Arrow Length Vs Draw Length: How To Measure

Draw Length Vs Arrow Length

Draw Length

Draw Length is the distance from the nock point to the throat of the grip plus 1 3/4″. Typically, this length will also be about the same length of arrow needed by the compound archer.  

To measure your draw length, stand with your back to a wall stretching your arms out against the wall. Measure the distance from the end of your middle finger to the end of your other middle finger, basically the length of both arms, hands and chest. This measurement, minus 15 then divided by 2, is your draw length.  

Arrow Length

How to Calculate Draw Length and Arrow Length for Beginners

Measure and Divide

The “measure and divide” or wingspan method is one of the simplest ways to estimate your draw length with a measuring tape. It also tends to provide the most accurate results without measuring your draw length directly.

Your wingspan (arm span) is the distance from fingertip to fingertip with your arms extended at shoulder height. To get more accurate results using this method, measure your wingspan against a wall. Stand with your back against the wall, raise your arms, and place a mark on the walls where your fingers end. 

ATA Draw Length Standard

The Archery Trade Association (ATA) draw length standard is determined using a bow without an arrow. 

Draw the bow to the proper anchor position and measure the distance from the nocking point (where your hand pulls the string) to the pivot point on the back of the bow. You then add 1.75 inches to the total.

Arrow Method

The arrow method is commonly used in archery shops to help customers estimate their draw lengths. It involves using an arrow with measurements marked along the length of the shaft. You draw the bow and check the measurements to determine the draw length.

However, the accuracy of this method relies on the arrow being correctly marked. The shooter also needs to maintain proper form. If your elbow is fully extended or you draw past the corner of your mouth, you will get a long draw length.

HOW TO FIND YOUR DRAW LENGTH

Arrow length for 28” draw

If you have a larger draw length of 29-32 inches, then shoot the longer arrows with a larger head to get maximum penetration. Lighter draw weight can use less resistance from the arrow to achieve max speeds while heavier draws cannot because more energy needs to be taken up by the limbs. Arrows for a 28-inch draw length should be about 597 grains (19 g) in total weight.

The maximum tip diameter is 300 inches which are pretty standard across most broadheads and field points. Lightweight broadheads such as 100 or 125-grain brass inserts can also be used with bows drawing under 30# because the overall effect on arrow flight will not be large enough to make a difference in speed/penetration, but you still need to use slightly heavier arrows if your bow shoots over 29 fps.

Arrow Length for 27” draw

Arrow Length for 26” draw

Arrows for a 26-inch draw length should typically range from 577-597 grains (18-19g). I recommend using aluminum shafts when shooting under 25# because they are stiffer than carbon arrows. You can use higher weights when shooting aluminum in order to get maximum speed/penetration in your setup. Keep in mind that the slower an arrow is traveling, the less damage it will do to its intended target after impact.

Arrow Length for 25” draw

Arrows for a 22″ draw length should typically range from 517-527 grains (15-16g). I recommend using aluminum shafts with small diameter tips such as 100-grain field points if your bow shoots above 23 fps or you want to keep your kinetic energy high. You can use larger broadheads when shooting at the smaller games but pay attention to impact speeds because you need enough energy to pierce a deer’s thick hide and ribcage.

Arrow Length for 21” draw

Arrows for a 21″ draw length should typically range from 507-517 grains (15-16g). I recommend using aluminum shafts with small diameter tips such as 100-grain field points if your bow shoots above 22 fps or you want to keep your kinetic energy high. You can use larger broadheads when shooting at the smaller games but pay attention to impact speeds because you need enough energy to pierce a deer’s thick hide and ribcage.

Arrow Length for 19” draw

19-inch bows are rare so there isn’t much of a difference between 19 and 20-inch setups in terms of arrow length. I recommend using aluminum shafts with small diameter tips such as 100-grain field points if your bow shoots above 19 fps or you want to keep your kinetic energy high. Try to get a speed of at least 22 fps because anything below that won’t have enough power to penetrate a deer’s thick hide and ribcage.

Arrow Length for 18” draw

18-inch bows are rare so there isn’t much of a difference between 19 and 20-inch setups in terms of arrow length. I recommend using aluminum shafts with small diameter tips such as 100-grain field points if your bow shoots above 17 fps or you want to keep your kinetic energy high. Try to get a speed of at least 21 fps because anything below that won’t have enough power to penetrate a deer’s thick hide and ribcage.

Arrow Length for 16” draw

Arrows for a 16″ draw length should typically range from 467-477 grains (13-14g). I recommend using aluminum shafts with small diameter tips such as 100-grain field points if your bow shoots above 15 fps or you want to keep your kinetic energy high. You can use larger broadheads when shooting at the smaller games but pay attention to impact speeds because you need enough energy to pierce a deer’s thick hide and ribcage.

What might happen if an arrow is too short for the bow?

An arrow that is too short for the bow will not fly straight at longer ranges. Archery hunters should always do their research before buying a new set of arrows to ensure they are shooting the right weight/length of arrows for their bows. I recommend you buy several types of shafts so you can test them out on your own with your equipment so you know what works best in your setup.

How To Measure Draw Length?

What are some factors that change draw length?

Draw length can vary by several inches depending on how hard an individual draws back on the string during each shot. Over time, archers may find gradually increasing draw lengths to gain greater power and accuracy. The only way to find your ideal draw length is through extensive testing of different types of arrows, bows, and other factors that affect draw length.

The following are some things that may cause the arrow length for a bow setup to change:

Draw weight (usually increases)

Draw length (increases if bowhunter practices pulling on the string harder/further; decreases if archer cuts back on practice sessions)

Bow weight (decreases if you add more accessories such as stabilizers and quivers)

Shooting form (if shooting with one arm or hand instead of two the draw length will decrease because your arms don’t reach as far when drawing back; beginners often shoot with shorter draw lengths)

Distance to target (if the target is close the arrow may be too short; arrows fly better at longer distances versus very close ones because you can drawback farther without hitting your arm on the riser)

The following are some factors that don’t affect draw length

Draw strength (it’s an individual characteristic based on each bowhunter’s physique, not something that changes with time or practice sessions)

Bow length (this doesn’t change regardless of how hard you pull back on the string during each shot)

What are the pros and cons of longer draw lengths?

Arrows for a 36″+ draw length should typically range from 732-742 grains (22g). I recommend using aluminum shafts with small diameter tips such as 100-grain field points or fixed blade broadheads if your bow shoots above 20 fps. Longer draw lengths will give you more kinetic energy and create a more stable and accurate shot at longer distances. The downside is that they require stronger, often bulkier bows with additional weights to keep them balanced.

How do I find the arrow length for my bow setup?

Arrow length is measured from the nock groove (where your string touches) on one end of the shaft to the back of the arrowhead (broadhead or field point). Many archers write their draw weight, draw length, and arrow/broadhead setups onto their arrows so they know exactly what works best in their current equipment setup.

How do I find the draw length for my bow setup?

To find your draw length, pull back on your riser with one hand while keeping your shooting arm elbow close to your side. Align the string along the groove on the outside of your face and aim at a target about 20 yards away. If you can’t hold steady or see your sights moving, shorten or lengthen your draw by 1/4″ increments until you are comfortable holding without shaking. You should be able to shoot accurately when you’ve found the perfect fit for draw length so don’t settle unless it feels uncomfortable after trying several different settings.

Three ways to determine a shooting anchor point

Does Draw Length Affect Draw Weight?

Draw length directly influences the draw weight of recurve bows. As you increase the draw length, you increase the draw weight. However, compound bows have set draw weights and poundages.

Draw length is the distance from the nock point on the bowstring to the pivot point on the grip plus 1.75 inches when the bowstring is fully drawn. The draw weight is measured in pounds and based on the pulling force needed to fully draw a bow with a draw length of 28 inches.

A bow with a longer draw length requires more force to achieve full draw than a bow with a shorter draw length. For each inch over 28 inches, the draw weight increases by 2.5 pounds.