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.)
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.
The number of pounds of energy required to pull a 28-inch arrow in a given bow.The weight determination is a standard in the industry. Each 1" either way offsets the weight calculation by 2 lbs.
For example, if you have a 26" draw as measured above, and your bow is marked 28lbs, you would actually only be pulling 24 lbs. The longer your arms, the further you pull the bow back and the higher the pulling weight of the bow becomes as you pull it back further and further. The shorter your distance pull is, the less poundage is pulled.
Bows are sold by limb weight-meaning how much weight is pulled when you draw the string back to your anchor point, and the weight is geneally marked on the bottom limb that faces the archer.
In target archery using a recurve bow, a training bow is around 14 to 20lbs. This is a good weight, light enough to perfect form, but with enough power to launch the arrows to reasonable distances. A starting bow weight purchase is around 24-30lbs at the archers draw length. It is important not to get too heavy a bow at the start until you can manage the technique. Later a heavier bow can be controlled and can be helpful in reaching the far distances if you decide to compete in outdoor tournaments.
Why arrow "spine" is important, and how a good stabilizer system can cut down vibration: see video below
Start by folding the lace in half and tying the loose ends of the lace in a knot. You will want to form a loop which is approximately 12" end to end. The exact size of the loop will depend on the size of your hand, your particular equipment and personal preferences. The length of the loop can be adjusted by changing the position of the knot.
48" bow
