AtPro...straight shaft or stock? little help here.

[mudpuppy]

I'm putting much more time on the Pro this year and have noticed how bad my upper arm hurts after a few hours. Right above my elbow and into the tricep. I have the stock shaft set up with the big stock coil, do I need to extend the stock arm shaft, or convert to a straight shaft?

I tend to swing far and fast beach hunting, and have no problem at all with a different mfg detector that's known for its ergonomics. in fact, I can swing this thing for many hours on end with no painful effects at all, and have been for 3 yrs straight, so this isn't a matter of muscle tone. I'm trying to avoid any unnecessary dinking around, and since this forum and the internet in general are good resources for dinking around avoidance on all subjects, I thought I'd run this up the flagpole here and see who salutes! I have an unused straight shaft that came off a CZ 20 that I could mount the Pro on, or cut and extend the stock Pro arm rest? What would you do, or what have you done if this has been an issue for you? I can hardly turn on my ignition after several hard hunting hours like this am, and am now having difficulty lifting a 12oz beer with that arm, so I gotta do something, I can drink OK left handed, but prefer to swing detector with the right arm! Pictures of any mods would be welcome. Thanks!
Mud

 

[BarryL]

X2 on this Mud I have the same problem with it I am going to look into a straight shaft setup somehow as well

 

[Diggin-it]

I have the same issue also Mud...and this is the third year swinging one. This is the first year though that it is bothering me. I partly blam it on my XP Deus...I have been running it exclusively for all my dry hunting this year and it is so darn light Water hunting though is the ATP's territory and I have been feeling it the next day bad...maybe we are just getting old Mud If it is interfering with the enjoyment of a 12oz beverage though...yep, would be looking into options. Either fabricate a straight shaft or that straight shaft that the forum Sponsor "Indian Nation" sells...great guy by the way!!!

 

[mudpuppy]

I did a little looking at it...seems it would be easy to move that arm cuff back a few inches by putting in a plug at the end of the shaft. Even a wooden one would probably work, I also think I have the coil end of the shaft set up too long, but I bet I cant get it apart to shorten it.
Mud

 

[William-NM]

I had enough upper arm pain last year that I went to a physical therapist. It was bad enough that I was on Vicodin, only thing that could knock it out. I haven't got around to going with a straight shaft yet, but think I will at some point. What worked for me was getting a 'fancy' weight bench and doing some lifting every other day. By fancy, I just mean that it has narrow and wide pull-down bars for lats and triceps and it has a butterfly grip as well as the bench press and slant board for dumbell curls. I started last August, and haven't had any appreciable pain since about September. One other thing that the PT suggested was building the grip up to a larger diameter. I do this with some foam pipe insulation - I just splice it together and do a spiral wrap of electrical tape. Lasts for a couple of months for me. I think it helps more with the finger and carpal issues - my fingers would get stuck, heh. Crab claws. For what it's worth...

p.s. - and those beach bullies don't kick sand in my face anymore, either

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

Hey Mud, You should take your AT-Pro and any other WATER Detector into the Shower with You after Every Outting, and THOROUGHLY RINSE it off with Mild HOT Water!! Also separate the Lower Shaft, so that the Hot Water FLUSHES OUT the Interior of the UPPER Shaft, and then let it dry or thoroughly Dry It Off, before you put it back together!!

Also, I have a GIZMO Armcuff EXTENSION for sale, which allows you to MOVE the Armcuff BACKWARDS up to (3) Positions for BETTER Balance!! I am selling it for $25
Shipped to lower 48 states! If interested or have any questions you can CALL Me at (302) 354-5661. Best of LUCK, Les Robinson

 

[knightsquad]

OK! I was going to post this by itself but now is a better time than ever!

I too get a little sore swinging the Pro for very long periods sometimes
even switching hands but that feels a little weird and not as controllable!

I remembered back a few years ago after purchasing a new detector some instructions
about how to set the correct (LENGTH) between grip and coil and remembered
that you shouldn't be BENDING your elbow so much and using that forearm muscle to hold
up that coil for hours on end! YOU'RE ARM SHOULD BE STRAIGHT!

We all want that big long sweep in front of us to cover a lot of ground BUT just try shortening
the lower rod so that your arm isn't so BENT!

I experimented with this a little bit and this past weekend visited friends on the West Coast
(FL) and we were on Siesta Key Beach which was LOADED with tons of people! I mean
tons more than my beaches here on the Treasure Coast! Thought for sure I would grab a piece
of gold but I realized I walked about an hour straight and my arm didn't hurt at all!
My wife and friends were joking and thought I walked to the Keys cause I was gone for so long! LOL
But really guys! Just try it out, you may like it! OH! And that was with the BIG coil not the 5X8!

Let me know what you think if you try it! Just try it right in the house there and you'll see what I mean!

Thanks for reading!
Pete

 

[mudpuppy]

You nailed it Knightsquad. Now if I can only get this thing unstuck to adjust it...uke: Les...I'm thinking about it...thanks man!
Mud,

 

[knightsquad]

If anyone tries this shorter shaft idea let me know what you think!
My detector kind of looks funny now standing over in the corner!
Looks really short compared to what it did look like BUT
it works! LOL
Pete

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

n/t.