I have a friend that wants to get into traditional archery.  He told me to find him a bow and some arrows.  I put a yardstick to his chest and had him reach out as far as he could.
His middle fingers reached out to 35.5".  I want to get him set up right so he can be successful.  Also, where would I find carbon shafts long enough for him.  Any help would be appreciated.

I'm not quite sure where you're measuring from in your post. Is the guy 7' tall?

I am measuring from the middle of his chest.
He is 6'6".

I measure just over 36" from that point and draw 30"

Measureing the way you did it i dont think will work, i just took one of my arrows and did that and they are a few inches short, you have to rember when holding a bow it will be different much more bend and u woulnt be out to your middle finger with it.

This summer I was at the Appalachian Traditional Archery Rendezvous (ATAR). and John from Sipsy River showed me this method of determining draw length.  I let him(friend not John) draw my longest recurve, a Rio Bravo 60" AMO and when he drew it back, he lacked about 10 to 12" from reaching his mouth, and the limbs of the bow looked liked they were ready to explode.  I think that he might have to go with a long bow. My concern is getting shafts long enough. What is the longest length carbon shafts come in.  I would like to set him up with CX 350's.

3 rivers has a Bear B Handle Take-Down that can get up to a length of 64" with #3 limbs. Also,  a Bear Montana Long bow is 64".  I am not sure that 64" is still long enough for him.

Get Craig Ekin to build a special 72" longbow with no arrow rest (in order to eat-up some spine).

Take him to a shop and get him measured properly.

If his draw comes out that long, he's going to have a real difficult time finding arrows.

I am 6'8" and draw about 32".  Good luck finding arrows 35"+.  Some large aluminum arrows are 34", but I am not aware of any carbons that long.  He will probably need to foot aluminum and/or carbon to get that long. I have added a small aluminum footing to some carbon arrows for more length (also adds more weight up front).

You may want to look at a long (66-68") recurve.  I am in the process of building a 66" now.

Good luck.

By the way.  Listen to Vermonster and take him to a shop.

With measuring stick in center of chest with both arms extended, I measure 32".  Man, he has some long arms if he gets to 35.5".

I have seen a lot of long draw people but 35.5 ???? I would do as someone previously said and go to a shop and have him checked. Most archery shops have a special bow to do that with.I am 6'6" and pull a honest 31 1/2" that is a long draw I would guess his actual draw length to be in that neighborhood. That being the case a 64" recurve should handle that length.(for sure mine will).Good luck with your project.

I agree with Mr. Foley I am 6'6" in my bare feet and also pull 31 1/2" now. When I first started shooting a longbow I was barely pulling 30". And I can reach 34" on a yard stick without streching.

Yes, take him to a shop and get him measured on a draw length bow. Then you will know for sure.

You shouldnt measure draw length that way.

Give him a  lightweight bow, and go to the home depot and get a long dowel, or a fishing arrow- mark inches on it with a black magic marker.

Then take an old fashioned clothespin and when he loads the arrow on the lightweight bow put the clothespin just outside the riser on the marked shaft and tell him to draw and hold- check his form..make sure its right- then tell him to let the bow down.

You will have the arrow length to the back of th riser..then just add an inch or so to that to get your arrow length.

I would be willing to bet he can shoot full length carbons (32 inches)

I'm 6'5" and my arrows are cut to 30.5" I also wear shirts with 37" sleeves...PR

I only know one guy that bow hunts that has a 36"+ draw and he has a special wheelie bow that Matt Pearson made for him and Easton set him up with special arrows. But he's mucho famous and rich!

Listen to V monster,or order him some English "clouth yard " war arrows.Like they used in midevel tymes .

I had a guy order a bow with a 35" draw. I thought "no way". I had him do the yard stick to the chest measurement and it came out 29".

The key to making the yardstick test work is not to reach out as far as you can by extending your arms with force. Hold them out relaxed and you will get a pretty correct measurement.

I have some lanky friends who can scratch their ankles with out bending over. 31.5" is the longest draw length in the bunch.