How to Measure Bow String Draw Length

Compound bows, unlike regular recurve bows, have a specific draw length. The draw length fits the owner of the bow. It is important to draw strings back to their full length to prevent injury to the shooter and damage to the bow. Setting up your compound bow to the proper draw length is not a difficult step, but it is a necessary one for proper form in shooting.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your arm span. Stand naturally and hold your arms out from side to side at the shoulders. Do not try to reach as far as you can, just stand comfortably.

    • 2

      Have another person measure all the way across your arm span from the tips of your right fingers to the tips of your left fingers.

    • 3

      Take that measurement and divide by 2 ½.

    • 4

      Use that measurement, in inches, for your proper bow draw length.

    • 5

      Keep in mind that most people have proportional bodies. Double check your draw length measurement with your height. These measurements should be about the same.

    • 6

      Take your height measurement and divide that by 2 ½ just as you did your arm-span measurement. Make sure the numbers match up fairly closely.

    • 7

      Average the two numbers together if they are different to get your correct bow draw length.

    • 8

      Try out your bow at your calculated draw length. Adjust it a little if necessary to make it more comfortable for you to shoot.