Although it is best to wait until the archer has been shooting for a while in order to have the archer stretch out and get a feel for the equipment, the follwing offers a guide for selection of equipment. (This is a guide for individual purchase.For a school, scout, or camp program where many different sized archers may be shooting , long arrows sized for the bow weight will be safer. More
Bow Length: By matching your bow length to your draw length, the bow will feel smoother and arrow speed will be maximized. Bow limbs are designed to be used at a particular draw length range. If you use a bow with limbs too long for your draw length,(for example you have a 26" draw length and use a 70" bow), you won't be flexing the limbs enough to make them efficient for your draw. If the bow is too short, then you will pull it so much you will nearly pull it in two. The goal is to obtain a bow so that your arm length will, when fully pulled, flex the bow enough to deliver the power to the arrow but not too much so as to over stress the bow. Usually the arrow length for a 5' 10" man is about 27-29" and therefore needs a bow length of 66-68" for target archery Generally: Draw length 14-16" = 48" bow 18-20" = 54" bow 20-22" = 58" bow 22-24" = 62" bow 24-26" = 64" bow 26-28" = 66" bow 28-30" = 68" bow 30+ = 70" bow
What's my "draw length"? Draw length can be measured in several ways. If you are currently shooting a bow, the correct arrow length is determined by drawing back an extra long arrow and having soeone mark the arrow as shown. For beginning archers, add an extra one or two inches as allowance as form develops.
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