How to Check a Bow's Draw Length

To get the maximum power and use of your bow, you need to find out what your draw length is. This term refers to the length it takes to pull the string of the bow from its resting position to fully extended. Depending on your size, the draw length on a standard bow could be too short or too long, making it ineffective to use properly. Before you adjust your bow, you first need to find out what the draw length is currently; that way you can make your adjustments accurately. This takes just a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

  • Bow square
  • Painter's tape
  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Arrow
  • Tape measure
  • Permanent marker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the bow down on its side. Place the bow square on the bow string so that the shank of the bow square is positioned across the deepest portion on the grip of the bow. Locate the scale on the square and record the number on the shank with the pencil and paper.

    • 2

      Slide the bow square up the string until the shank of the bow square is sitting on the rest for the arrow. Locate the number on the bow square that's the same as the number you found in the last step. Put a piece of painter's tape on the bow at this mark for future reference.

    • 3

      Locate the throat of the nock, which is the end that connects to the bow string. Measure forward from the deepest portion of the throat 1-3/4 inches and make your first mark on the arrow with a permanent marker. Mark the length of the arrow with the tape measure and the permanent marker from that point toward the end of the arrow, making a ruler on the side of the arrow with ticks for each quarter-inch.

    • 4

      Remove the bow square and put the new arrow with the ruler mark on the bow like you're lining up a shot. Pull the bow back as far as you can. Position an assistant where they can see the side of the arrow. Locate the number on the side of the arrow that intersects with the painter's tape that you placed in step 2. This number is the draw length of your bow.