Determine Proper Draw Length For Optimum Performance

Home | Newsletter | Blog | Contact | Eye Dominance | Which Hand | Bow Size | Draw Length | Draw Weight | Beginner Arrow Length | Basic Archery | Learn Archery NOW! - Your Simple Steps To Success!

Ultimate resource dedicated to helping you learn archery

Learn How To Determine Your Proper Draw Length

The process of finding your proper draw length is not rocket science but getting it correct is vital to your success.

Selecting your proper draw length is equally important as choosing the right size shoe.

If you are a runner and your shoe size is too big your performance will not be so graceful.

If your shoe is too small, then you are guaranteed to experience some pain even if you are walking only a short distance in them.

Just like a pair of shoes that are made to fit a certain size foot, every bow is designed to accommodate a specific range of human factors including arm length or draw length.

It is impossible for an archer to learn proper archery shooting form if the draw length and bow size are too small.

This applies to both compound and recurve archers.

My Proper ArcheryEquipment Checklist

• Eye Dominance
• Right or Left Hand
• Proper Bow Size
• Proper Draw Length
• Proper Draw Weight
• Proper Arrow Size

Conversely, if the bow is too large for the archer then you will be missing out on the full potential of the stored energy for the bow and the compound shooter will not be able to anchor at all because the nock point will be located to far behind the face.

Regardless of the bow type or archery style you choose, before you can purchase your first bow you will need to know 3 things.

1. Draw Length
2. Bow Size
3. Draw Weight

Before you can determine your proper bow size you first need to determine your proper draw length.

I also address proper bow size here and proper draw weight here, which are both vital to your success as well!

The information on this page will help you determine your proper draw length which you will use to identify a bow size that is right for you.

In your search for answers you may have already come across other methods and variations for determining your proper draw length but rest assured there are only two methods that you should be using exclusively...

1. Calculated Draw Length
2. ATA Draw Length Standard

On this page I will explain how these two methods work in determining your proper draw length.

On a separate page I will demonstrate why I don't use the other methods and why the suggested methods for determining proper draw length for compound bows is risky.

If you are trying to identify your proper draw length for a compound bow you can use the methods on this page or you can skip to Determining Proper Draw Length for compound bows here.

For everyone else, let's get started.

If you are selecting your first bow then finding your calculated draw length (Method 1 Calculated Draw Length) is sufficient enough for identifying your proper bow size if you follow my recommendations.

Using Method 2 (ATA Draw Length Standard) will assure a more precise measurement but again, the first method is adequate for new archers.

Both methods are simple and allow you to find your proper draw length in just 3 minutes!

Note that the two methods apply for youth and adult archer's alike.

top

Proper Draw Length Method 1: Calculated Draw Length

This process is fast and easy and it works great for both compound and recurve archers.

There are two simple steps to finding your Calculated Draw Length.

1. Measure your arm span
2. Divide by 2.5

I like to call this the Measure and Divide method. The archery community has been using this tried and true method to calculate proper draw length for many years...why?

...Because it works!

To determine your calculated draw length you will use a tape measure and some simple math.

No rocket science required for this step, but you will need an assistant to help you measure.

Here is how it works...

Step 1

Stand like you are making the letter T. Now measure your arm span from finger tip to finger tip.

NOTE:

• Stand up straight with arms reached out and palms open (facing forward)
• Make sure your shoulders are not scrunched up or the chest over extended
• Just stand natural and relaxed otherwise you could affect the measurement

Now have your assistant measure with a tape measure from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other middle finger.

An alternate method determining your proper draw length is to stand with your back against a wall.

Have your assistant mark the location or arm span on the wall with a pencil or tape. Have your assistant mark the location or arm span on the wall with a pencil or tape. Place the marks on the wall to indicate the end of each middle finger. Place the marks on the wall to indicate the end of each middle finger. Then simply measure the distance between the marks on the wall. Then simply measure the distance between the marks on the wall.