Compound Bows, An informational guide to getting the right fit.

So you’re ready for your first compound bow, or maybe your looking to upgrade the compound bow you have. The following are tips and how to’s you should consider.

Buying a compound bow is a worthwhile investment for any archer so follow these steps to buy the right compound bow for you.

First off, determine the purpose you are going to be using the bow for, will it be target shooting, hunting or maybe both. If you plan to do both you will need to make some compromises.
Keep these two things in mind: Hunting bows are shorter with heavier draw weights, because you may only shoot one or two shots in a given day, whereas target bows are generally longer and have a lighter draw weight, for the purpose of shooting several times in a short period. When the power of the shot is important, then a hunting bow is what you want.

Once you’ve determined for what purpose you will use your bow you need to determine the correct fit. There are three questions to answer when fitting your compound bow.
1. Do I need a right hand or left hand bow?
2. What draw length do I need?
3. What draw weight should I shoot?
Right hand or left hand?
For most people this is easy to decide, a right handed person chooses a right handed bow and a left handed person chooses a left handed bow. A small minority of people have their dominant eye opposite their dominant hand. This can create problems when aiming. Some people solve this by aiming with their weak eye and closing their dominant one. Others choose a bow to match their dominant eye and accustom themselves to shooting it against their natural "handedness". A few even lean their heads far enough over the bowstring so as to be able use their dominant eye for aiming.
we suggest closing your dominant eye as that works well in the majority of cases,
To determine your dominant eye make a small triangle with your hands and thumbs (see picture), hold it at arms length, and look through it at an object a few feet or more away. Close one eye and then the other. When one of your eyes closes you will see the view through the triangle shift. The eye you just closed is your dominant eye. The view shifts because your other eye took over when your dominant eye closed.
Draw length
When your bow is fitted at the proper draw length you will be at your most comfortable and accurate position. If the draw is too short your peep will be too far from your eye for a clear view, and your shortened power stroke will cost you speed and energy. Too long a draw and your release hand may not anchor firmly against your cheek, your bow arm will want to hyperextend causing a loss of control, and your bowstring can contact your cheek or clothing destroying the accuracy of your shot.
Here is an easy way to find your draw length, simply stand upright with your hands stretched out (hold naturally, do not hyperextend) and measure your arm span from fingertip to fingertip. Take this measurement in inches and divide by 2.5. This will give a good working draw length for your bow. If you want to try a different draw length most bows are adjustable by changing or rotating a module (a small metal piece) on the cam or cams. However we recommend you stick with the starting draw length, straying to far will lead to instability and reduced accuracy. Use the following chart as a quick reference on choosing your draw length.



Draw Weight
Your ideal draw weight is one you can pull in a smooth, controlled manner under hunting conditions. If you hunt in cold weather which most of us do, the combined effects of cold muscles and adrenaline will reduce your controlled draw weight 10 to 15 pounds from what you can manage indoors or on a warm day. Every year we encounter hunters who failed to reach full draw in the presence of game animals! Don't make this mistake, the modern compound bow is highly efficient and maximum poundage is not required for even large game animals.
Most men find somewhere between 55 to 65 lbs to be their comfortable maximum, for women it is 35 to 45 pounds. The following chart shows our recommended bow adjustment range for adults. Keep the following tips in mind when using it.
• A bow works slightly more efficiently when set in the upper end of its poundage range. For example if you would like to shoot 60 lbs it is better to choose a 45-60 lb bow then to choose a 55-70 lb one and back it down to 60 lbs.
• When in doubt choose the lower poundage, you will still have plenty of power for hunting and will be sure to stay in control.
• new archers will increase the poundage they can handle by 10 or more pounds with just two weeks of daily practice.
When your ready to make the purchase of a compound bow, or maybe you still have questions,
feel free to visit TheBowBarn.com. At thebowbarn you will feel like family, ask all the questions you like, we want you to feel good about your purchase. Our goal here is to get the right compound bow into the hands of the archer and to help you be successful at hitting the mark. We carry a great selection of compound bows, for men, women, and youth, give us a visit, see you soon.