whats your draw length?

[Wannabe1]

6'1" and have a true 29" draw. Arrows are 29.5" - 30" bop depending on bow and which arrows.

[Orion]

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.

[shortstroke 91]

I'm only 5'5" and draw 29.5"
Talk about a knuckle dragger.

Finding long sleve shirts that fit is next to impossible.

[sputterman]

Im 5'7" my draw is 25 1/2 and i cant stand it.

[Mike Bolin]

6'1" and draw 28".

[Hogcoots]

5'10" tall and 29" draw.

[MikeM]

I am 6'4 and draw 30" on recurves with medium grip and 29" on straight grip Hill longbows

[bolong]

I'm 6'3" and draw 29 3/4"

[Wiley Coyote]

I am 5'11" and my draw length is 27".          

[WRV]

I'm 6'2" and draw 28.25 and my arrows are cut to 29.5

[ordcorpdw]

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.

[SlowBowke]

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

[don s]

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.
this guy, on the other hand is not as big but his draw is much longer than average. . 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.         don

[Roadkill]

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

[elknutz]

6'1" draw just shy of 28".  Arrow length depends on the arrows and how they tune out.

[Otto]

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.

[JimB]

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.

[LONGSTYKES]

5'9" and I have a draw of 26".

[Yellow Dog]

6'1" 30 1/4 draw.

[ishoot4thrills]

I'm 5'9" tall and I draw approx. 26.75".