Should you warm up your Longbow before shooting ?

It's a question we are often asked, should you warm up and or pre draw your bow prior to shooting? Here we give our opinion on the matter...frankly, if you want to rub your Longbow in private then you should be allowed! What are your thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.
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[@thepit-yakkaswhippet5934]

I always give the bow a few cursory draws after bracing, just to make sure everything is okay with the bow and myself before getting on to the shooting line. Kind of like strapping something to the roof rack on the car and giving the straps a pull and saying 'that's not going anywhere' before moving off!

[@longbows]

Yes, I think for a most of us it's become a habit.

[@troylynch5567]

After seeing my dad get both of his shoulders replaced, I warm my shoulders up before shooting. Shoulder rolls and reaching across my body,with the opposite hand behind the elbow. That seems to work for me. I don't warm the bow,summer or winter. Be sure and see a doctor before doing any exercises.

[@davisstellman]

I invested in therabands to do it for me. I had a partial tendon fray in my back and it's routine now to prevent injury. Works better than anything else I've tried.

[@davesheppard8797]

@troylynch5567, I was taught by Pip Bickerstaffe to warm myself up before shooting my bows just the way you describe. When I finish a shoot, I wax my bows with Beeswax and leave it on. Next time I use the bow I polish the wax beforehand and shoot on part draw for about 15-20 arrows. Again, Pip recommend I do this. I have to say that everything Pip has told me to do has always been good advice. Plus I feel that part drawing a bow on shooting the first 15-20 arrows isn't going to hurt it and to be honest it makes me feel better about shooting full draw. My Yew longbow cost me about £850 so I do everything I can to take care of it. I find warming myself up first though is important as my bows are quite a strong pull for me. If you lift weights etc in a gym you always warm up first. I should imagine it would be very easy to pull a muscle or strain yourself drawing a 52# bow (in my case) without warming up first. Best wishes, Dave.

[@garychynne1377]

i'm in canada. i've gone shooting at -20 many times. i use hand warmers by the way. warming our muscles by half pulling the bow a few times is good as to many hurt themselves. for most sports there is a warm up so why not archery. but as you say other than that i see no advantage. thank yew for the movie. gare

[@rayzugar4776]

Hi guy's, I've never had any problems with my wooden bows, hot or cold weather. As you said, it's use that break first. I use a large elastic band with a 40lb draw weight to warm up prior to shooting. I do this after not warming up at a clout shoot, and ended up with severe shoulder damage. Won't make that mistake again.

[@longbows]

Yes, it's sadly very common for people to injure themselves in sport, I am glad you warm up prior to shooting. I hope the shoulder is recovering well.

[@rayzugar4776]

@@longbows thankyou, the shoulder has mended well, but it shows just how easy it is too injure yourself.

[@blakegundry]

Warbow archer here. I always "warm up" the bow by pulling it about halfway a few times and draw steadily up to 30" . There is actually a scientific reason to warm up a bow, its called hysterisis, which means when you pull a bow a few times not full draw, the wood will warm up and get used to moving. I never pull a bow straight to 30" without warming up because i had a 100# bow explode without warming up and im traumatized 😂

[@f1pitpass]

Good stuff, both! Info from true experiences is invaluable. Thank you both.

[@longbows]

welcome

[@darrinrebagliati5365]

I always draw halfway a couple times to set the string in the groove and to test my fingers. Have some nerve damage that limits my grip strength. Draw a couple times and know how much weight I can hold. And definitely stretch and warm my muscles before even bracing the bow.

[@longbows]

That sounds very sensible, keep it up.

[@patrickvanderhoof3704]

I think warming your muscles can be exceptionally beneficial especially with heavier bows. I always warm up my body but am more concerned about shooting under temperature extremes, when is it too hot or too cold to shoot a laminated English Longbow?

[@longbows]

I don't know when it's too hot or cold to shoot a laminated English Longbow.

[@growinmoflower3391]

Very informative! Thanks for sharing the tradition ✌

[@longbows]

Thanks for watching!

[@grahamwelby]

Thanks for this, that's good to know. I've often wondered whether there was a "stress-shock" factor when drawing a wooden bow for the first time after a period of inactivity. The bow is organic after all, as are muscles, which do need some preparation before maximum effort, so it's sort of natural to assume some pre-stressing might be of benefit, but I stand corrected! Most reassuring.

[@longbows]

Glad it was helpful! Though, as we mentioned, a bow that has been sat unsused for extended periods may need careful drawing before use.

[@tryllon4774]

I rub the thin horn layer inside the belly of my bow (my only bow) during the cold of winter but like either Mr. Head said, this could be warming myself :)

[@40bowyr]

I never have done, but if it reassures people then fair enough.

[@longbows]

Indeed

[@CamelCasee]

I do it as a warmup for me after using a lightweight warm up band, my shoulder thanks me later.

[@longbows]

Good job.

[@mattheweskender7781]

Always warm up the bow before you shoot ar the target

[@SeadartVSG]

I've shot hickory bows I have made a lot in very cold weather -20 or so. Never had a problem. I do some preliminary short draws, starting at about 10 inches and moving up to full draw before I shoot at full draw. Mostly out of superstition. The bows are either finished with varnish or linseed oil, or linseed, turpertine and beeswax.

[@longbows]

Its amazing some of the temps people manage to shoot in.

[@johanneswerner1140]

This is likely Canada, where you have nine months of hockey and three months of poor ice. (actually in the central provinces you have summer highs above 30°C but lows in winter below -50°C, I know from experience)

[@ajcates9136]

Well I pulled a brand new browning explorer compound bow back and it came completely apart and cut my shoulder to the white meat so now I pull gently 😂

[@longbows]

Ouch!...yes, people only think wooden bows break, but once you have seen a few recurves and compounds break you understand it can happen to anything, hope you recovered well.

[@Skenderbeuismyhero]

Good lord! Someone must have dry fired it before it got to you.

[@Skenderbeuismyhero]

Maybe this idea comes from composite bows needing to be "warmed up" before shooting but also literally warmed up to make adjustments to the bow before shooting.

[@longbows]

Maybe!?

[@darrinhook3745]

I do carry out tentative draws on my bows (yew longbow) but this may just be because I’ve had one explode on me! What I would like to know is; when shooting a round I find my bows shooting distance varies as the bow ‘warms up’ (as far as I’m aware, my shooting technique doesn’t change). I find it frustrating and difficult when this happens, any suggestions on how to cope with this or is it just the case of adapting to this?

[@longbows]

Yes, most Longbows (English) will dip in power after a few arrows, particularly if you are shooting in quick sucession, some people unbrace the bow between ends at a shoot to help with this. Its interesting you mention technique, as humans we get tired throughout the day, very few people magage to keep the same draw/technique for an entire day of shooting, its probably a combination of the two things, the human and the bow. A well made bow should stay fairy consistant after the initial drop off, is the bow old? As far as adapting you will just have to practice, like most things, it makes perfect.

[@darrinhook3745]

@@longbows cheers Richard.

[@mickusable]

I shoot trad bows, never ‘warm’ them up, go out and shoot, if it’s gonna break, it’s gonna break, luck of the draw ( see what I did there) I suppose 😂😂🏹

[@longbows]

Lol, good pun.

[@mickusable]

@@longbows 😂

[@richardthompson3791]

I think is can be justified with horn sinew backed bows.They can be prone to twisting and string missalignment.You don't hear of inuit/ eskimo folk having pre warmed bows I haven't any way .I reckon the wax cloth explanation sounds plausable.Waterproof the exterior yeah why not.Modern varnish generally would cover all the water issues.I live in a hot climate Sometimes 40c +. I can tell you from experience you do need to keep bows cool.That I won't back down on.I personally experienced that and have seen it on a few accaisions.Warming no. Old school Richie .

[@electoplater]

only draw the bow on the shooting line

[@longbows]

Good advice

[@alanwood7373]

I have a long bow I bought 20yrs ago for eagle classic archery. Is it still good to use or would you say it's passed its best?

[@longbows]

Are you able to contact the maker of the bow?

[@alanwood7373]

@@longbows the business closed down a number of years ago with death of the owner.

[@longbows]

Yes, I know, but they didnt make the bows, are you able to contact the maker of the bow?