Arrow length

[CanArcher]

Last year I purchased my first bow, a Martin X-200 recurve.
The archery shop set me up with 29" Easton 500 arrows.
Just recently I found out about tuning a trad bow and went through the procedure. My arrows were showing signs of being to stiff, so I increased the tip weight from 100 to 125 grains. Big improvement.
My last problem to overcome seems to be the length of the arrows though. Currently, at 20 yards, if I want to hit the proper height that I am aiming at, I have to aim about 16-20" below the target.
From what I've been able to read here, most people use arrows longer than their draw weight (mine is 30").
So this overlong post boils down to, are my arrows to short, and if so, what length should they be?

[Orion]

Arrows longer than their draw weight? Do you mean draw length?  Of course the arrow should be longer than your draw length.  If your draw length is 30 inches, and your arrows are cut to 29 inches, with a field point added to that, you would be drawing your arrow an inch past the back of the riser -- scary and potentially dangerous.  Of course, you couldn't draw a broadhead that far because it would hang up on the back of your riser.  In short, if you truly have a 30-inch draw, your arrows should probably be at least 31 inches to the back of the point.

[snag]

If your draw "length" is 30" and you are shooting 29" arrows then, yes, your arrows are too short. Did the archery shop have you draw an arrow back to anchor and measure your draw length? Does this archery shop cater to traditional archers or is it more of a compound shop?
If your draw length is 30" you will need arrows that are 30.5" or longer. This is measured from the groove in the nock to the back of the field point or broadhead. That way you won't draw the broadhead over your finger at full draw!!!
What is the poundage of the X-200? It should say something like 50#@28" on one of the limbs.

[George D. Stout]

Your arrows need to clear the back of the bow, that's it.  If you are shooting split finger, then you will be holding very low at short range if you are using the arrow tip.  If your arrows are clearing the back of the bow, you don't need to change them.  You can either anchor higher on your face, or adapt to the low hold.  I don't use my arrow at short distances but develop a feel for where I should hold....your periphery will align everything through practice.

If you are approaching season and need a quick fix, just anchor higher on your face, or try a three under hold.

[CanArcher]

Yes, that should say length.
My length was measured twice. Once using a bow that has a permanent arrow for measuring length in it, as well as using a recurve with an arrow that has measurements on it. Both measured 30".
My bow is 50# @ 30", actually draws about 52#.
The arrows do clear the back of the bow, but not by much at all. Even the broadhead clears the back.
The store is a compound store as all are in the area. I can count the number of trad shooters I know on two hands, andmost of them just shoot for fun for a break from compounds.
Is it possible they measured my length wrong? I just went in recently to see if my length and draw weight were still the same from when I got the bow, and they measured the same again.

[George D. Stout]

Your draw length is simply how far you draw that arrow until it stops at the back of the bow at the shelf.  Now they have a formula that involves the pivot point, which is probably what they are using.  That formula doesn't mean squat with our bows; we simply need to measure so we have broadhead clearance at a comfortable anchor.

As long as your arrows clear the back, you have no worries.  Your issue is with anchor/eye/target correlation.  You are apparently using the arrow tip for aiming purposes and with a close shot and split finger shooting, you will need to aim low at close distance.  My particular point-on is 55 to 60 yards, so you can see that close range is going to be under the target if you are using the point of arrow.

You can adjust to that as I mentioned above.

[CanArcher]

Thanks George.
I recently have been shooting three under to try it out, and have had better luck with it. The tip actually moves close to where I want to hit at the 20 yard mark.
I'm still not sure which way I prefer to shoot though.