Testing Your Recurve Bow's Pull

Testing the draw weight of a recurve bow is important for improving your accuracy and ensuring you don't injure yourself. The draw weight is a measurement of how difficult it is to pull back the string. While there are general recommendations based on age, body type, and length, the best option is to test it.

There are a few ways to test the draw weight. One way is to use a bow scale, which looks like a long tube with a hook on the end. You hook the scale around the arrow nook on the string and pull the string back smoothly until you reach your normal draw length. Then, check the indicator line on the scale to measure the poundage.

Another way to test the draw weight is the 30-second test. For this test, you pull the bow back at full draw and hold it for 30 seconds. If the bow is too heavy, your muscles will start to shake.

You can also do a 5-step test that involves choosing the right day, preparing your gear, taking the test, checking a chart, and retesting if necessary. This test is more precise than recommendation charts and will give you actual results based on your strength.

The 30-second test: pull the bow back at full draw and hold for 30 seconds

The 30-second test is a great way to determine the correct draw weight for your recurve bow. It is a simple test that can help you find a bow that is comfortable to draw and prevent muscle strain and fatigue.

To perform the 30-second test, pull the bow back at a full draw and hold that position for 30 seconds. If the bow is too heavy for you, you will definitely know—you'll feel the burn in the muscles of your shoulders and back, and your muscles may start to shake. A bow that is too heavy will also affect your accuracy, as it will be more difficult to hold the bow steady.

The 30-second test is a good way to avoid choosing a bow that is too heavy for you, which can lead to soreness and fatigue after shooting practice. It is important to listen to your body and choose a bow that you can comfortably draw even after an extended period. This will ensure that you have a positive and enjoyable shooting experience.

The 30-second test is especially useful if you plan on shooting your bow for extended periods, such as during target practice, competitions, or hunting. You don't want to be fighting against your bow's weight the entire time, so finding one that you can comfortably hold for 30 seconds is key.

Remember, archery is not a strength sport, and having a heavier draw weight is not always better. The most important thing is finding a bow that suits your individual strength and abilities, so you can make your mark with accuracy and consistency.

The 5-step test: a precise method to find the right draw weight, involving an endurance and strength test

Step 1: Choosing the right day

The test you are about to do is an endurance and strength test. Your muscles should, therefore, be fully rested for the best results. Try to find the limits of your strength, so even minor exercising can have a big impact. So when you do this exercise, you shouldn’t have done any of the following things in the past 24 hours:

• Any exercises for the upper body
• Physical work, especially if heavy lifting is involved
• Any endurance exercises

Additionally, you should have had a good night’s sleep and had no muscle strain for the past 3 days. If any of these conditions are not met, the test will predict a lower draw weight than necessary.

Step 2: Preparing your gear

For the exercise, you need something that can simulate the draw weight you want to test. Let’s say you would like to test if you can comfortably shoot a 26-pound draw weight. We then need something that can simulate that draw weight. If you already have a bow, you can use that, of course. But if you don’t, you can use some resistance bands. When using resistance bands, you still have to measure the standard draw weight. The standard draw weight is measured at 28 inches, so pull the bands back 28 inches and measure the draw weight. You can either use a bow scale (a specialised device to measure draw weight) or a luggage scale. When you are using a bow, you need protection for your fingers. Since you will be holding the string in your fingers for a long time, it will hurt if you do it without any form of protection. If you don’t have a tab, you can also use a thick sock.

Step 3: Take the test

Stand with your feet at shoulder width, just like you would if you were drawing a bow. Raise your arm and draw the band/string to your normal anchor point. Hold this pose for 40 seconds. When the time is up, you can take a break for a maximum of 90 seconds. Repeat this process until you can’t pull the bow/resistance band anymore. You will feel that your muscles are starting to get tired, but try to go as far as you can. If you have reached 15 repetitions, you can also stop the exercise.

Step 4: Check the chart

You can now use the information below to check whether the chosen draw weight is right for you.

• This draw weight is clearly too heavy for you.
• This draw weight might be too heavy for you.
• This draw weight seems to be sufficient for your strength.
• You are probably able to draw a heavier bow.
• Shooting with this draw weight will probably result in poor form and decreased accuracy.

Step 5: Retest (if necessary)

The test essentially has three possible outcomes: the draw weight is too heavy, too light, or just right. When the tested draw weight was too heavy or too light, you should take the test another time and decrease/increase the poundage. Here are some recommendations on how much to change the poundage based on the previous test:

• 40%-30% LBS decrease: e.g. 30 LBS 40% = 12 LBS, so the new test should have a draw weight between 18 and 21 LBS
• 20%-10% LBS decrease: e.g. 30 LBS 20% = 6 LBS, so the new test should have a draw weight between 24 and 27 LBS
• The draw weight fits your strength: 10% LBS increase, e.g. 30 10% = 33 LBS, so the new test should have a draw weight of at least 33 LBS

You should continue lowering the poundage until you can hit 9 reps. If you can just get to 13 reps, you might want to stick with the current draw weight. Although you could technically go heavier, you can also use that extra strength to increase the length of your training. Therefore, that is a more personal consideration you have to make.

Using a bow scale: a manual or digital scale can be used to take a measurement of the draw weight

A bow scale, either manual or digital, can be used to measure the draw weight of a recurve bow. This is a long tube with a hook on the end and finger rests on the front. The user holds the bow in their normal shooting position and pulls the string back smoothly until they reach their normal draw length. The indicator on the scale will then show the poundage of the draw weight.

A manual bow scale has a sliding indicator that must be set to the starting position before each measurement. The user places their middle and index fingers on the finger rests, with their thumb and other fingers wrapped around the tube. They then hook the scale around the arrow nook on the string and pull it back smoothly until they reach their normal draw length. This position must be held for a few seconds to get an accurate measurement. The tension is then released smoothly, and the indicator on the scale will show the poundage of the draw weight.

A digital scale will automatically set to zero when the "tare" button is pressed. The user hangs the scale on a secure mount on the ceiling and hooks the scale around the bow string in the arrow section. They then pull the bow down smoothly until the scale reaches its maximum reading, before raising the bow back up again with steady pressure. The measurement will be displayed on the screen.

The standard draw weight is measured at 28 inches, but this can differ depending on the user's draw length. Therefore, it is important to measure the actual draw weight at your draw length with your bow.

Using a digital scale: set the scale to pounds and hang it from a secure mount on the ceiling

Some digital scales allow you to cycle between different units of measurement. If this is the case with your scale, press the "unit" button until the scale is set to "pounds".

Press the "tare" button to zero the scale. This will ensure that you get an accurate measurement.

Now, hang the scale on a secure mount on the ceiling. You need to hang the scale from something strong that will stay in place while you pull the bow. You can use a chain, secure ropes, or drill a hook directly into the ceiling. Just make sure that whatever you use can support enough weight. Loop the circular attachment on the scale into this mount. Remember that many bows have a draw weight of over 60 pounds, so your mount needs to be able to hold at least that much weight.

Take your bow and hook the scale around the bowstring in the same place you would nock an arrow. Make sure the string is secure before you start pulling.

Grab the bow firmly with one hand on either side of the handle and pull it down with firm pressure to measure its weight. Keep pulling until the scale stops increasing, indicating that you've hit the max draw weight.

An electric scale will automatically measure the max draw weight on the string, so don't worry if you pull the bow too far.

Now, raise the bow back up with steady pressure. Remember that the bow is under tension, so don't let go or it will shoot up. When you're back in the starting position, you can let go or take the bow off the hook.

Finally, check the measurement on the scale. The scale saves and displays the last measurement it took. You can confirm your measurement by measuring a few more times, remembering to hit "tare" to set the scale back to zero each time.

The right day: ensure your muscles are rested for the best results

Testing your pull for a recurve bow is an endurance and strength test. Therefore, your muscles should be rested for the best results. Even minor exercising can have a big impact on your performance. In the 24 hours leading up to the test, avoid any exercises that target the upper body, as well as any physical work, especially if it involves heavy lifting. Avoid any endurance exercises, too.

You should also ensure you've had a good night's sleep and have had no muscle strain for the past three days. If any of these conditions aren't met, the test will predict a lower draw weight than necessary.

Frequently asked questions