Draw Length Calculator
Estimate your archery draw length.
This is an Informational Guide & Estimator
To measure, stand with your arms extended out to your sides and have someone measure from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other.
Your Estimated Draw Length is:
28.00 inches
In archery, having a bow that is properly fitted to your body is absolutely critical for accuracy, comfort, and safety. The most important measurement in this fitting process is your **draw length**. An incorrect draw length can lead to poor shooting form, inconsistency, and even injury. This guide explains what draw length is, how to estimate it, and why getting it right is so important.
What is Draw Length?
Draw length is the distance from the nocking point on the bowstring (where the arrow attaches) to the throat of the bow's grip when you are at full draw. It's a measure of how far you pull the string back. This distance is determined by your unique body size, specifically the length of your arms and the width of your shoulders.
A correct draw length ensures that you can achieve proper shooting form, with your bow arm extended, your shoulders aligned, and your drawing hand anchored at a consistent point on your face (like the corner of your mouth or your chin).
Why is an Accurate Draw Length Crucial?
- Accuracy and Consistency: A consistent draw length ensures that the same amount of energy is transferred to the arrow with every shot, which is the foundation of consistent accuracy.
- Proper Form: If your draw length is too long, you'll have to lean back, leading to instability. If it's too short, you'll be cramped and unable to fully extend, resulting in a loss of power and poor follow-through.
- Safety: An overly long draw length on a compound bow can cause the string to derail from the cams, which is a dangerous failure. It can also cause the string to strike your bow arm, causing painful bruising.
How to Estimate Your Draw Length: The Arm Span Method
While the most accurate way to determine your draw length is to be measured by a professional at an archery pro shop, you can get a very good estimate using the simple arm span method. This is the method used by the calculator on this page.
- Measure Your Arm Span: Stand up straight and extend both of your arms out to your sides, parallel to the floor, forming a "T" shape with your body. Have a friend measure the distance from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other middle finger, across your back. This is your arm span in inches.
- Calculate: The common formula to estimate draw length from arm span is:
Estimated Draw Length = Arm Span (in inches) / 2.5
For example, if your arm span is 70 inches, your estimated draw length would be 70 / 2.5 = 28 inches.
Fine-Tuning at the Pro Shop
This estimation is an excellent starting point. When you go to an archery shop, a professional will use this estimate to select a bow for you to try. They will then watch you draw the bow and make fine adjustments to achieve the perfect fit. They may use a special measuring arrow (a "draw-check arrow") to confirm the exact length.
On a compound bow, the draw length is adjusted by changing the modules on the cams. On traditional bows (like recurves and longbows), the draw length is determined by the archer's form, and the bow's draw weight is specified at a standard draw length (usually 28 inches).
Investing the time to find your correct draw length is the first and most important step towards becoming a proficient and comfortable archer.
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In archery, having a bow that is properly fitted to your body is absolutely critical for accuracy, comfort, and safety. The most important measurement in this fitting process is your **draw length**. An incorrect draw length can lead to poor shooting form, inconsistency, and even injury. This guide explains what draw length is, how to estimate it, and why getting it right is so important.
What is Draw Length?
Draw length is the distance from the nocking point on the bowstring (where the arrow attaches) to the throat of the bow's grip when you are at full draw. It's a measure of how far you pull the string back. This distance is determined by your unique body size, specifically the length of your arms and the width of your shoulders.
A correct draw length ensures that you can achieve proper shooting form, with your bow arm extended, your shoulders aligned, and your drawing hand anchored at a consistent point on your face (like the corner of your mouth or your chin).
Why is an Accurate Draw Length Crucial?
- Accuracy and Consistency: A consistent draw length ensures that the same amount of energy is transferred to the arrow with every shot, which is the foundation of consistent accuracy.
- Proper Form: If your draw length is too long, you'll have to lean back, leading to instability. If it's too short, you'll be cramped and unable to fully extend, resulting in a loss of power and poor follow-through.
- Safety: An overly long draw length on a compound bow can cause the string to derail from the cams, which is a dangerous failure. It can also cause the string to strike your bow arm, causing painful bruising.
How to Estimate Your Draw Length: The Arm Span Method
While the most accurate way to determine your draw length is to be measured by a professional at an archery pro shop, you can get a very good estimate using the simple arm span method. This is the method used by the calculator on this page.
- Measure Your Arm Span: Stand up straight and extend both of your arms out to your sides, parallel to the floor, forming a "T" shape with your body. Have a friend measure the distance from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other middle finger, across your back. This is your arm span in inches.
- Calculate: The common formula to estimate draw length from arm span is:
Estimated Draw Length = Arm Span (in inches) / 2.5
For example, if your arm span is 70 inches, your estimated draw length would be 70 / 2.5 = 28 inches.
Fine-Tuning at the Pro Shop
This estimation is an excellent starting point. When you go to an archery shop, a professional will use this estimate to select a bow for you to try. They will then watch you draw the bow and make fine adjustments to achieve the perfect fit. They may use a special measuring arrow (a "draw-check arrow") to confirm the exact length.
On a compound bow, the draw length is adjusted by changing the modules on the cams. On traditional bows (like recurves and longbows), the draw length is determined by the archer's form, and the bow's draw weight is specified at a standard draw length (usually 28 inches).
Investing the time to find your correct draw length is the first and most important step towards becoming a proficient and comfortable archer.