How do I measure draw length for a recurve?

Divide your wingspan in inches by 2.5 for an estimate, then confirm with a clip-on draw-length arrow drawn to your natural anchor and measured to the back of the bow. Traditional draw length usually runs half an inch to a full inch shorter than a compound draw length because the string hand anchors at the face rather than behind the jaw.

What draw weight should a beginner start with?

Thirty to thirty-five pounds at your draw length. It is heavy enough to teach back tension and light enough to shoot fifty arrows a session without form collapse. Buy a takedown riser so you can step up in five-pound increments as your back and shoulder adapt.

How much does draw weight change per inch of draw?

Roughly 2.5 lb per inch on a typical recurve, added above 28 inches and subtracted below it. Short bows drawn long can stack far harder than that in the last inch or two, which is one reason a 30 inch draw belongs on a 62 inch or longer bow.

Is 40 lb enough for deer with a recurve?

Yes, with the right arrow and a disciplined shot. Forty pounds driving a 500+ grain arrow with a sharp, two-blade cut-on-contact head passes through broadside deer-sized game inside twenty yards. Sharpness, arrow weight and shot angle matter far more than the last five pounds of draw weight.

Traditional archery · Reference

Draw weight and draw length, measured honestly

Nearly every beginner buys too much bow. Here is how to find your real numbers before you spend money.

Draw length and draw weight are one problem, not two. A bow is marked at 28 inches, so the weight you actually pull depends entirely on how far back you come — and how far back you come depends on your anchor, your form, and your frame.

Get these two numbers right and everything else in traditional archery — spine, arrow weight, effective range, how long you can practice — falls into place. Get them wrong and you will fight collapsing form and a sore shoulder for a year.

Rule of thumb: ±2.5 lb per inch
Deer window: 45–55 lb
Elk floor: 50–60 lb
Start at: 30–35 lb

Measure your true draw length

Traditional draw length is measured to the back of the bow, and it is usually shorter than the number a compound shop gave you — a deep three-finger hook and a corner-of-mouth anchor pull less than a release aid at the jaw.

1Stand naturally and have a partner measure your wingspan, fingertip to fingertip, then divide by 2.5. That is your starting estimate.
2Draw a light bow with a clip-on draw-length arrow to your natural anchor — corner of the mouth, canine tooth, or index finger to jaw.
3Have your partner read the measurement at the back of the bow, not the front of the shelf.
4Repeat five times over two sessions. Use the shortest repeatable number, not the longest one you can stretch to.
5Add one inch of clearance to the result for arrow length so the point never draws behind the shelf.

What a 50 lb bow really pulls

Marked weight assumes a 28 inch draw. Convert before you buy — this table is why the same bow feels brutal to one shooter and light to another.

Your draw length	Actual weight (50 lb @ 28")	Effect
26 inches	≈45 lb	Less stored energy, slower arrow, shorter range
27 inches	≈47.5 lb	Common for shorter-framed shooters
28 inches	50 lb	Reference standard
29 inches	≈52.5 lb	More energy, spine needs rechecking
30 inches	≈55 lb	Watch for stacking on short bows

Choosing a weight you can actually shoot

Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons · Wikimedia Commons

Start light and earn weight

30–35 lb first bow

A takedown riser lets you buy a light set of limbs, build back tension and form for a season, then move up 5 lb at a time on the same bow. Nobody has ever regretted learning on a light bow; thousands of people have quit because of a heavy one.

The cold-morning test

Your real hunting weight

Whatever you can draw smoothly, seated, in a coat, at 25°F, after sitting still for two hours, is your hunting weight. If you have to point the bow at the sky and heave to get to anchor, it is too much — that motion is also exactly what gets you caught at eighteen yards.

Legal minimums

40 lb in most states

Most states set a 40 lb minimum for big game, and some specify it at your draw length rather than at 28 inches. Check your regulations every season; a few western states also set minimum arrow weight or broadhead width.

Momentum beats poundage

9–11 grains per pound

A 50 lb bow driving a 550 grain arrow at 20% FOC out-penetrates a 60 lb bow driving a 380 grain arrow, and it is far easier to shoot well. Modern traditional thinking favours moderate weight and heavy arrows for exactly this reason.

Questions

Frequently asked

How do I measure draw length for a recurve?: Divide your wingspan in inches by 2.5 for an estimate, then confirm with a clip-on draw-length arrow drawn to your natural anchor and measured to the back of the bow. Traditional draw length usually runs half an inch to a full inch shorter than a compound draw length because the string hand anchors at the face rather than behind the jaw.
What draw weight should a beginner start with?: Thirty to thirty-five pounds at your draw length. It is heavy enough to teach back tension and light enough to shoot fifty arrows a session without form collapse. Buy a takedown riser so you can step up in five-pound increments as your back and shoulder adapt.
How much does draw weight change per inch of draw?: Roughly 2.5 lb per inch on a typical recurve, added above 28 inches and subtracted below it. Short bows drawn long can stack far harder than that in the last inch or two, which is one reason a 30 inch draw belongs on a 62 inch or longer bow.
Is 40 lb enough for deer with a recurve?: Yes, with the right arrow and a disciplined shot. Forty pounds driving a 500+ grain arrow with a sharp, two-blade cut-on-contact head passes through broadside deer-sized game inside twenty yards. Sharpness, arrow weight and shot angle matter far more than the last five pounds of draw weight.