Measuring Draw Length

[Ptrbilt]

OK here is a newbie question.

What is the way to measure the correct drawlength.

I currently shoot a bow with a 29" draw length but I've never actually been "measured"

I've read that one way is to take the wing span, mine is 68.5", and then divide by 2.5.

Is this correct or are there other ways?

[snowman69]

wing span divided by 2.5 is the most common way I have found other than that to get the most accurate number go to a proshop they have equipment to measure draw lenght.

[Ty06]

I read on the internet the other day to take a yardstick and hold it to the center of your chest with your arms straight out in front and measure to your fingertips.
Don't know if that's right, I'm kind of a newbie too, 2nd time around.

[Bees]

ptrbilt: that method usually gets you really close. I did the math and I got about 27.5 which sounds about right to me.

My wingspan is 72 inches and I shoot 28.5 to 29 depending on what release I am using.

[PABowhntr]

The wingspan method is usually a good starting point to help determine draw length. A person's physical characteristics...finger length, hand length, shoulder width, etc... also all do play a part in "fine tuning" that initial estimate.

Here is a brief wingspan chart to make things easier for those just starting.

How to measure your wingspan:

1) Lean against a wall, standing as close to the wall as possible with back flat.
2) Extend your arms and fingers out as far as possible
3) Have someone make a pencil mark at the end of both your fingers tips
4) Measure this distance

This is your wingspan. Find this number in the chart below to find its matching Draw Length. (For example, a wingspan of 67" would be a draw length of 26")

Wingspan Draw Length
(inches) (inches)

63 24
64 24 1/2
65 25
66 25 1/2

67-----------------------------------------------26
68 26 1/2
69 27
70 27 1/2
71 28
72 28 1/2
73 29
74 29 1/2
75 30
76 30 1/2
77 31
78 31 1/2

*** The Most Common Draw Length is 29 inches.

[BGfisher]

Ty06, the old yardstick thing is how it used to be done in the days of recurves, where drawlength is not as critical. Not so with compounds. If the drawlength isn't right for a compound then the rest of the bow doesn't matter.