How To Choose Recurve Bow Length - Olympic Archery

You may have heard that bows come in different lengths, and know that you need the right one – but what exactly makes up the length of the bow and how do you choose the right size for you?

Measuring up

A standard recurve riser (the bit in the middle that you hold on to) measures 25 inches long.

All manufacturers who make recurve equipment produce a 25 inch riser. Many also produce risers that are 23 inches or 27 inches long as well. By the way, inches is the standard measurement worldwide, even in countries that otherwise use the metric system.

Limbs (the bits that bend) also come in standard lengths – the exact measured lengths themselves don’t matter so much, and vary a little depending on design, but think of them as short, medium, and long. Limbs are always sold in matched pairs.

A medium pair of limbs on a 25 inch riser will give you a 68 inch bow, which is the standard length for most people (but not all!)

A short pair of limbs will give you a 66 inch bow, and a long limb with a standard riser will give you a 70 inch bow. So a short pair of limbs takes away two inches, and a long pair of limbs adds two inches on. Don’t worry, the maths doesn’t get more complicated than that!

Choosing the Right Recurve Bow Length for a Beginner

Selecting the correct recurve bow length is essential for comfort and accuracy, as well as overall enjoyment. While your height is usually an indicator as to the correct overall length, the right bow size depends primarily on your draw length, which is how far you pull the string back when shooting.

Your draw length can also be affected by your alignment and shoulder position, and may change slightly as you continue at the sport.

Measuring Draw Length

Your draw length is the distance from the nocking point on the string to the deepest part of the grip on the riser when you are at full draw.

This can be measured precisely with a special measuring arrow – your club may have one. But it’s OK to choose your bow size from your wingspan. This is simply the distance between the end of your middle fingers when you stretch both your arms out to the side. (You might need someone else to measure it.)

Take that measurement – in inches – and divide by 2.5. This will give you your draw length. (Read more in our How To Learn Archery guide – and if you’ve got any questions, you can join our online community here.)

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Matching Draw Length to Bow Length

Once you’ve got your draw length, here’s a basic guideline for matching draw length to bow length:

Your Draw Length	Recommended Bow Length
Over 25 inches	66 inch bow
Over 27 inches	68 inch bow
Over 29 inches	70 inch bow

Note: this table is for average adults; and of course, we are all different.

If your draw length is less than 25 inches, you might be better off with a 64 inch bow (short limbs on a 23 inch riser). If your draw length is more than 31 inches, you should consider a 72 inch bow (long limbs on a 27 inch riser). It’s a good idea to check with an archery shop or an experienced archer if you think you need one of these lengths.

Because the majority of adult archers tend to shoot either a 68 inch or 70 inch bow on standard 25 inch risers, bear in mind that many archery retailers may have to make a special order for things like short limbs or 27 inch risers – this is especially true if you’re left handed!

Why Bow Length Matters

We’ve established that you should choose a bow based on your draw length. But what difference does it really make? And what should you do if you are right on the edge between one recommended length or another?

Very generally, a longer bow feels smoother to draw and expand through the clicker than a shorter bow. But a longer bow will also generally be a bit slower and give less arrow speed than an equivalent poundage bow that is shorter. It can also be slightly more unwieldy, which might be an issue if you’re thinking about taking up field archery, for example.

A shorter bow will shoot a little faster, which is better in wind, for example, or if you are struggling to shoot at a longer distance outdoors. But it might be a little less forgiving – that is, it might magnify errors in your technique. (There are other ways to improve arrow speed you can start working on when you are a little more experienced.)

A shorter bow will give a tighter pitch angle – the angle of the string where your fingers grip it at full draw – which can sometimes cause issues with ‘pinching’ the arrow, especially for beginner archers.

The pitch angle will be affected by the overall length of the bow

A shorter bow might be useful if you are having problems with chest clearance, where the string is making too much contact with your body. Get advice from an experienced archer for this one.

Conclusion

For a beginner, the best recurve bow length depends on your draw length, but it’s always safer to choose a slightly longer bow than one which might be too short.

A 68-inch bow (25inch riser with medium limbs) is a safe and comfortable choice for most adult beginners.

Setting up your bow

Once you’ve got your limbs, it’s important to make sure your bow is set up properly. Take a look at our Recurve Tuning Guide for a full walk through on how to set up your bow correctly.

Need more? Watch the video below for an in-depth explanation of bow length!

Don’t forget! If you have any questions, want to submit a question for our regular Q&A’s, and get exclusive weekly videos plus loads more content, you can join the community here: http://members.onlinearcheryacademy.com