Bow lenght?

[darren1968]

I`m 6'1" tall so i should look for a bow around 68" to 70". But I`ve found a resonably priced Take Down Recurve 60" bow which I would like for hunting and target. I find alot of these types of bow being sold thru online stores, offered by various makers in 58" and 60". My question is can someone as tall as me use this bow lenght or not? what are the things i should consider? Pro`s and Con`s? Does anyone my height use t/d recurve bows 58" 60",
All responses are greatly appretiated.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

The main thing to check is your draw length, Darren, as that is what most affects your choice of suitable bows. When you know your draw length, you can easily ask the manufacturers for their bow length recommendations.

If I had to guess at a bow length that would be suitable for you in a take-down recurve, it would be either 62" or 64". Recurves don't usually come in 68" or 70" - that sounds like a suitable longbow length, though.

When you work out your draw length, you can ask the fellows here if this or that particular bow in a certain length would suit you.

Good luck,

Ben

[WidowEater]

exactly what ben said, also there is a trend towards shorter bows these days.  I havent tried one yet I tend to shoot longer bows.  But the shorter bows are using technology and construction methods to keep them as stable as longer ones.  In a recent TBM article G Fred said that the modern shorter bows are better than the older ones for longer draw lengths.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I just read that your draw length is 29". So, tell us the bows that you're interested in, and I'm sure someone here will have some experience with them, and could suggest whether they are suitable or not. Although I recommended 62" or 64" lengths, there are some good recurves that are 58" or 60" that you could use with your 29" draw.

[Ben Maher]

darren,
u stated that you'd like to shoot target as well as hunt...if that be the case I'd recommend going with the longer bow....much more forgiving and , i feel, more accurate in general day to day use.let us know what u decide upon.

[HATCHCHASER]

It depends on draw length and bow design.

[NDTerminator]

I'm 5'9"-ish with a 28.5" draw.  When I got back into Trad a few years ago, I asked the same question and was told by several knowledgable & experienced folks that I should be shooting a bow no less than 60" and that 62" would be even better.  I was advised almost univerally that a bow 58" or less would exhibit finger pinch for me.

My first two recurves were 60 and 62, and it was frustration on wheels as the string angles at full draw did not match up well with my draw length/build/form.  No finger pinch, but I couldn't shoot them well.

What I inevitably discovered is that my ideal bow length is 58". I'm at my best with a 56"-58" bow, can shoot a 60", but a 62" is pretty tough to impossible for me to shoot well, depending on the model.

My primary bow, a 58" Lee Hunter, has no pinch at all at my draw length.  So being I think pinch is more a factor of poor design than length, although it is part of the issue.

Depending on your draw length, I think you would be just fine with a 60-58 inch bow...