Looking to get my 8 year old a new bow. He has the Bear Goblin. Looking at getting a long bow but not sure what poundage. He is pulling about 16-18# at 20" and growing like a weed. Would a 25 or 30# at 28" be too much for him? I know how bows stack past 28" (31" draw length here) but is it the same for shorter draws? What would you recommend as far as poundage and possibly even brands or bowyers?
Best,
Zac
:archer2:
Better to work him up gradually. If he's handling 16-18# now, he should be able to handle 20# soon. That should suit him until he's 10, and then you can consider moving up to 25-30 depending on how he's doing.
I dunno. There are lots of older used bows out there that have fairly small grips. My guess is he's probably drawing in the 24-26-inch range, which would put a 25#@28 bow under 20 at his draw length, and even a 30#@28 wouldn't be much over 20 at his draw length, and he'll be able to grow a bit longer before you will have to move up in poundage again. The problem is there aren't many bows in that weight range on the used market.
Quote from: Orion on February 05, 2026, 08:33:29 PMI dunno. There are lots of older used bows out there that have fairly small grips. My guess is he's probably drawing in the 24-26-inch range, which would put a 25#@28 bow under 20 at his draw length, and even a 30#@28 wouldn't be much over 20 at his draw length, and he'll be able to grow a bit longer before you will have to move up in poundage again. The problem is there aren't many bows in that weight range on the used market.
That's what I was thinking. He is drawing 20" right now via my marked draw length arrow and growing super fast. I thought a 25-30# @ 28" would do fine and last a while. Thinking 54-60". This sound about right? He is 5' tall his dad (me) is super tall (6'6" 31" drawlength). But I was thinking something in that range he could shoot a couple of years.
Best,
Zac :archer2:
Yep. If he's drawing 20 inches, 30#@28 would be the better choice. 52-54- inch Browning, Wing or Bear bows, and probably a lot of other brands in that length and weight would work. Doubt most would be physically too heavy, though you may have to do some looking to find smaller grips (or be willing to modify the grip). Good luck.
If you can get a bow in that weight range to try, it would help in developing good form and avoid over-bowing. I like your ideas.
My girls started at that age with little bears and I then found the little Shrews (PunkyShrewster) to be easy to tune and easy to grow with..the design actually allows amazing adult draw lengths also. I draw 30" and shoot their lil bows once in a while with a 700 spine lol..but back on point I used teensey micro diameter arrows started with 1600 spine Easton Avance shafts with their break off insert target tips allowing easy tuning. I might be weird but I did start them at that age without fletchings.. And shortened and tuned slowly before fletchings any shafts. I left the shafts shooting pretty weak and then once I had the arrows not flying nocks high or low by adjusting string nocks points.. gave em feathers..and periodically would toss in a bare shaft when they were shooting just to see..thats how I kept up with their changing strength and shooting form changes.. I have three daughters who shoot well and they all shot the little Shrews 25#@28" progressing through spines, some faster than others. 1600, 1400, 1200, 1050..playing with shorter lengths and less point weight..till they went hunting with little Kudu single bevels on the micro shafts..They make lighter weight shrews too..This is my 7 yr old daughter. She just stepped up from a 12#@24" Bear little bear to this 25#@28" 52" longbow that her sister used to shoot and hunt with and seems to be doing fine.