What does arrow size mean

DO NOT use any of the information on this page for arrows that will use broadhead or any other hunting tip or device. The purpose of using an extra long arrow is to be certain there is no risk of the arrow falling off the arrow rest if the bow is overdrawn. Step 2. Draw the arrow and anchor under the chin or with the index finger in the crook of the mouth. Alternatively you can use an anchor position where the index finger is placed under and against the jaw bone as shown in the image below.

NOTE: It is highly recommended that you use a bow with a low draw weight so you can safely draw, anchor and hold the arrow without becoming fatigued. Experienced archers can mark the arrow even with the back of the riser [A]. Entry level archers who have had formal instruction and shoot with good form and posture can use the distance from the nock grove to first mark [position A]. This technique for determining your beginner arrow length only requires a tape measure and an assistant.

Note that the drawing arm elbow is directly behind the arrow line and the forearm is almost parallel to the shoulder line.

The anchor position is found by placing the top of the index finger near the crook of the mouth. Alternatively the drawing hand can be placed under the jawbone and close to even with the crook of the mouth.

With your thumb stretched outward toward the imaginary target make a note of the distance to the end of the thumb. NOTE: A compound archer will have a different anchor position depending on the type of release mechanism they use but the method for finding their beginner arrow length is the same. The distance you come up with is for the "arrow shaft length" and NOT the total arrow length. If the arrow is too short it is possible to draw the arrow back off the arrow rest creating a very dangerous situation as illustrated above.

Both methods work and the important piece to remember is that a beginning archer should always start with an arrow length that is longer than the actual draw length for safety reasons. Until your shooting technique is developed including proper shoulder and bow arm elbow alignment and you are certain that you will not overdraw the bow, stick with an arrow length that is long. Below are some common shooting form errors that will give you a false reading when trying to determine your proper beginner arrow length.

The images below show the incorrect technique AND the correct shooting form you should be using when determining proper arrow length for a beginner. Use correct stance and posture - make sure the hips and shoulders are in-line with the direction of aim as shown in the following image. In the following image the archer is creeping forward with the chin resulting in a shortened draw length. Note that the shoulders are raised, the bow arm is not extended out to the side toward the target and the elbow of the drawing arm is raised above the shoulders.

The chin should remain up and the neck elongated directly over the torso as in the correct stance and posture photo above. Some archers will turn the wrist so it is out of alignment with the forearm and upper arm resulting in a shortened draw length. Short draw is when the archer fails to reach full draw where the bowstring touching the chin or the nose. Over drawing is when the archer continues to pull the bowstring beyond the "full draw" position.

Over drawing will result in pulling the arrow to far back behind the chin causing the arrow to fall off the arrow rest. Avoiding all of these common archery form errors will help assure that you get the proper beginner arrow length.

Now that you know how long your arrow shaft should be you can have the arrows cut to length by most archery or outdoor pro-shop, box store or mail order company. Most mail order companies, pro-shops and box stores will cut them to your specifications and glue the points in for you.

The next step is to determine the proper arrow spine size that matches your equipment specifications. If you already know your draw weight you're ready to go to the instructions for determining proper arrow spine - coming soon. If you don't know your draw weight go here first: How to determine actual draw weight - coming soon How to determine your calculated draw weight - coming soon What is peak draw weight?

It is not the same as determining your actual OR calculated draw weight. Do you have a question about determining your proper beginner arrow length? Do you have an experience to share? Was this page helpful? We appreciate your feedback so we can improve this page. Here is the place to do it Close Help. Entering your question, experience or feedback is easy to do.

Just type! Your question, experience or feedback will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph. Do you have some pictures or graphics to add? Since the dynamic spine has numerous variables to measure, an arrow's spine is typically measured in terms of static spine. The spine of an arrow plays a role in the tuning, shooting and grouping of arrows, and using the wrong size arrows for a bow can lead to poor accuracy and grouping of the shots.

Using arrows of the same size and thickness leads to consistency of flight and handling, which, if arrows are properly aimed and conditions are similar between shots, allows for arrows to fly in the same way and group tightly upon hitting.

Jess Kroll has been writing since His prose, poetry and essays have been published in numerous journals and literary magazines. By: Jess Kroll. The reduced surface area of an arrow smaller in diameter also reduces the amount of drift your arrow will see on a windy day.

Since most micro-diameter shafts are lighter, they allow you to use more weight up front to improve flight characteristics and long-range accuracy. They still enable you to maintain kinetic energy due to increased wall thickness. One of the most critical points to consider with any arrow is straightness.

I never cut my chances on accuracy by purchasing an arrow shaft of lesser quality. This is even more important nowadays because of the increase in bow efficiency. Probably not, but why take the chance when you are bowhunting antelope or high country mule deer out west in more open terrain and further distances.

This also comes with a price increase, so be sure to take that into consideration. All arrow weights are measured in grains per inch GPI.

Lighter weight arrows tend to be more popular due to the impressive speed numbers that you can achieve. Lighter arrows fly faster and potentially straighter, but at the same time these fast arrows can be hard to tune and require perfect form.

Heavy arrows have higher kinetic energy, momentum and are easier to get to fly straight. They are also quieter. A heavier arrow will also resist wind drift due to increased momentum easier to alter a light object in flight than a heavier one.

My current arrow setup weighs in at For me, this is a perfect combination of speed, kinetic energy and momentum. Step 1. Determine the poundage I would like to shoot. For me, this is always the max poundage the bow limbs allow.

Step 2. Attempt to narrow down the arrow manufacturer by checking out website information on new products, calling manufacturers and visiting trade shows. Step 3. After selecting an arrow brand, determine what you are looking for in terms of arrow performance.

Do you want a light and fast arrow or a heavy and hard-hitting arrow? Make your decision based on the animals you pursue — light and fast for whitetails or heavy and hard-hitting for mule deer and elk. I try to build an arrow that is slightly on the heavy side and reaches that fps. Step 4.