The English longbow was the heavy artillery of the medieval era. During the Hundred Years' War, English archers wreaked havoc on French forces at Agincourt and Crecy. These massive weapons drew between 100 to 180 lbs, launching heavy armor-piercing 'bodkin' arrows over 250 yards. Pulling such weights is physically impossible using arm strength alone; it requires specialized skeletal draw mechanics.
Skeletal Alignment and Laying into the Bow
To draw a heavy warbow, the archer does not pull the string; rather, they push the bow arm out while drawing the shoulder blades together. This action, known as 'laying into the bow,' transfers the weight from the weak muscles of the arm to the large muscles of the back and the skeletal structure of the chest. The bow hand remains locked, the elbow straight, and the weight is supported by a solid bone line running from shoulder to shoulder.
The Anchor and Release
Unlike light target bows drawn to the chin, warbows are drawn to the ear or collarbone. This maximizes the draw length (often 32 inches), storing maximum potential energy in the heavy yew limbs. The release must be instant and clean; 'creeping' (letting the string slip forward before release) reduces power and can result in severe string strike against the arm.
The Physical Toll
Skeletons of medieval archers excavated from the Mary Rose shipwreck show pronounced bone density changes: the left arm bones (bow arm) and right shoulder joint structures are significantly thicker and deformed, testifying to a lifetime of training and the massive loads sustained during combat.