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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ozy clint on February 07, 2009, 08:06:00 PM

Title: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: ozy clint on February 07, 2009, 08:06:00 PM
i just read a post and a guy said he had a 28" draw length and shoots a 29" arrow. my question arises from confusion as to how he came to the conclusion that he has a 28" draw. because with my way of determining draw length he would be drawing the BOP onto the shelf.
i understand the term draw length as the distance from the throat of the grip to the string at full draw. right?? now i'm sure most bows are at least 1" min from the throat of the grip to back of the shelf. that's how i reckon he would be drawing the BOP onto the shelf.
measuring the draw length any other way is not a consistent measurement because the back of shelf to grip measurement is a variable between bows.

so what do you mean when you state your draw length?
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: mcgroundstalker on February 07, 2009, 08:13:00 PM
Alot of guys exaggerate the length of their... I mean their draw length.  :rolleyes:  Point Taken.

... mike ...
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: HATCHCHASER on February 07, 2009, 08:13:00 PM
"AMO draw length" is  from the throat of the nock to the deepest part of the grip,plus  1 3/4".  "True draw" is from the throat of the nock to the deepest part of the grip.  I may have the names crossed but that is the two measurements.  That said, very few people have a "true draw" of 30".  I draw a shade over 30" AMO.
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Curtis Haden on February 07, 2009, 08:14:00 PM
Ozy, most (I think) people measure draw lenght from the throat of the nock to the "back" of the bow.  By the back of the bow, I mean the side of the bow facing away from the shooter.

...So a 29" arrow and a 28" draw length gives the archer 1" of clearance from the back of the point/broadhead to the "back" of the bow and the shooter's hand.
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: ozy clint on February 07, 2009, 08:37:00 PM
curtis- that's what i thought. trouble is your draw length changes with different bows because of what i said above.
ok then, i have a bob lee marked 54#@28". how did they measure that? to the back of the bow or to the grip? lot of poundage difference in 1 3/4" of draw length
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Curtis Haden on February 07, 2009, 08:50:00 PM
Ozy, it's not an exact science really, but if you use the method I described, it's still fairly consistent from bow to bow.  If you forget about different riser designs, and just consider that you're actually measuring the distance from your string hand fingers to the front of your bow hand, it makes a little more sense.

As far as draw weight at a given draw length, consider that most bow makers have a recommended brace height, and whatever method they use for determining draw length, they just measure the draw weight on a scale within that range.

Make any sense, or just more confusing?    :coffee:
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: wingnut on February 08, 2009, 08:18:00 AM
Most bowyers now weigh the bows to AMO draw.  That way all are the same.

Mike
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Gray Buffalo on February 08, 2009, 08:29:00 AM
This might help.


http://www.archerysearch.com/publications/AmoStandards.pdf
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Pat B on February 08, 2009, 10:42:00 AM
I make and shoot selfbows. My draw length is 26" but my arrows are 29" from the throat of the nock to behind the point. I prefer longer arrows for the extra weight and extra flexibility to get around the bows handle.
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: magnus on February 08, 2009, 11:00:00 AM
Thanks guys very informative! Ive been wrong all this time. Dont tell the Mrs!!!
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: A.S. on February 08, 2009, 04:03:00 PM
I usually measure to the throat of the grip, then add the 1 3/4" to get the AMO length. This will be the same no matter the riser size.

However, I notice when I shoot a low grip longbow my d.l. will be about 1/2" shorter than if I shoot a higher grip recurve. Just hold your arm our, wrist straight, then break your wrist down. You will notice the shorter distance.
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on February 12, 2009, 09:53:00 AM
I always though measuring to the back of the bow was kinda silly.  I mean, what good is that measurement?  AMO could just as easily have set the standard to the front of the bow where you would have an indicator of arrow length as well.

I measure from the string to the back of the bow.  You're going to add teh extra length in anyway, so why mess around?
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Gordon martiniuk on February 12, 2009, 10:39:00 AM
Draw length is how far you draw a bow and arrow length is how long the arrow is as long as arrow ia long enough for you dray length it does not matter if arrow is longer  Amo draw length is measured to back side of riser!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on February 12, 2009, 12:33:00 PM
Sure Gordon, but why?  Why bother measuring to the back of the bow?
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Guru on February 12, 2009, 12:48:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Jeff Strubberg:
I always though measuring to the back of the bow was kinda silly.  I mean, what good is that measurement?  AMO could just as easily have set the standard to the front of the bow where you would have an indicator of arrow length as well.

I measure from the string to the back of the bow.  You're going to add teh extra length in anyway, so why mess around?
Jeff, what the heck are you trying to say here?  You say it's silly, then you say that's what you do....huh????
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: wingnut on February 12, 2009, 12:49:00 PM
Jeff you are talking back (towards target) and belly (towards you). . . right?

The AMO standard was established and is used for testing bows.  That way all the bows get drawn the same length.  It's a heck of a lot more accurate then having someone stand in front of a chronograph and draw by hand.

Mike
Title: Re: what do you mean when you say draw length?
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on February 12, 2009, 01:21:00 PM
Bah, I messed that up, Mike.  My point was that it's pointless to measure to the belly of a bow.  Knowing the distance to the belly of a bow doesn't tell your customer a darn thing.  

A standard is necessary, but that one was just drawn up plumb silly.