Serving Australia and New Zealand
NZAP Draw-Length Calculator
Measuring Your Draw Length is Easy
Taken from Idiot Proof Archery by Bernie Pellerite
A close estimate of your draw length can be determined by measuring your wingspan, the distance between your fingertips with your arms extended. To measure, stand with your back against a wall with your arms extended as far as possible. Now have someone mark the very tips of your two index fingers and measure the distance between the two marks in inches. This is your wingspan.
If your wingspan is 73 inches (the most common) your draw length is 29 inches. If it is under 73 inches, subtract 1/2 inch for each inch under and if it is over 73 inches add 1/2 inch per each inch over.
Not great at maths? (join the club) Use the handy calculator below. Just enter your wingspan and push the button.
Keep in mind that this is just your starting draw length. Experience and practice may dictate a slightly different measurement is the best for you. The draw length that feels the most comfortable and gives you the best results is the ultimate one to use.
Special thanks to Josh from Auckland for sending the Java script that makes this calculator work.
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Draw Length and Draw Weight are Important!
The most important two considerations in selecting a new bow are draw weight and draw length. Draw weight is easy: just don't start with a bow you can't shoot 25 or 30 times without getting tired (for target bows, that should be 100 shots minimum.) Bare in mind that, unless you row a boat a lot, the upper back muscles used for drawing a bow aren't used for much else and can be more or less dormant. Once you start shooting, these muscles will develop quickly and strengthen so you can move to a higher poundage after a few months.
Draw length isn't a factor in traditional bows, which are drawn back as for as you like to the limit of the bow, but it is a bit more complicated with compound bows with their set draw length. The majority of the customers who visit the NZAP shop are trying to shoot with too long a draw. This is partly due the macho blokes in the advertisements shown drawing compound bows and anchoring back around their ears. Advertisers like this exagerated draw because it is dyanmic and looks cool. However, if you watch a real pro at a tournament, he or she is usually totally relaxed (not at all dynamic) and anchoring on their jaw or under their chin. When selecting your next bow, keep in mind that it is always better to start with a draw length that is a bit short rather that too long. Most of us can shoot a bow with a short draw just fine but getting accuracy from a bow an excessive draw length is difficult or even impossible.
When buying a new bow or retuning your compound, give draw weight and draw length a great deal of consideration. If either the weight or the length are excessive, the bow won't be fun to shoot, and if it isn't fun you probably won't do it. When in doubt, drop a few ponds off the draw weight and an inch off the draw length, and you will be fine.