Draw length

X2 · March 05, 2014, 11:12:00 AM

What is your true measured draw length? I meet a ton of archers that say they have a 29 or 30 inch draw length, but have 5 or 6 inches of arrow sticking out the front of their bow. I am 6' 1" and draw a solid 27 inches with my canted instinctive style. With my bow straight up and down and a more target style I draw a solid 29, but I do not like to shoot that way. So what is your true draw length?

Steven E Milbocker · March 05, 2014, 11:15:00 AM

I'm 6'1" draw 28 and shoot with very little cant

bartcanoe · March 05, 2014, 11:22:00 AM

I said 29", but it's a touch over that on my straight handled, hill-style longbow, on my recurve it is 30.5.

I'm 6'2", but styles and builds are different, so height isn't the only determining factor.

JB74nola · March 05, 2014, 11:25:00 AM

I'm 5'7" standing up straight full draw is 27" but I feel more comfortable at 26" but I have no follow thru after release.

Archie · March 05, 2014, 11:26:00 AM

I used to draw 31", but have shortened to 30" in the past year. I shoot more consistently at a little shorter draw. I'm 6'0".

dougbutt · March 05, 2014, 11:32:00 AM

I'm 5'11" and have 27-27 1/4" draw the way i shoot. if I shoot target style its a hair over 28"

D.Ellis · March 05, 2014, 11:35:00 AM

26.5"-27" depending on stance and bow handle. I am not quite 5' 7" tall.
Darcy

March 05, 2014, 12:05:00 PM

When I shot targets, over 28, I looked like I was falling away from the bow. Shortened it to 27 and could shoot my Bear takedown without the sight. The aspirin shooting bow builder thought that my draw was still too long, dropped to 26 plus, bingo.

CDorton · March 05, 2014, 12:12:00 PM

I'm 5'8 and draw between 25 and 26"

jhg · March 05, 2014, 12:16:00 PM

6-2 and draw 31" every way its measured.

Joshua

Stumpkiller · March 05, 2014, 12:45:00 PM

6'3" and I draw up most of my 31" BOP shafts with just a knuckle-hair of clearance behind the head/point.

No sense launching unnecessary weight - just ask NASA.

**DONOTDELETE** · March 05, 2014, 12:50:00 PM

Your shooting form, alignment, and anchor point, has a lot more to do with your actual draw length than how tall you are. I've seen this make as much as 2" difference in draw length.

X2 · March 05, 2014, 12:56:00 PM

There are many different styles out there, and everyone has to use what works best for them.

I have noticed some that draw past their anchor and then settle into the shot. Sometimes reducing their draw length by a couple inches. There is a lot that can be learned by marking your arrow even with the front of the bow when at full draw, and then shoot that arrow while recording your shot. Most will see that when they watch the video, that their draw is short of the mark. It is a very good learning tool.

When I started shooting (a long time ago) I thought I had a 28.5 inch draw length. All the arrow charts gave me too stiff of an arrow. I always had to go with a lighter spine to get my arrows to fly right. After years of shooting I started working with a video camera, and noticed my 29 inch arrows were sticking over the front of my bow by 2 inches. I realized that I had a 27 inch draw. I then tried to increase my draw length because I thought as tall as I was I should have a longer draw length. After a few years of playing around with it I realized the 27 inch draw length is what works best for me.

I draw back to my anchor, and slowly expand until the feather touches the tip of my nose, which make my draw 27 on the dot.

Now I just order my bows at my desired weight at 27 inches, and tune everything to the best of my ability.

guk · March 05, 2014, 12:56:00 PM

head angle makes a big difference also I turn my head and look across my nose instead of face square to target. maybe not the best way but I
Ive done it that way for 30yrs I get 29.5 and Im 5 11

MikeM · March 05, 2014, 01:11:00 PM

I am 6'4" anchor with my index finger in the corner of my mouth aand my thumb knuckle behind my jaw. I shoot primarily straight up with little or no cant. On Hill style staight grip a draw 29 and on recurve medium grips I draw 30.

Stumpkiller · March 05, 2014, 01:19:00 PM

As I recall the AMO standard for measuring the 28" to be used in marking the weight at that draw length is from the bottom of the nock groove to a point 1-3/4" forward of the deepest part of the grip.

X2 · March 05, 2014, 01:29:00 PM

Stumpkiller you are correct. I just make a mark on the arrow even with the back of the riser. I measure from the nock groove to the mark and that is what I draw. This method is not as accurate as from the deepest part of the grip plus 1.75, but it is close.

Knawbone · March 05, 2014, 07:12:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by CDorton:
I'm 5'8 and draw between 25 and 26"

Exact same height and draw
25 1/2 with my hill's

khardrunner · March 05, 2014, 07:35:00 PM

at 6'1" with LONG arms my is 30.75 measured. It sure makes finding good shafts tougher.

I do cant the bow as well.

Stump73 · March 05, 2014, 07:46:00 PM

My extra long draw length is a whole woppin 24 3/4"