Draw Length Calculator

Q: What is the draw length when the wingspan is 100 inches?

The draw length will be 40 inches when your wingspan is 100 inches. The calculation is straightforward; you divide your wingspan by 2.5 .

Q: What happens if my draw length is too short or too long?

If your draw length is too short , your shots may be unstable and lack power . If it’s too long , you might overextend, which can lead to poor accuracy, discomfort, and potential injury .

Q: How do I choose arrows based on my draw length?

Your arrow length should be 1 to 2 inches longer than your draw length . This ensures your safety during archery and helps you gain optimal performance.

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Wei Bin is a Product Manager based in London, leading a technology company's Product and Data functions. With a keen focus on delivering top-notch technology solutions, Wei Bin empowers businesses to unlock their full potential through innovative products, data-driven insights, and an unwavering commitment to customer value. His passion lies in guiding companies toward growth and success, leveraging the power of technology, data, and customer-centric product solutions. At Omni, Wei Bin leverages his financial expertise as a Strategy Consultant and CFA Level 2 holder to create various financial tools aimed at helping people improve their financial literacy. Outside of his professional pursuits, Wei Bin is an avid wine enthusiast with extensive knowledge and certification in the field. He also enjoys the strategic challenges of chess and poker, as well as swimming in his leisure time. See full profile

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Aleksandra (Ola) Zając, MD, is a medical doctor with a passion for lifestyle medicine. She wants to never stop learning while sharing what she already knows as a health educator and prophylaxis popularizer. She mainly concentrates on how human lifestyle impacts their health and disease. After hours, she likes weightlifting, foreign affairs podcasts, learning Korean, and dogs (with a special affection for her own pup Zoja). See full profile

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and Steven Wooding

Steven Wooding

Steven Wooding is a physicist by training with a degree from the University of Surrey specializing in nuclear physics. He loves data analysis and computer programming. He has worked on exciting projects such as environmentally aware radar, using genetic algorithms to tune radar, and building the UK vaccine queue calculator. Steve is now the Editorial Quality Assurance Coordinator here at Omni Calculator, making sure every calculator meets the standards our users expect. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, photography, wildlife watching, and long walks. See full profile

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With our draw length calculator, we aim to help you determine your ideal draw length for archery, ensuring comfort, precision, and optimal performance. To explore related tools, check out our arrow speed calculator and arrow FOC calculator.

This tool is designed to enhance your understanding of:

What draw length is;
How to calculate your draw length; and
Why draw length matters in archery.

We have also included practical examples to help you comprehend the process of calculation using the draw length formula.

What is draw length?

Draw length is the distance measured from the nocking point on the bowstring, where the arrow is placed, to the grip's pivot point when the bowstring is fully drawn back.

The draw length is an important measurement when it comes to archery. It helps to choose the right equipment for the sports, which includes the bow and arrows, that fits your body properly. This can help you improve your performance and also help you avoid unnecessary injury.

We will discuss its importance and significance, and how you should apply it in the latter sections of this text.

How to calculate draw length — How do you figure out bow draw length?

Now that we understand what draw length is, let's look at the example below to understand more about the calculation of how to figure out bow draw length.

Measure your wingspan.

The first step is to measure your wingspan. To do this, you should stand naturally with your arms extended horizontally to the sides, and measure the distance from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other middle finger across your body.

In our example, the wingspan is 70 inches.

You can also use our length converter to help you with this step.
Apply the draw length formula.

Next, once you have your wingspan measurement, you can use the draw length formula below to calculate the draw length:

Draw length = Wingspan / 2.5

Hence, in this instance, the Draw length is 70 inches / 2.5 = 28 inches.
Interpret your ideal draw length.

Now that you have the result, you should understand what it means. Based on the calculation, your draw length is 28 inches. This means that the distance measured from the nocking point on the bowstring to your grip's pivot point when the bowstring is fully drawn back is 28 inches.

This measurement ensures that your bow and arrows are properly sized for accurate and comfortable shooting.

Why is draw length important in archery?

After talking about how to calculate the draw length and its definition, let's discover its significance and how it affects you in archery.

Ensure proper equipment fit

Using the correct draw length ensures that your bow and arrows are tailored to your body size. A draw length that is too short can cause instability, while one that is too long can lead to overextension and poor form.

Not only that, a proper equipment fit can also help you to avoid physical discomfort, muscle strain, and most importantly, personal injury.
Improve performance

A consistent and correct draw length helps you achieve better aim and shot placement. This is because a bow operates most efficiently when it is drawn to the archer's ideal draw length. For instance, drawing the string too short or too long can reduce arrow speed and energy transfer, negatively affecting shot power and trajectory.
Achieve consistent anchor point

A well-calibrated draw length allows you to anchor the bowstring in a natural and repeatable position, such as at the corner of your mouth or under your jawline. This consistency is vital for accurate shooting.

FAQs

What is the draw length when the wingspan is 100 inches?

The draw length will be 40 inches when your wingspan is 100 inches. The calculation is straightforward; you divide your wingspan by 2.5.

How do I calculate the draw length?

The calculation of draw length is quick and easy. You can calculate the draw length in just 2 steps:

Determine your wingspan in inches.
Divide your wingspan in inches by 2.5.

What happens if my draw length is too short or too long?

If your draw length is too short, your shots may be unstable and lack power. If it’s too long, you might overextend, which can lead to poor accuracy, discomfort, and potential injury.

How do I choose arrows based on my draw length?

Your arrow length should be 1 to 2 inches longer than your draw length. This ensures your safety during archery and helps you gain optimal performance.