Bow Sizing Guide

There are three questions to answer when fitting your compound bow. 1. 2. 3. Do I need a right hand or left hand bow? What draw length do I need? What draw weight should I shoot? Right hand or left hand? For most people this is easy to decide, a right handed person chooses a right handed bow and a left handed person chooses a left handed bow. A small minority of people have their dominant eye opposite their dominant hand. This can create problems when aiming. Some people solve this by aiming with their weak eye and closing their dominant one. Others choose a bow to match their dominant eye and accustom themselves to shooting it against their natural "handedness". A few even lean their heads far enough over the bowstring so as to be able use their dominant eye for aiming.

If you are one of these small minority we suggest closing your dominant eye as that works well in the majority of cases, however if you think another style would work best for you go ahead and choose a bow for that style. A bow is an individual thing and we are committed to helping you find what works best for you. We will gladly return or exchange a bow under our 60 day satisfaction guarantee until you find one that is comfortable. To determine your dominant eye make a small triangle with your hands and thumbs (see picture), hold it at arms length, and look through it at an object a few feet or more away. Close one eye and then the other. When one of your eyes closes you will see the view through the triangle shift. The eye you just closed is your dominant eye. The view shifts because your other eye took over when your dominant eye closed. Draw length When your bow is fitted at the proper draw length you will be at your most comfortable and accurate position. If the draw is too short your peep will be too far from your eye for a clear view, and your shortened power stroke will cost you speed and energy. Too long a draw and your release hand may not anchor firmly against your cheek, your bow arm will want to hyperextend causing a loss of control, and your bowstring can contact your cheek or clothing destroying the accuracy of your shot. Here is an easy way to find your draw length, simply stand upright with your hands stretched out (hold naturally, do not hyperextend) and measure your arm span from fingertip to fingertip. Take this measurement in inches and divide by 2.5. This will give a good working draw length for your bow. If you want to try a different draw length most bows are adjustable by changing or rotating a module (a small metal piece) on the cam or cams. However we recommend you stick with the starting draw length, straying to far will lead to instability and reduced accuracy. Use the following chart as a quick reference on choosing your draw length.

Draw Weight Your ideal draw weight is one you can pull in a smooth, controlled manner under hunting conditions. If you hunt in cold weather which most of us do, the combined effects of cold muscles and adrenaline will reduce your controlled draw weight 10 to 15 pounds from what you can manage indoors or on a warm day. Every year we encounter hunters who failed to reach full draw in the presence of game animals! Don't make this mistake, the modern compound bow is highly efficient and maximum poundage is not required for even large game animals. Diamond Archery bows adjust downwards ten pounds from their listed weight. A 70 lb bow will adjust down to 60 lbs, a 60 lb bow down to 50 lbs. The Browning Archery Illusion is adjustable within a fifteen pound range downward from the poundage marked on the bow limb. A 70 lb bow adjusts down to 55 lbs and a 60 lb bow down to 45 lbs. Most men find somewhere between 55 to 65 lbs to be their comfortable maximum, for women it is 35 to 45 pounds. The following chart shows our recommended bow adjustment range for adults. Keep the following tips in mind when using it. A bow works slightly more efficiently when set in the upper end of its poundage range. For example if you would like to shoot 60lbs it is better to choose a 45-60 lb bow then to choose a 55-70 lb one and back it down to 60 lbs. When in doubt choose the lower poundage, you will still have plenty of power for hunting and will be sure to stay in control. new archers will increase the poundage they can handle by 10 or more pounds with just two weeks of daily practice.

we are committed to helping you achieve success as an archer and will gladly exchange your bow for another if you feel you have selected the wrong size.

Once you have selected the hand, draw length, and poundage for your bow you will be able to enter your requirements when ordering. If you would like more help in making these choices give us a call, we will be glad to answer your questions.

Measuring Your Draw Length

Unlike a traditional recurve bow that can be drawn back to virtually any length, a compound bow will draw back only a specific distance before it stops (the wall). Compound bows are designed to be shot from the full-draw position. If a compound bow is set for a 29" draw length, it should always be shot from the full 29" draw position. But the bow cannot be over-drawn, say to 30" or 31", without modifying the setup on the bow. So the draw length on your compound bow must be set to match your particular size. When we setup your bow, we will adjust the bow for your precise draw length. To measure your draw length, determine the length of your arm-span in inches. Stand with your arms out and palms facing forward. Don't stretch when measuring. Just stand naturally. Have someone else help you, and measure from the tip of one middle finger to the other. Then simply divide that number by 2.5. The quotient is your proper draw length (in inches) for your body size.

The majority of compound bow owners set their bows for too much draw length, which results in poor shooting form - inaccuracy - and painful string slap on the forearm. You will better enjoy - and be more successful with your new bow when it is fitted properly to your body. And REMEMBER! If in doubt, choose a little LESS draw length rather than a little more. If you are still unsure, or plan to shoot with a string loop, you may benefit from reading our Additional Discussion on Draw Length.

If you are a person of average proportions, your arm-span will be roughly equal to your height (in inches). So there is often a direct

correlation between a person's height and their draw length as well. Once you have computed your draw length using the method above, you can double-check yourself by using the scale below - to see if your number is within the expected range.

LONG DRAW SHOOTERS:

SHORT DRAW SHOOTERS:

Selecting a Draw Weight

There are several factors to consider here, beyond just brute strength. First and foremost, we strongly recommend that you choose a draw weight that is COMFORTABLE for you and suitable for your particular purpose. Particularly for the purposes of recreational archery, a bow with too much draw weight will simply make you less successful and the sport less enjoyable. A good rule-of-thumb is to choose a draw weight that requires about 75% of your "maximum" strength. If your bow is too heavy, and you can only shoot a few times before you're fatigued, then you'll be reluctant to practice and improve your game. But you also want your bow to shoot with as much speed and power as possible, so you shouldn't choose too little weight either. Again, the right balance between comfort and performance for YOU - will probably be at your "75%" mark. Heavy Draw Weights If drawing your new bow makes you appear to be on the verge of a hemorrhage, it's unlikely you're going to enjoy the sport. While most of us guys understand the importance of preserving machismo, the truth is, shooting too much draw weight won't provide any benefits at all. Some compound bows are actually available up to a 100# draw weight. And while there may be some specific applications where such a bow may be necessary (African big-game hunting perhaps), for the vast majority of bowhunting and recreational archery applications, a super-heavyweight bow is completely unnecessary (commonly referred to as being "over-bowed"). All things in Moderation However, you may not want to choose an excessively light draw weight either (being "under-bowed"). Heavier draw weights will undoubtedly yield better kinetic energy

(penetration) and quicker arrow velocities with less parabolic arc in flight. In fact, some states require a compound bow to meet certain draw weight minimums in order to hunt large game like Whitetail Deer. Check with your state's governing agencies, and always observe the rules and regulations for legally harvesting game in your state. The "archery muscles" used to draw a bow are primarily large muscle groups in your upper back (the same muscles you use to row a boat or pull-start a lawn mower). Most people don't specifically work to exercise these muscles. So you will probably find that once you do put them to work, your "archery muscles" will gain strength quickly and drawing your bow will become easier over time. Fortunately, most bows come with at least 10 lbs. of draw weight adjustment. So if you are a new shooter, you may wish to begin with your bow set at a lower draw weight - and gradually "crank-up" the draw weight as you become more conditioned. General Recommendations Here are some general guidelines for choosing an appropriate draw weight. Of course, each individual is different. You should apply your common sense here and interpret this chart with due respect to your own age, general physical condition, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Recommended Draw Weight Ranges (Modern Compound Bows) Very Small Child (55-70 lbs.) Small Child (70-100 lbs.) Larger Child (100-130 lbs.) Small Frame Women (100-130 lbs.) Medium Frame Women (130-160 lbs) Athletic Older Child (Boys 130-150 lbs.) Small Frame Men (120-150 lbs.) Large Frame Women (160+ lbs.) Medium Frame Men (150-180 lbs.) Large Frame Men (180+ lbs.) 10-15 lbs. 15-25 lbs. 25-35 lbs. 25-35 lbs. 30-40 lbs. 40-50 lbs. 45-55 lbs. 45-55 lbs. 55-65 lbs. 65-75 lbs.

Note: Not all bows are created equal regarding draw weights. High-performance compound bows with hard-cams and high IBO speeds will "feel" as if they are heavier, since the bow's powercurve is more aggressive (ramping to peak weight more quickly and lettingoff later). Bows with round-wheels or soft-draw cams will similarly "feel" a little lighter, as the bow's powercurve is smoother and more gradual. Please call 877-410-7811 or email us if you have other questions regarding draw weight or length. We will be glad to assist you in any way we can.