Bow length significantly impacts draw length, comfort, and shooting performance. An incorrect length can lead to discomfort, poor accuracy, and even injury, while the right length ensures optimal efficiency and enjoyment. Adam from Wales Archery looks at the significance of bow length and why it's important to get it right.
The shorter the bow, the more acute and severe the string angle is. The problem lies in when shooting with a split finger (Mediterranean) draw, the top finger can get pushed down onto the arrow shaft at full draw. To help reduce this you can shoot a longer bow, but the catch is that you must have a certain draw length to open the limbs enough to get the most out of them.
In regards to string angle for a compound shooter, it is very important to be able to get the string on your nose and get a second face reference to get extra consistency. If the bow is too short, you won’t be able to get that reference without compromising your draw length.
In general, longer bows are more stable in the hand and are harder to torque, making them more forgiving to shoot. The downside is that longer bows are physically heavier, and you have to make sure you have the correct draw length to open up the limbs enough. Also, you can get quite a bit more out of a compound if you are shooting towards the top end of the cam rather than the lower end, in terms of speed.
The sight window is the part of the riser that is cut away from compound and recurve risers.
For compound archers, if the peep is too high at the shorter distances, then the scope can get partially hidden behind the top part of the riser and cables. This will depend on make and model of the bow.
For a freestyle recurve archer, the smaller the riser, the shorter the sight window is, because we are proportionate to our height. Taller people tend to need longer risers, otherwise the sight may get blocked by the riser at when at full draw shooting shorter distances.
Riser length can also determine the holding weight. Most target recurve limbs are measured on a 25” riser for their bow weight. If you are shooting a shorter riser, then the poundage will increase by roughly 2lb per inch and the bow will feel punchier. If you are shooting a longer riser the poundage will decrease by the same and feel smoother.
In an ideal world, for compound archery you want to shoot the bow towards the top of the poundage range. When compared, a fully wound in 40-50lb versus a full wound out 50-60, there was a small speed loss.
Remember, selecting the right bow length is a vital decision, as it directly influences your shooting style, comfort, and success.
Thanks to Adam at Wales Archery.
