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Traditional bow draw length help

Andrew

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2018
Messages
287
Need some help guys. I'm getting ready to start shopping around for a new bow. I am looking into getting a custom bow made. My first traditional bow, and the bow I have been using for the past two years is a 62" southwest spyder recurve with 40# at 28". At my draw length I'm pulling 46-47# measured with a digital draw weight scale.

This leads me to my main question. When we are talking about draw length, where are we measureing from? Is it from string to rest/shelf? Or is it from string to front of the riser?(thats AMO right??).

I want to be able to communicate correctly with whichever bowyer I'm working with what my preferred draweight and drawlength should be.
 
It's actually from string to Back of bow. Thats facing away from you. The belly is facing you while gripping bow. Thats where the back of your arrow stops. I guess the simplest is string to the back of your point, where it is at full draw.
 
It is to the back of the bow. So the thing people have to realize, the riser size makes a difference in what your draw length is. So on a small diameter trip the draw length is shorter than a large bulky recurve riser.
My draw length is 29 on my recurve and 28 on my longbow. My arms don't get longer it's the a
 
Thanks for the help guys. Is the AMO draw what is used in spine charts as well? I would assume it is. If so that makes since to why when I was tuning my first bow a stiffer arrow than I thought was what was needed. I had been measuring my draw length form string to grip throat instead of the back of the riser.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Is the AMO draw what is used in spine charts as well? I would assume it is. If so that makes since to why when I was tuning my first bow a stiffer arrow than I thought was what was needed. I had been measuring my draw length form string to grip throat instead of the back of the riser.
The back of the bow faces away from you when drawing. The belly is toward you when drawing. I use the true draw length measurement which is from nock to throat of grip (pivot point). The reason for this is if I add the 1.75 inches shown above in the diagram then I seems like I have a longer draw than I actually do and messes with tuning. Never heard of a measurement to back of riser and wouldn’t do that. Back of bow yes, which again faces away from you as pictured above.
 
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draw weight is measured from the deepest part of the grip, --> ( your draw length) !!!!!

View attachment 59404
Thanks @arrow30 for the picture. That is helpful. I understand these two ways of measuring drawlength. Which one is used by bow makers and in spine charts? Measured draw length or AMO? I guess another way of asking is, if I see a bow that is marked 45# @ 29" how was the 29" measured? You're saying it's the measured draw length. I've read elsewhere it's AMO. I guess thats why I'm confused. And I may be looking into it to much and it wont make much difference. Thanks
 
Thanks @arrow30 for the picture. That is helpful. I understand these two ways of measuring drawlength. Which one is used by bow makers and in spine charts? Measured draw length or AMO? I guess another way of asking is, if I see a bow that is marked 45# @ 29" how was the 29" measured? You're saying it's the measured draw length. I've read elsewhere it's AMO. I guess thats why I'm confused. And I may be looking into it to much and it wont make much difference. Thanks

I would just ask the bowyer you are dealing with but, every bowyer I have ever spoken to has simply measured the draw length to the front of the riser (back of bow). There was never any discussion about using measured draw length and adding 1.75". You will find most risers, especially recurves will be very close to that 1.75" from throat to front of riser. Also, every bow I have scaled has scaled the correct weight (or very close to it) when measuring draw length to the front of the riser. As far as spine charts you won't find one accurate enough to notice a difference between the two.
 
measured from the deepest part of the grip, that is where it is craddled on the tillering tree. amo standard!( not all bows are made to amo standards)
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every bowyer I have ever spoken to has simply measured the draw length to the front of the riser (back of bow).

Also, every bow I have scaled has scaled the correct weight (or very close to it) when measuring draw length to the front of the riser.

Good to know. Thanks for the response. That's what I was looking for. Now I just need some reccomendations on some good bowyers!
 
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measured from the deepest part of the grip, that is where it is craddled on the tillering tree. amo standard!( not all bows are made to amo standards)
View attachment 59427

I'm not completely disagreeing with you but, most people aren't set up to measure a draw length to the deepest part of the grip and then add 1.75". There are many ways you can very simply measure your draw length to the front of the riser. I have seen people measure to the front of the riser and then take a second measurement between the front of the riser and the deepest part of the grip to try to adjust for any difference between their bows riser and the 1.75" but, the adjustment is usually minor or non existent. From a practical stand point most bowyers I know of, especially for hunting bows just measure to the back of the riser which is usually very close to the same as measuring to the throat of the grip and adding 1.75".

I did a quick google search and the first two bowyers that popped up with instructions on their website where Bob Lee and Black Widow, both of whom say to measure the back of the riser.
https://bobleebows.com/measure-draw-length-traditional-bow/

Not trying to be argumentative but, just trying to save someone from building a jig to measure their draw length to the grip then add 1.75" when they can just measure to the back of the riser and get basically the same number.
 
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