I have been curious to find my "exact" draw length. My first bow was set up by a pro-shop and he used one of the mock-bow measures and I believe it was set at 30"-31". At this point I knew absolutely nothing about bow set-up or anything else for that matter. So at my hunter safety course the instructor (pro shooter for Cabelas) told me it was set up at least 1" if not 2" too long. So a friend of mine that does bow work readjusted the draw length, I believe at 29" (plus/minus ??), I can't really remember.
Anyway, the most recent issue of Bowhunting, they listed 2 ways to measure draw length easily - 1) put fist on wall and measure to corner of mouth, standing properly; 2) mesure wingspan and use a conversion. I figured these would be easy enough and i could get a better handle on my length (they said withing 1/2")
When all was said and done, I had 2 numbers that weren't even close 1) 32" & 2) 29 1/2". What am I to do??????

also, do you need to subtract 1" from the draw length if using a string loop????

I am hoping when I get my new bow, the proshop will get it right, but would like to have an idea going in.

Any help, insight, advice would be appreciated.

In my opinion ways of estimating draw length are just that, estimations which will get you close. Results can vary widely, as your experience illustrates.

Best bet is to find a more knowledgable pro or someone who knows what they are doing and have them help you fine tune things. Good Luck.

Personal experience has taught me to put my faith in the wingspan method in comparison to others that I have tried. It was about a half inch off of what I was shooting at the time I used it. Besides, it is better to be a bit short in the draw, an inch or less, than a bit long.

I know how to measure wingspan but what formula do you use to get the draw length?

Wingspan minus 15, divide by 2.

the formula in Bowhunting, was average wingspan = 73" translates to a 29" draw. For every inch over or under, add or subtract 1/2" from 29".

Another thing to consider is what is your brace height gonna be? Bows that have shorter brace heights require that you shoot with your elbow slightly bent more. The wingspan will get you close. With my shooting style I am 1.5 inches below that number. I however shoot with my arm bent in a comfotable position and prefer to shoot hard off the wall with a string loop. This helps me shoot tighter groups when used with back tension. Your draw length can be fine tuned with your release also if you have an adjustable strap or have one like mine with an adjustable rope. (little bitty goose) Even tough the bow is set at a predetermined length, there are other ways to fine tune it to fit into your comfort zone without twisting strings or cables.

measure your wing span from middle finger to middle finger and divide it by 2.5

Rangeball was dead on. Various methods will get you in the ballpark, but you need to have a pro watch your form, see what feels best for you, etc. Also remember that the model of release will affect your DL by up to an inch in some cases.

If you are using a high grip your draw length could be a little longer; as aposed to a low grip... [&o]