i was surprised to find that my draw is only 26". i'm a big guy at 6'1". this is using my bbo and measuring from the nock groove to the back of the bow. i know amo measuring method is nock groove to throat of of riser plus 1 3/4". even using that method my draw is less than 28". using amo method on the same bow my draw is 26 1/4". if a person were to order a custom bow, how do you figure your draw? does the bowyer tell you how he wants you to measure your draw based on his design? i was just very suprised to find out, that for my size, my draw is that short. don
I'm 5' 7" my draw is 27". Always measured mine from nock to deepest part of the grip.
I measure from bottom of string groove on nock to back of bow.Add 3/4"-1" for arrow length.
28" back of bow to nock grove.... I'm 5'7"
I'm only 5'9" tall, but I've got long arms for my height which makes me a knuckle dragger. With that said, my draw length is 30" to the front of the arrow shelf (farthest from me). I then add 2" of arrow length to keep a razor sharp broadhead from touching the knuckles of my hand that holds the bow out in front of the arrow shelf at full draw.
With a normal bow, not a forward handle or the deep convex handle of a horse bow, it's easy to find your draw length. I measure my draw length to the front of the shelf.
Just take a clothes pin and attach it vertically where the total length of the clothes pin is under your full length arrow shaft about 9" from the tip of the arrow shaft.
As you draw the arrow shaft, when the vertical clothes pin touches the front of the shelf (farthest from you), it will keep sliding forward and stop sliding forward when you come to your anchor point. Then, just measure from the valley of the arrow nock to the clothes pin and that's your draw length. Do it a few times to get a consistent draw length.
QuoteOriginally posted by Night Wing:
Just take a clothes pin and attach it vertically where the total length of the clothes pin is under your full length arrow shaft about 9" from the tip of the arrow shaft.
As you draw the arrow shaft, when the vertical clothes pin touches the front of the shelf (farthest from you), it will keep sliding forward and stop sliding forward when you come to your anchor point. Then, just measure from the valley of the arrow nock to the clothes pin and that's your draw length. Do it a few times to get a consistent draw length.
That's how I do it...
29 3/4".......I keep my arrows all at 30 1/2".
Winterhawk1960
we all have different body types and that is what it comes down to i suppose. night wing, thats the way i measure mine sort of. i draw my bow with an arrow shaft. my wife stands to the side and uses a marker to mark the shaft at the end of the shelf at the back of the bow. i do it several times to make sure it's consistant. i was just suprised to find that it's only 26" and i'm 6'1". but... if i do that with my bear grizzly it will be longer. the one thing that does remain consistant, no matter what bow you use, is the measurement from the nock groove to the deepest part of the grip. for me that is 24 1/2". i usally use my bbo so i measure my draw the way you do. don
don s, I'd sure like to see a picture of you at full draw. 26" is really short for a 6' 1" person. HH artificially shortened his draw to 28" and he was 6'1" too. I'm 6' 2" and use a 29.5" draw. Just saying...
I'm 6'0" and draw 31". I don't have especially long arms, but I like to draw deep. My 6'1" brother draws 32". Measured nock groove to back of bow.
Archie
30". I like my arrows long in case you have to reach back for a little extra on longer shots. I can make a lot of sizes work, when a charge is on you can't be picky!
I'm 6'2" and only draw 27". It used to drive me nuts thinking I needed to change my anchor and I would get more power out of a longer draw. Now I dont worry bout it. I tend to lean into the shot but I'm consistant that way.
I'm a short guy, only 5' 8", and my draw lenght is 29". Measured from the groove of the nock to the back of the riser. The question is not how tall you are, but your wingspan. My wingspan is 72", it's longer than may height.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob W.:
I'm 6'2" and only draw 27". It used to drive me nuts thinking I needed to change my anchor and I would get more power out of a longer draw. Now I dont worry bout it. I tend to lean into the shot but I'm consistant that way.
i was always wondering what i was doing wrong and thinking mine should be longer. i have tried different anchor points in an effort to increase my draw. i can do it but it's uncomfortable and my accuracy suffers. i think my accuracy has suffered long enough. don
I am 5ft 10in. I draw 29.5" with my recurves and 28.5" with my longbows.
I was drawing 27.5" but noticed I was consistantly shooting to the left.I was anchoring my thumb to my earlobe and index finger on my cheek with nose on cock feather.I shortened my draw by anchoring my thumb under my jaw bone and my index finger in the corner of my mouth,which gave me better alignment and brought my point of impact inline with my line of sight.I don'y know how much draw length I've lost,I haven't measured it yet.
QuoteOriginally posted by Lincoln Ribeiro:
I'm a short guy, only 5' 8", and my draw lenght is 29". Measured from the groove of the nock to the back of the riser. The question is not how tall you are, but your wingspan. My wingspan is 72", it's longer than may height.
wingspan is a good point. i'll measure mine. don
I'm 5'-10" and draw 30-3/4". That's from nock groove to back of riser. I cut it real close using MFX 500's...only 31" full length.
I'm sure my form and anchor are not anywhere near what would be perfect. When the shot counts though I always end up with bow tip at about 2 oclock, leaned into the shot a bit and the first knuckle of my thumb under my ear.
i am 6'1 and have a draw of 28 inches
6'1" and have a true 29" draw. Arrows are 29.5" - 30" bop depending on bow and which arrows.
Don s. You are measuring draw length correctly. Throat of the nock to the deepest part of the riser, plus 1 3/4 inches. That's the AMO way and the way most most bowyers do it. However, you'll also get pretty close by measuring to the back of the bow. Most risers are from 1 5/8 to 2 inches deep, so measuring to the back of the riser will yield very similar results.
In addition to physical size, where you anchor on your face. how much bend you put in your bow arm, whether you shoot high or low wrist, whether you lean into the shot and/or bend your head toward the bow string at full draw all affect your draw length. Standing straighter, keeping your head more erect, straightening your bow arm, anchoring further back on your face and shooting high wrist will all add to your draw length.
But if you're comfortable shooting now and you hit what you shoot at, why change anything.
To answer your question about ordering bows. Most mid-weight bows gain about 2 1/2# of draw weight for every inch drawn beyond 28 inches, and loose about the same amount for every inch below 28 inches. Thus, if you wanted to buy a bow off the shelf that was 45# at your draw length, you would look for one marked 50#@28. If you have one made for you, you can specify whether you want the bowyer to state the draw weight at whatever draw length you want. A few bowyers actually change the composition of the limb materials to optimize performance at a shorter length, say 26 inches. But most just build the same bow they always build and mark the draw weight at 26 inches.
Being 6' 1" and drawing 26 inches is no more unusual than being 5'10 inches and drawing 29-30 inches. Different strokes for different folks. Good luck.
I'm only 5'5" and draw 29.5"
Talk about a knuckle dragger.
Finding long sleve shirts that fit is next to impossible.
Im 5'7" my draw is 25 1/2 and i cant stand it.
6'1" and draw 28".
5'10" tall and 29" draw.
I am 6'4 and draw 30" on recurves with medium grip and 29" on straight grip Hill longbows
I'm 6'3" and draw 29 3/4"
I am 5'11" and my draw length is 27". ;) ;) :thumbsup:
I'm 6'2" and draw 28.25 and my arrows are cut to 29.5
I was 5'10".......2 slipped discs later Im 5'9" and my draw length is 26.5"......don't think the discs have anything to do with my draw length.
6 foot and 28 inches on the button, a bit shorter with a straight grip LB.
"anchoring my thumb under my jaw bone and my index finger in the corner of my mouth" is also my method, and the method I have found very consistant to teach others and does indeed "line things up right" for novice and experienced shooters alike.
A person has to have VERY long arms to go much past 29 inches with this anchor, shot after shot, in most or all of the various positions one shoots at game.
An open or closed stance, even target shooting, also effects most draw lengths and while several of my friends measuring their draw length at HOME tell me they have such and such long draw length and they do.....
with a target stance shooting at a target, at home where they measured it.
Ive also seen these SAME guys shoot at game in the woods or stump shooting, crouched over or in some other less than target style stance and they do NOT have that long a draw then.
Food for thought there for those wishing to give it some.
Jay Massey was another that shortened his draw purposely for better accuracy, and not talking about his "indian style" bow the he shot REALLY short draw but rather his hunting bows in later years.
The advantage I feel, for me, the shorter or "normal" draw length has is that it is easy to reach at about any body angle where a longer one is not.
However, about the only reason I shoot a bow is for hunting purposes so what works or may work better in more static conditions is probably something far away from what works for me.
Whatever anchor is consistantly repeatable, shot after shot, is the goal and each of us "do it our way" as it should be.
God Bless
here is proof that body type does have a lot to do with your draw length. this guy is a big guy, but, his draw is short for his size. (http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h356/donny-szymanski/miscellaneous%20pictures/tyrannosaurusrex.jpg)
this guy, on the other hand is not as big but his draw is much longer than average. (http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h356/donny-szymanski/miscellaneous%20pictures/orangutan.jpg). both of them are great shots and isn't that what counts? sorry everyone. i started this post and i am serious about shooting. i just had to have a little fun. :bigsmyl: :campfire: don
Only 24.5 inches. 5ft6in tall. Love every inch of that draw with my liberty's , pronghorn or meigs. Just fletched up a batch of cedars for my liberty english
6'1" draw just shy of 28". Arrow length depends on the arrows and how they tune out.
6'3". 29.5 inches in the summer.
28.5 inches when it's 5 above while I'm perched in a giant walnut and haven't moved for 3 hours.
I was 5'8",probably less than that these days.draw length is 29".
A lot of body type differences affect draw length but so does proper back tension or lack of it.Lack of proper back tension can shorten draw length 2",possibly more.
5'9" and I have a draw of 26".
6'1" 30 1/4 draw.
I'm 5'9" tall and I draw approx. 26.75".
I'm 5'2" n draw 25".Shoot full length (30") arrows
I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, some people are just different, but I think form can play a big part in your draw length.
I gained almost 2" in draw not by changing anchor but by just changing the muscles I used to draw the bow, I now focus on using my back muscles instead of my arms.
i always hear about back muscles and back tension when you draw, and i understand the concept. for example i was told to " hold an arrow out in front of you horizontaly and using both hands. now try and pull the arrow in different directions and you will feel your back muscles working. thats what it feels like when you use your back muscles to draw". i understand it, it just doesn't work for me. i try to push and pull at the same time when i draw. i just don't feel it. don't know what i'm doing or not doing. don
5'11" draw 29 1/2".
5' 7" around 27 inches
5ft,8in tall and draw length is 26"
5'1" and draw 26". What Orion said on page 2 is what I was thinking.
I have to agree with JimB and the others that have mentioned back tention & form. Being quite new to this still, I have been finding my draw length has increased over the last month from 28" to a full 29". I can 'overdraw' by really flexing the correct muscles and hyperextending to around 31" without moving my achor. I have been doing it as an exercise & it really has strengthened my drawing muscles as well as made me more aware of them. I am 6' tall with a 72" wingspan.
6' 2" draw 31"
6' with 29" draw
When I first started shooting trad, I was drawing 28"...as mentioned above, good form and back tension helped a lot. I "grew" an inch.
im 5' 9" and my Draw length is 27"