whats the right draw length?

[cvarcher]

Im curious but I shoot longbow with a good amont of bend in my bow arm.IF I straighten it by pushing further out of course the draw length increases.I can still have the same anchor point yet change my draw length with the bow arm. So just what is the best or correct length? Im thinking of the one that seems the most comfortable and consistant without straining.Any thoughts?

[Blackhawk]

So what's your draw length with  bent arm?  With a straight arm?

Keep in mind that for every inch of draw length over 26-27" you are going to gain 6-10 fps.  Pull is also increase around 3 pounds per inch.

[cvarcher]

Bent about 24-25" .I wouldnt shoot with a straight arm because of the jolt I get from the release(handshock).

[Blackhawk]

You are losing a lot of performance with that short draw and if the reason was handshock, I'd get rid of that puppy.   :eek:   What kind of bow is it?  There are too many quality bows out there to put up with that kind of punishment.      

The weight of your arrows could be causing the shock.  Are your arrows at least 10 grains per lb. of bow weight?  How about increasing the brace height?

[cvarcher]

So your saying my draw is too short? Im 5ft 10" tall .I know your not suppose to have your bow arm straight anyway-period.I think all my wood tapered shafts completed are over 500 grain.I dont get any handshock unless I try and shoot with the bow arm straight.So the amount of play I mentioned could be from 23" up to 26" before Im uncomfortable. Its just that I seem to subconciously draw about 24" every time .To get that 26" I have to push the bow forward a few more inches and it just breaks up my smooth natural draw and attention to what Im shooting at. As for performance What am I losing? I could always get a bow with higher poundage- right.

[Blackhawk]

I am 5'10" also and have a 27" draw.  

Your draw is too short?  No, that's just what it is.  If your draw is inconsistant as you say (23-26"), that is quite a bit and I would suggest on working on form and getting consistant.  Three inches is a lot and could mean 20-30 fps variation resulting in complete misses (even if you know the distance.)

I would not worry about a higher poundage bow at this point, but concentrate on consistency.  

Remember the five P's :

"Perfect Practice Prevents Poor Performance"

[Blackhawk]

By the way, are you and I the only one at the campfire?  

[cvarcher]

HA, seems that way!! No I didnt mean my draw varies from 23-26 just that I could adjust it to any draw from 23-26 by just pushing forward on the bow arm. I seem to alsawys and comfortably draw about 24" though because I do have a good amount of bend in the bow arm.So I guess Ill just strive for that draw as it is the most consistant .If you are my height though with a 27" draw you probably have no bend in the bow arm, am I right?

[BigRonHuntAlot]

You could be losing some draw length by craning your neck forward. I have this problem too but still get a 27 inch draw length. I have very little bend in my arm. Again consistancy is the key.  You will have to find your own style of shooting but as Blackhawk said you are loosing performance that may be gained with a different form or style of shooting.IMHO

[Blackhawk]

Yeah, craning your neck forward or crouching and bending like ole Asbell teaches   :D  will cause you to shorten the draw.  

My partner talked me into straightening up and keeping my head erect and I can easily get that 27".      

And yeah, very little bend in the arm too.

[cvarcher]

OK, I guess thats all it.I do lean into the shots with the head tilted and slightly forward.

[R H Clark]

I shoot with a straight bow arm.I don't shoot bows that have too much handshock to shoot that way.There are a lot of nice low shock longbows out there.

[Tommy D]

I'm 5' 11", lean into the shot just a tiny bit, tilt my head foward a bit, cant my bow about one o'clock, keep my bow arm straight, and I draw 31". But I have long arms.

I never have understood why anyone would want to keep their bow arm bent, or who decided you aren't supposed to keep it straight-period, but to each his own, straight works for me.

As far as the best or correct draw length, there's a lot of variables shooter to shooter, as noted above, even between shooters about the same size. You answered yourself in your first post, what ever is the most comfortable and consistant for you.

Oh yeah, if you don't want to straighten your bow arm because of hand shock, my advice, for what it's worth, would echo those above. Get a bow that ain't got any, way to many choices to put up with a shocky bow.

[cvarcher]

Ever hear of Howard Hill? He was only the greatest archer and bowhunter ever.No one comes close to his success.One of his absolute rules is to have a slight bend in the bow arm to help cushion some of the recoil from a bow. Now lets be honest here. It is scientific law that for every action there will be a reaction. While you can have a bow that shoots with a lower amount of reaction, its at the cost of action.There is no major breakthrus in bow designs.Only sales hype.By having a bend the arm acts as a shock absorber .But if its straight, the jolt however slight or heavy goes right to the shoulder joint.

[Tommy D]

Yes, I've heard of Howard Hill. I just prefer to shoot a bow that is smooth enough I don't have to bend my bow arm to cushion the recoil, hand shock, whatever you want to call it.

In other words, I don't need my arm to act as a shock absorber, there ain't no shock to absorb.

To each his own, if you can bend your arm consistantly the exact same each time, so your draw length is the same each time, find a comfortable spot and go for it. Consistancy is the name of the game anyway.

[R H Clark]

I love the looks of the Hill bows just can't take the shock.I know why Howard bent his arm.I don't mean to take anything away from the man or his bows but to say there is no major breakthrus in bow design,only sales hype,I have to disagree.I've shot a bunch of Hills and a bunch of Adcocks.There is a big difference.

On the issue of draw length,the way that is most easy to duplicate every time would be the best.

Best wishes to you cvarcher
Randy

[Blackhawk]

Howard was 6'2", 220, and with a great athletic build       , but his draw was only about 27".  Yes, he did have a slight bend in the elbow, but his consistency must have been fantastic.  He regularly shot 80-90# bows (some even greater...say, 115#   :eek:   ), and I can only imagine what his shoulder and arms had to endure.

I agree that bow design has improved greatly,  and with places like TradGang, folks are sure going to see through "sales hype".