Thats what I thought, just thought I'd double check. I wonder why I shortened 1/2'' on my draw length. The last time I checked it before today was 13 years ago when I bought the recurve I'm still using now. Any ideas why its 1/2" shorter? Maybe its just bad form on my part today when I checked it. I might be leaning in too much or something. This bothers me!!

Actually, true draw is measured at the deepest part of the grip, which usually correlates to the pivot point on the shelf. From that measurement, you add 1.75" for AMO. Measuring from the back of theriser will put you closer to AMO draw length, butnot exactly because riser sizestypically vary from bow to bow.

Shcultzy.....You may not be extending as much as you use to. Your anchor point may have changed a touch in 13 years. There could be a couple of different reasons. I wouldn't sweat a 1/2" change in draw length though, especially if things are still good with your shooting and arrow flight. It's extremely hard to be spot on in draw length every single time. A half inch of variation is nothing.

Yep--what Chris said. On my longbow the AMO draw length is basically to the back of the riser--that's what I go by.

Chad

Chad,
Quick question........am I using the wrong terminology with respect to where I am measuring draw length?

Is the 'Front" of the riser technically the back? I know back and belly of the limbs as terms but I always just said I draw the arrow to the front of the riser and measure draw length there..........??
Does that make sense? LOL

Sorry for such a stupid question, but I want to make sure i'm on the right page with all the lingo.

Back of the bow is the side facing the target when you draw. Belly is the side facing you when you draw. Front of the riser is on the same side as the back of the limbs.On bows that don't have a riser, like the English longbow, then everything on the front is the back.



Dang, now I'm confused! [8D]

Oh yeah, that helped. []

Ok, worked a little tonight on my form. With my light 40# bow, I had my wife take a few pictures. I know what I am doing wrong now. I cant too much, and then because of the cant, I lean over too much, trying to shoot wiht my leftdominant eye,and trying to get my man boobs out of the way of the string, and effectively shorten my draw. With the bow straight up, well slight cant to get the limb out of my sight picture, I am drawing a 29.25" draw. When I lean over with the bow at almost 2:30 cant, I lose over an inch or more.

this left eye dominance thing is driving me crazy ever since I hurt my right eye.

So after flinging a few shots, I think I can change things up. And honestly, with the bow more veritical, my back muscles are taking more control, and my bow shoulder isn't hurting like they do when I lean over alot with this huge cant.

I need a person who knows what they are looking at. The video and pictures help me, but it would be nice to have someone watching me.

I got a question - on bows that have rear mounted limbs vs front mounts (like Widows) does that have an affect on the "deepest part of the grip" relationship to draw length ?

I know on my Zipper, brace height isn't measured to the deepest part of the grip, its measured to the back of the riser - I'd never seen that before having a Zipper

Matt, you got it right--and believe it or not, Art wasn't kidding (he's probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about the sport)! I have to stop and think about it myself sometimes.......the "back" and "front" are the same thing. Anything added to the front, especially on a selfbow, ELB, etc. is a backing. You can't put backing on the belly though....at least I don't think you can.

Some bows are built so the AMO draw length is the same as measuring tothe back (front) of the shelf, but like Chris said, the actual AMO draw length is measured from the deepest part of the grip plus 1.75". It can be confusing (and misleading) when someone starts talking about "true draw length"--a 28" "true draw" is 29.75" AMO draw length.

BD, mounting the limbs to the belly side of the riser is just another way of deflexing the riser. Draw length is measured the same either way.

Some bowyers measure brace to the back of the riser--really not sure why--maybe it's easier or more consistent for them, or maybe that's just the way they have always done it.

Chad