Is draw length on a recurve as critical as with a compound?

I draw 29 inches at 64 pounds on my compound. I am in the market to pick up a recurve.

Not IMO anyway. Of course you want a consistant draw and anchor.

If you draw is 29" with a compound then figure 1-2" shorter with traditional, it will depend how you anchor. Most bows will be measured at 28", so you will be right in there.

I draw 29" with traditional and feel comfortable with a bow made for 28", I would go not much lower then that though in fear of having the bow stack on me.

For your first bow, I'd suggest going in the 45# area at your draw.

Stacking can become an issue for individuals with longer draw lengths, 30+ inches, but the majority of trad shootersfall under 29" and it's typically not an issue. Unless it's a really short design. The 28" draw is a standard used by the industry that fits the majority of shooters. Some individualsof course will be shorter and some will be a little longer, but the majority fall around that mark. With a bow marked for a 28" draw length, you can add or subtract about2-3# to/from the draw weight for every inch you are under or over the marked draw length. Example, if a bow is marked 50#@28", it'll pull around the 47/48# mark at 27" and 52/53# mark at 29". As mentioned above, having a consistant anchor and draw lengthisimportant to consistantshooting accuracy.

My Bear Kodiak Mag stacks like a brick wall past 28".A lot does have to do with the length though.

Ever notice how Byron Ferguson says that even if you drawa 1/4" below the recommended draw length you will loose considerable performance from your bow. And if your past about an inch below the recommended legnth you should consider a custom bow. I've always wondered what that was all about. Yea, you might loose a little as determined by the draw force curve. But it sure isn't much on most bows anyway. Just wondering how much actual performance you'll loose shooting 1/2" under recommended draw length other then poundage. I think it's a little misleading especially to beginners.

I asked Craig from HH one time (mainly because of BF comments) what I'd loose other then poundage if I used a HH bow measured at 30" at 29". He said nothing.

Yep, I've shot a few different kodiak mags and they do hit a wall just past 28", but that's also a very short bow design at 52" AMO.

He'sright.

If your draw is 29" with a compound then your draw on a trad will be 27-28''.

Well, I went to a recurve bow and the generalized "rule of thumb" that one loses an inch of draw length when going from compound bows to a traditional recurve......didn't happen with me.I have long arms and with a compound bow, my draw length is 30". I bought a 64"Bob Lee T/D recurve. The bow is marked at29" drawlength on the bow.I makemy own arrows and mine are measuredfrom the bottom of the nock, where it is seatedagainst the string, to where it's cut for thepoint insert. This distance is 31". My wife watched me draw andanchorand marked the end of the myarrow with a sharpie pen.Ihaveone inch of arrowhanging off the shelfin front of the bow's riser and this is before I add a field point or broadhead. I anchor with the middle finger of my right hand in the corner of my mouth.After measuring this distance, the mark isa hair past 30".I cant my bow to the right in the one o'clock position.Myright arm and left armare in a straight line with therest of mytorsowhen atfull draw.To sum up: Iordered a new Blacktail Elite T/D recurve bow in a longer66" length.......andthepoundage is going to bemarked at 30" on the bowwhich is my drawlength.......not 29".That rule of thumb.....isn't carved in granite and I'm the proof of this. People need to demo the brand of bow their thinking of buyingfirst, "before" they have one custom made and they just might find out, their drawlength doesn't change.

Night Wing......Did you shoot your compound with finger release or mechanical release? I shot a compound finger release and didn't loose any draw length when I went to a recurve.

Chris, I have three compound Darton Maverick bows and all of them are shot with a Scott's "Wolf" model release.

http://www.scottarchery.com/products/wolf.tpl