To measure your draw length for archery, there are several reliable methods:
1. Wingspan Method (Most Common)
- Stand up straight and stretch your arms out wide to your sides, parallel to the ground.
- Have someone measure the distance between the tips of your middle fingers (your wingspan).
- Divide this measurement by 2.5 to get your approximate draw length in inches.
For example, if your wingspan is 70 inches, your draw length would be roughly 28 inches (70 รท 2.5 = 28)
2. Full Draw Measurement (More Accurate)
- Take your bow and draw it to your normal anchor point (where you hold the string when fully drawn).
- Measure from the inside of your bow hand (palm) to the point where your string contacts your face (often the corner of your mouth or kisser button).
- This measurement gives a more precise draw length based on your actual shooting form.
- Some measure from the nock point on the arrow to the deepest part of the grip (plunger hole) and add about 1.75 inches to get the draw length (ATA method)
3. Arrow Method
- Use an arrow with a peg or mark.
- Draw the arrow to your anchor point and let the peg slide along the arrow.
- Let down and measure from the nock to the peg to find your draw length
Notes:
- Draw length can vary slightly depending on your anchor point and bow type (recurve, compound, barebow).
- If your measurement falls between sizes, it is usually better to round down for comfort and accuracy
- For kids, measuring the distance from the outstretched hand to the corner of the mouth is a practical way to estimate draw length
In summary, the wingspan divided by 2.5 is a quick and reliable starting point, while measuring at full draw with your bow in hand provides the most accurate draw length tailored to your shooting style
