Bow ProShop
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MEASURING DRAW LENGTH
of SHOOTER & BOW
of SHOOTER & BOW
Measuring Draw Length of SHOOTER
Unlike a traditional recurve bow that can be drawn back to virtually any length, a compound bow will draw back only
a specific distance before it stops (the wall). Compound bows are designed to be shot from the full-draw position.
If a compound bow is set for a 29" draw length, it should always be shot from the full 29" draw position. But the
bow cannot be over-drawn, say to 30" or 31", without modifying the setup on the bow. So the draw length on your
compound bow must be set to match your particular size. When we setup your bow, we will adjust the bow for your
precise draw length.
To measure your draw length, determine the length of your
arm-span in inches. Stand with your arms out and palms facing
forward. Don't stretch when measuring. Just stand naturally.
Have someone else help you, and measure from the tip of one
middle finger to the other. Then simply divide that number by 2.5.
The quotient is your proper draw length (in inches) for your body
size.
The majority of compound bow owners set their bows for too much draw length, which results in poor shooting form
- inaccuracy - and painful string slap on the forearm. You will better enjoy - and be more successful with your new
bow when it is fitted properly to your body. And REMEMBER! If in doubt, choose a little LESS draw length rather
than a little more. If you are still unsure, or plan to shoot with a string loop, you may benefit from reading our
Additional Discussion on Draw Length.
If you are a person of average proportions, your arm-span will be roughly
equal to your height (in inches). So there is often a direct correlation
between a person's height and their draw length as well. Once you
have computed your draw length using the method above, you can
double-check yourself by using the scale below - to see if your
number is within the expected range.
LONG DRAW SHOOTERS:
SHORT DRAW SHOOTERS:
Unlike a traditional recurve bow that can be drawn back to virtually any length, a compound bow will draw back only
a specific distance before it stops (the wall). Compound bows are designed to be shot from the full-draw position.
If a compound bow is set for a 29" draw length, it should always be shot from the full 29" draw position. But the
bow cannot be over-drawn, say to 30" or 31", without modifying the setup on the bow. So the draw length on your
compound bow must be set to match your particular size. When we setup your bow, we will adjust the bow for your
precise draw length.
To measure your draw length, determine the length of your
arm-span in inches. Stand with your arms out and palms facing
forward. Don't stretch when measuring. Just stand naturally.
Have someone else help you, and measure from the tip of one
middle finger to the other. Then simply divide that number by 2.5.
The quotient is your proper draw length (in inches) for your body
size.
The majority of compound bow owners set their bows for too much draw length, which results in poor shooting form
- inaccuracy - and painful string slap on the forearm. You will better enjoy - and be more successful with your new
bow when it is fitted properly to your body. And REMEMBER! If in doubt, choose a little LESS draw length rather
than a little more. If you are still unsure, or plan to shoot with a string loop, you may benefit from reading our
Additional Discussion on Draw Length.
If you are a person of average proportions, your arm-span will be roughly
equal to your height (in inches). So there is often a direct correlation
between a person's height and their draw length as well. Once you
have computed your draw length using the method above, you can
double-check yourself by using the scale below - to see if your
number is within the expected range.
LONG DRAW SHOOTERS:
SHORT DRAW SHOOTERS:
Copyright @2006 Bow ProShop.com
Measuring Draw Length of the BOW
The proper length for your arrow will depend upon several factors: the draw length for which the bow is set, the type of bow
you have, and the type & position of your arrow rest.
Before we dive into this issue, we should briefly discuss how draw length of a bow
is measured. Officially - according to the standard AMO method - a bow's draw
length setting can be found by measuring the distance between the groove of the
nock - to a position 1 3/4" forward from the pivot point of the grip - when the bow
is at full draw. Confused? Not to worry. There's a simplified method too.
Conveniently enough, for most bows, 1 3/4" forward from the pivot point of the grip puts you roughly at the outer edge of the
bow's riser. So without splitting too many hairs, we can say that a bow's draw length is approximately from the nock point to the
front of the riser - when the bow is drawn back. So if you drew back a 29" arrow, and the insert of the arrow lined-up with the
front edge of the bow's riser, the bow is set for approximately 29" draw length. Whew! Glad that's covered!
If you're truly an archery junkie, you may have also heard about the concept of True Draw Length, which is an older and much
less popular method of measurement. Officially, True Draw Length is the distance at full draw from the nocking point to the low
(pivot) point of the grip. So a True Draw Length measurement will be 1.75" short of an AMO draw length measurement. There
isn't much talk about True Draw Length these days, and it's fine point of archery jargon that really isn't worth dissecting. But if
the question ever comes up on Jeopardy, you'll know.
Also, we recommend you not automatically trust the factory sticker on your bow that indicates draw length. In many cases, the
manufacturer's sticker and the ACTUAL draw length of the bow can be quite different - sometimes dramatically. And since
changing your draw length may necessitate changing arrows too - we can avoid some trouble here by thinking ahead. If your
bow does not already fit you comfortably, you should have the draw length adjusted before ordering your custom arrows.
Arrows which may be perfect for a bow at 29" draw length, may be totally inappropriate for the same bow set at 27" draw length
(much more on this topic later).
The proper length for your arrow will depend upon several factors: the draw length for which the bow is set, the type of bow
you have, and the type & position of your arrow rest.
Before we dive into this issue, we should briefly discuss how draw length of a bow
is measured. Officially - according to the standard AMO method - a bow's draw
length setting can be found by measuring the distance between the groove of the
nock - to a position 1 3/4" forward from the pivot point of the grip - when the bow
is at full draw. Confused? Not to worry. There's a simplified method too.
Conveniently enough, for most bows, 1 3/4" forward from the pivot point of the grip puts you roughly at the outer edge of the
bow's riser. So without splitting too many hairs, we can say that a bow's draw length is approximately from the nock point to the
front of the riser - when the bow is drawn back. So if you drew back a 29" arrow, and the insert of the arrow lined-up with the
front edge of the bow's riser, the bow is set for approximately 29" draw length. Whew! Glad that's covered!
If you're truly an archery junkie, you may have also heard about the concept of True Draw Length, which is an older and much
less popular method of measurement. Officially, True Draw Length is the distance at full draw from the nocking point to the low
(pivot) point of the grip. So a True Draw Length measurement will be 1.75" short of an AMO draw length measurement. There
isn't much talk about True Draw Length these days, and it's fine point of archery jargon that really isn't worth dissecting. But if
the question ever comes up on Jeopardy, you'll know.
Also, we recommend you not automatically trust the factory sticker on your bow that indicates draw length. In many cases, the
manufacturer's sticker and the ACTUAL draw length of the bow can be quite different - sometimes dramatically. And since
changing your draw length may necessitate changing arrows too - we can avoid some trouble here by thinking ahead. If your
bow does not already fit you comfortably, you should have the draw length adjusted before ordering your custom arrows.
Arrows which may be perfect for a bow at 29" draw length, may be totally inappropriate for the same bow set at 27" draw length
(much more on this topic later).
Additional Information:
How close do you need to get? Within an inch? Half-inch? A quarter-inch? This issue could be debated, as there probably
isn't a right and wrong answer to this question. For most shooters, a ±½" change in draw length is hardly noticed. To be
realistic, half-inch sizes are probably precise enough (27½", 28", 28½, 29", 29½", etc.), particularly for the purposes of hunting
and recreational archery. Besides, as your bow's string ages and stretches over time (as ALL strings do), your draw length will
slightly increase - a little fraction at a time. So constantly maintaining a razor-specific 28 13/16" draw length may be a
frustrating endeavor for you and the pro-shop.
If you're new to the sport, and unsure what draw length is appropriate for you, we strongly recommend you just play the
averages and use the chart above. But admittedly, there is no perfect formula to solve this problem. Every shooter is different
and the opinions on the methodology for measuring and checking draw length varies considerably throughout the industry: the
yardstick against the breastbone, the fist against the wall, tip of the finger to the top of the shoulder, the arm-span method, etc.
Without the benefit of an actual bow to draw back and actually check - each of these methods only provides us with an
estimate.
You'll likely find that even the "pros" don't necessarily agree. If you go into several different archery shops to be measured for
draw length, you're bound to get a variety of "expert" opinions. So before you get frustrated, remember that determining an
individual's draw length isn't exactly a measurement of scientific certainty. So if you're just getting started in the sport, there's
no need to get too carried away computing the square-root of your hypotenuse. Instead, we recommend you just play the
averages and choose an initial draw length that's similar to others of your same size and stature (reference the chart above).
There will always be time to "tweak" your draw length a little as you gain experience and learn to analyze your shooting form
more closely. YOU will ultimately be the final judge on your own perfect personal draw length. If you're still unsure, read our
Additional Discussion on Draw Length.
How close do you need to get? Within an inch? Half-inch? A quarter-inch? This issue could be debated, as there probably
isn't a right and wrong answer to this question. For most shooters, a ±½" change in draw length is hardly noticed. To be
realistic, half-inch sizes are probably precise enough (27½", 28", 28½, 29", 29½", etc.), particularly for the purposes of hunting
and recreational archery. Besides, as your bow's string ages and stretches over time (as ALL strings do), your draw length will
slightly increase - a little fraction at a time. So constantly maintaining a razor-specific 28 13/16" draw length may be a
frustrating endeavor for you and the pro-shop.
If you're new to the sport, and unsure what draw length is appropriate for you, we strongly recommend you just play the
averages and use the chart above. But admittedly, there is no perfect formula to solve this problem. Every shooter is different
and the opinions on the methodology for measuring and checking draw length varies considerably throughout the industry: the
yardstick against the breastbone, the fist against the wall, tip of the finger to the top of the shoulder, the arm-span method, etc.
Without the benefit of an actual bow to draw back and actually check - each of these methods only provides us with an
estimate.
You'll likely find that even the "pros" don't necessarily agree. If you go into several different archery shops to be measured for
draw length, you're bound to get a variety of "expert" opinions. So before you get frustrated, remember that determining an
individual's draw length isn't exactly a measurement of scientific certainty. So if you're just getting started in the sport, there's
no need to get too carried away computing the square-root of your hypotenuse. Instead, we recommend you just play the
averages and choose an initial draw length that's similar to others of your same size and stature (reference the chart above).
There will always be time to "tweak" your draw length a little as you gain experience and learn to analyze your shooting form
more closely. YOU will ultimately be the final judge on your own perfect personal draw length. If you're still unsure, read our
Additional Discussion on Draw Length.
Archery Library:
Correct Arrow Length
Discusion on Arrow Length
Arrow Speed
Measuring Draw Length
Discusion on Draw Length
Selecting Draw Weight
Eye Dominance
Tuning LongBows/Recurves
Correct Arrow Length
Discusion on Arrow Length
Arrow Speed
Measuring Draw Length
Discusion on Draw Length
Selecting Draw Weight
Eye Dominance
Tuning LongBows/Recurves
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