Draw length: what is it and how is it measured?

Draw length : what is it?

Draw length is a key measurement in archery. It corresponds to the distance between the string, when drawn to your face, and the hollow of your grip which is generally on berger button's axe.

Draw length varies from archer to archer and depends on a number of factors, such as the size of archer's arms and range of movement. This is why every archer has a unique draw length, which needs to be measured in order to make the best possible adjustments to the equipment, in particular the size of the bow, the length of the arrows and their spine (stiffness).

It is expressed in inches, according to the AMO standard (Archery Manufacturers Organization). 

How is it measured?

The archer gets into shooting position at his or her face markers. Using a pencil, another person marks the arrow at the berger's button (in most cases, berger's button is on the same axis as the hollow of the grip). Don't hesitate to take this measurement several times to be as certain as possible of the mark found. In archery, our measurements are Anglo-Saxon, so you need to convert cm into inches, simply by dividing the value found by 2.54. The official draw length is the AMO one, and to find out what it is, simply add 1.75" to the measurement you found earlier.

For example, you measured 74.5 cm from the nock to the berger button, calculation would be :

(74.5 / 2.54) + 1.75 = 31.08" of AMO draw length.

Using an arrow graduated every 1/4 inch, as found in archery shops, will make this measurement even easier!