When I decided to get into bowhunting, I visited my local archery pro shop to try out some compound bows. One of the first questions they asked was “What is your draw length?”.
Being a beginner when it comes to archery, I had no idea. The guys there did some quick trigonometry and suggested a starting point (note: this is a lie – they showed me how to measure draw length and then suggested a draw length to test first – no high level math required).
In this post, you’ll learn how to measure draw length and be more prepared than I was when you shop for your first compound bow.
What is a Bow’s Draw Length?
Said simply, a compound bow’s draw length is the distance it can be drawn back. The specific measurement is taken from the nocking point on the bow string to the pivot point of the bow’s grip plus 1 3/4″.
Now, there’s no need to remember the formula unless you are a nerd like me, but it is important to at least familiarize yourself with the concept so you have a starting point for shopping for a new bow.
How to Determine Proper Draw Length
Measuring Draw Length at Home
Grab a tape measure and a partner
Stand tall with your arms straight out to your sides
Have your partner measure from the tip of one middle finger to the other (with your arms outstretched)
Take this measurement (in inches) and divide by 2.5
The resulting draw length can be used as your starting point for testing bows in person to determine your correct draw length
How Do I Know if my Draw Length is Correct?
The correct draw length at full draw will result in a bow arm that is comfortably straight (not bent but not hyperextended), the nock of the arrow at the corner of your mouth, and the tip of your nose just touching the bow string without tilting your head down.
There is really no shortcut for visiting an archery pro shop and having an experienced bow technician or a certified archery instructor help you determine the proper draw length.
If you ignore this advice and end up with a bow that has the wrong draw length, you are still in luck. Some modern bows have draw length specific cams or interchangeable cam modules for different draw lengths. All this means is that a bow technician could order a few new parts to change out your bow’s draw length to fit you.
Why Does Having the Proper Draw Length Matter?
Shooting a compound bow with the proper draw length is the starting point to making sure you are able to shoot with proper shooting form, and draw length also affects the arrow length and arrow spine stiffness you will end up shooting. Make sure you are set up with the appropriate draw length first so you don’t end up with a useless batch of arrows.
Shooting a bow with a draw length that is too short can cause you to bend your bow arm too much or hunch your back shoulder. These aren’t easy to repeat from shot to shot and can cause you to chase your arrows around the target from one practice session to the next. Not to mention that moving to a longer draw length should give you a bump in speed and a flatter, more forgiving trajectory.
Shooting a draw length that is too long can result in difficulty finding a consistent anchor point with your dominant hand too far back on your face. You may also find that your bow arm is stretched out too far and the bow string hits your forearm when you shoot (bad for accuracy, sure, but painful too!).
Shooting with a good draw length is the sweet spot that allows for good form, more comfort at full draw, and arrows hitting the target where you aim.
Can I Buy a Compound Bow with an Adjustable Draw Length?
The short answer is yes, absolutely. Many compound bow manufacturers produce bows targeted to youth archers with adjustable draw lengths and adjustable draw weights. These bows can grow with you over time until you settle in to a single draw length later.
Even though the draw length is adjustable, be sure to measure your draw length before your purchase an adjustable draw length bow to make sure your draw length falls within the bow’s specifications.