newbie with some questions

[bbs383ci]

ok im new to traditional archery.... how do you check your draw length.... ive been practicing with one of dads old bows its a browning nomad 65# @28" and its to much to hold for very long at all im very inconsistent with it well yesterday i ordered a samick sage from 3 rivers at 50# and my other question is what spine of arrows should i get to shoot with this bow i want to shoot carbon arrows.

thanks
Dustin Williams

[Rob DiStefano]

dustin, it would be very much worth your while to visit an archery shop or bowyer or archery club or local trad archer, where you can get personal assistance with both your draw length and draw weight.  ditto for getting arrows that will work best for you and your bow.  that alone will save you countless dollars and hours.  if you post the town you live in, perhaps other trad gang members might be local to you and offer some one-on-one help.  best of luck!

[bbs383ci]

i live in orange texas

[Friends call me Pac]

Self checking draw leangth.  When I had to determine my own I took a clothespin and put it on my arrow so that when I drew the clothespin slid down the shaft.

Draw, measure where the arrow ended up at and repeat several times to get an average.

For carbon arrows I shoot carbon express 150 arrows with 175 gr up front and cut 30 1/4". My draw is 28" and my bow is 51@28".  If our draw is the same I'm thinking you might get reasonably close results.  If our draw is different adjusting the arrow leangth should get you set up.  Hint:  start with the arrows long and shorten up as needed.  Can't add to the shaft after cutting it.

Carbon Express 150's are the only carbons I have ever tried so don't really know much about any others.

[Rob DiStefano]

another tip - a newbie should always begin with bow they can comfortably hold at their full draw for at least 3 seconds.  a little bitty bit of the shakes is fine, and should go away as yer muscles get in shape.

the business of draw length is predicated on form, and your form may change over time.  in the best of all worlds, an archery coach is invaluable to a newbie - might as well start off right and avoid some bad habits.

[bbs383ci]

i checked my draw length on my dads bow and i had a arrow on it that measured 27" from the throat of the nock and when i drew back the arrow pulled past the end of the bow 1/2" my dad measured it while i was holding lol (sounds ghetto) so would that make my draw length for that bow 27.5" and wouldnt this number change with the bow i ordered because the riser may be a different thickness.... so i guess i will have to check this again when my new bow gets here.... so when i order arrows should i get 35/55 or 55/75 i would like to shoot at least 150gr. head not including the insert

[ishoot4thrills]

My specs are below in my signature. Very similar to yours, I believe. I get excellent flight. Here's a link to a great article on bow tuning. Click on it and then click on "bow tuning":

 http://bowmaker.net/index2.htm

Best wishes and welcome to Tradgang.

[ChuckC]

Dustin, if I am reading correctly the arrow you used to measure was only 27"  and you over drew.

Don't do that.

I really suggest you get an old arrow,  from anywhere, but one that is much longer than your draw.   Take a marker and draw marks or lines on the end starting at 27" and out to around 30" (for you).  

Now have your dad stand just to the side of you while you draw that arrow. .  several times.  

He can easily see which mark ends up touching the back (that is the side facing forward) of the bow.  

Do it a few times and see what is the right length.  

Remember then to add an inch or so  to the needed length of your arrows for clearance and safety.

There you go.
ChuckC