for a while now. Several years ago I injured my shoulder and wasn’t able to bow hunt for a 2 seasons. Last year coming up on the season I was suddenly unable to draw my recurve to full draw without intense pain. I haven’t touched it since, but now I need to start getting in practice for this fall.

I’m not sure if I should even try again right now. I don’t want to drop a grand on a nice compound just to hate it, which is why I stopped using them to begin with.

What would you do?

Is bad shoulder bow arm or string arm?
I had a similar situation with my string arm years after surgery. I was 62 yo when I bought my first compound (used Mission), one of the models with wide draw weight range. Cranked it down to low 50's and it helped. In fact, after practicing for a few months my shoulder improved and I could shoot the recurve again. Now 6 years later I still hunt with both.

I am still a compound novice but I have learned there are compounds with cams (or without cams) that draw much smoother than some of the aggressive models and can help old bad shoulders. I found a great deal on a used Mathews NoCam which is very pleasant to shoot but shunned by compound experts because it's slow. I can testify it's faster than my recurve and fast enough to kill elk. You don't need to drop a grand to get back in the game. Best of luck in your recovery.

 

[Rob5589]

Sounds like you need an orthopedist, not a new bow.

 

[praharin]

Sounds like you need an orthopedist, not a new bow.

I did that. He gave me surgery and scraped some tissue off my labrum and rotator cuff then sent me to physical therapy. My therapist who is a bow hunter told me to get a compound. And here I am

 

[Rob5589]

I did that. He gave me surgery and scraped some tissue off my labrum and rotator cuff then sent me to physical therapy. My therapist who is a bow hunter told me to get a compound. And here I am

In that case, jump on Archery Talk and look for a used bow. I'd look at something no more than 60 lbs, preferably 50, with a smooth drawing cam. Stay away from aggressive drawing bows. Work at it for a while and see how you progress. Good luck.

 

[praharin]

In that case, jump on Archery Talk and look for a used bow. I'd look at something no more than 60 lbs, preferably 50, with a smooth drawing cam. Stay away from aggressive drawing bows. Work at it for a while and see how you progress. Good luck.

That’s been my thought too, but every time I look at compound bows I start feeling anxious as I see more and more widgets attached. It’s stressful.

 

[NateK]

Which shoulder? My bow arm shoulder is pretty sloppy from pitching too many bales of hay and after a week or so with a 45# trad bow I can't even raise my arm out straight without pain but I shoot a 70# Mathews all the time with no issues. It sucks because I can't shoot enough to get my confidence up to hunt with darn thing before I have to lay it down for a couple of weeks. Definitely not the same as shooting trad and way less fun but its better than sitting out archery seasons. I think I paid $650 or so for my Triax that was a year or so old and came with everything but a sight so you can get a newish bow for quite a bit less than a new one.

 

[Rob5589]

That’s been my thought too, but every time I look at compound bows I start feeling anxious as I see more and more widgets attached. It’s stressful.

Crazy thought, feel free to slap me Would it be possible to start shooting your non dominant side?
Reason I bring it up, I could swear someone here did that very thing due to an injury of some sort and it worked out well.

 

[praharin]

Which shoulder? My bow arm shoulder is pretty sloppy from pitching too many bales of hay and after a week or so with a 45# trad bow I can't even raise my arm out straight without pain but I shoot a 70# Mathews all the time with no issues. It sucks because I can't shoot enough to get my confidence up to hunt with darn thing before I have to lay it down for a couple of weeks. Definitely not the same as shooting trad and way less fun but its better than sitting out archery seasons. I think I paid $650 or so for my Triax that was a year or so old and came with everything but a sight so you can get a newish bow for quite a bit less than a new one.

It’s my draw arm. The worst part is the drawing motion seems to be my weakest or most inclined to pain.

 

[praharin]

Crazy thought, feel free to slap me Would it be possible to start shooting your non dominant side?
Reason I bring it up, I could swear someone here did that very thing due to an injury of some sort and it worked out well.

Interesting idea. I may pop into a shop and give that a go.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Where in the draw cycle are you experiencing pain? A rotational draw shouldn't really use your shoulder much, especially not at full draw. Back muscles are doing the heavy lifting.

 

[Beendare]

Yeah a good Ortho guy and probably a PT before you do anything.

Everyone is different...but here is what happened to me.

I had shoulder pain, thought I needed surgery. I went to my doc, then a Physical Therapist. They had me doing the 4 main exercises for your shoulder....plus I am doing some light weights. A couple months in now and my shoulder feels a lot better. I can shoot no problem...only a very small amount of pain after a lot of shooting.

___

 

[praharin]

Where in the draw cycle are you experiencing pain? A rotational draw shouldn't really use your shoulder much, especially not at full draw. Back muscles are doing the heavy lifting.

I don’t know how to explain it, but if you know or look up what the labrum is, it’s a better explanation. It’s the stress on the shoulder socket that causes the pain when it puts pressure on that but of cartilage.

 

[praharin]

Yeah a good Ortho guy and probably a PT before you do anything.

Everyone is different...but here is what happened to me.

I had shoulder pain, thought I needed surgery. I went to my doc, then a Physical Therapist. They had me doing the 4 main exercises for your shoulder....plus I am doing some light weights. A couple months in now and my shoulder feels a lot better. I can shoot no problem...only a very small amount of pain after a lot of shooting.

___

Already had the surgery back in 2014.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I don’t know how to explain it, but if you know or look up what the labrum is, it’s a better explanation. It’s the stress on the shoulder socket that causes the pain when it puts pressure on that but of cartilage.

If it's pressure causing pain, will adding some muscle help? Like Beendare said, there are strengthening exercises that will provide some cushion for the joint.

From what you describe, a compound isn't going to help much. Unless your pain is mostly while holding at full draw.

 

[praharin]

If it's pressure causing pain, will adding some muscle help? Like Beendare said, there are strengthening exercises that will provide some cushion for the joint.

From what you describe, a compound isn't going to help much. Unless your pain is mostly while holding at full draw.

I'm thinking that too and working on it, but in the mean time, I’d like the keep hunting.

 

[npm352]

If you can't get your recurve back to full draw without intense pain, why would you think that you could get a compound back to full draw without that same pain?

I have had shoulder issues and asked my physical therapist about this. Depending on the injury, the angle of your fingers on the string on a trad bow is way different than pulling back with a release and your palm down. I couldn't figure out why trad hurt so much more until I asked. The way your hand is turned when pulling the weight is huge.