Chris here, just starting out in the Los Angeles area with my boy.
I'm just a few months younger than you, marksmanship background, there's a great range nearby, one of the best, they say, certainly a very together club and plenty of very good instructors at hand for the open sessions.
I have to say that I started on a 12lb bow for around six sessions, then moved up to an 18lb, then to a low 20's bow, and that's where I still am after a few weeks in.
My kid's starting at the local JOAD program and the short range targets there don't even have any faces - it's all just about the form, and then the grouping from the form. Or, in other words, the kids are going for Robin Hoods all the time, or at least to hit their own nocks.
In between, we use latex bands (actually TheraBands) - Cartel makes an inexpensive one, or the yoga shops have them too - and use them to give some resistance while practicing form. But also to help stretch out as well. And use anything reflective - a mirror, side of a light colored van, a shiny wall, TV screen, anything at all to check that you're straight, front shoulder down, etc,. like everybody's saying here.
Me, I know that I don't know much at all, and so I'd say go to even a 22, 24lb, or less if you can. I tried a friend's 40lb bow and even though I could pull it and hold it for quite a few seconds without shaking it, I very clearly got the feeling that I wasn't ready for the weight yet - too many other things to get straight first, and all pretty much stacked up in sequence and they all have to be just so or else the next thing in line screws up.
So I say take the draw weight down and out of the equation, because that's not what we're meant to be working on at this time (or so all the instructors here say), until we can actually feel all those muscle groups people are talking about working every single shot, the exact same way every single time, rain or shine, day or night. That's a whole lot of repetitions and false starts before it even starts to feel like anything at all.
If you don't have people to watch or to watch you (besides the offers you get on this board, which is the best place on the planet for this kind of advice, I think) go to archery.tv and watch people like Brady Ellison in action to get a general feel of what it should look like. If you just Google Kisik Lee you'll probably end up with as much reading material as I did, and that should get you closer to the right path.
Me, after a few months of repetitions, lessons, private lessons, practice, I've gotten it exactly, totally right one time. I know it down in my bones, and I didn't even fire a shot...
My bow arm went straight up to the target, shoulder down, and the bowstring tension just held it straight back into the shoulder socket and I felt my entire bow arm totally relax, and I could very clearly feel that everything was in line because my back muscles were holding the entire system together and everything else was just hanging out, motionless. Zero muscle tension.
Been trying to repeat that feeling ever since - like a cold engine starting up, it'll take awhile, but it'll be worth it!
HTH
YMMV of course
Cheers!
C
