Archery | Using the "Wrong" Size 

I LOVE your common-sense, no-nonsense approach to the sport. Makes it far more accessible.

Not only is your information helpful but your presentation is not condescending..it feels like you are my 선배 at the club just chatting and sharing info… friendly and approachable..as always thank you

This video answered every question I had about choosing a bow for hunting. I have a 31” draw and I couldn’t figure out whether to get a longer bow or one in the 60-64” range that I saw hunters recommending. Thank you brother

Finally, thank you so much. As someone with a 32.5" draw it's been a lot trying to figure this out

While I understand what you're saying, not all shorter hunting bows can handle longer draw lengths. For example, the Samick Sage can't draw past 28" with their standard riser. The limbs will crack or have a delamination explosion, I had both happen in an archery shop after casting just a couple arrows. The first time we thought it might be bad limbs, the second time I was bleeding from the limb shrapnel. They contacted Samick and were notified that they had made a larger riser for the Sage for people with over a 28" draw. I ordered the larger riser, which brought it to a 66" amo, I later found out it was only tested to 30" draw. The limbs lasted longer but they couldn't handle the force. Samick doesn't make that size riser anymore and hasn't changed their printed recommendations about that bow. The sage also has a problem with the tension in the limbs caused from longer draw lengths constantly unscrewing the limbs bolts - meaning that after every arrow the limbs need to be tightened. The archery shop was amazed and doesn't carry or recommend that bow anymore. I've used a lot of shorter entry level and hunting bows (all take downs bows) than what is needed for my draw and many can't handle the stress.

Just getting into archery and I'm loving your content. The jokes you crack are great, I never watch your stuff expecting jokes but they're always there

Funny I just discovered this highly interesting video after all the other dozens and dozens of yours that I've watched. My main interest in archery is gaining facility with different bows, especially short quality "youth" or horse bows. For example, right now I have a Samick Shadow 30 pounder and a Kodiak Cub Junior 35 pounder, both quality recurves that are only 48". My draw-length is actually 29", and of course I can't comfortably get there with these short bows. However, I've discovered that achieving my normal anchor point is not necessary at all, and I've learned to shoot well with these short bows just like my longer bows. With respect to stacking, I've learned that it is actually an advantage to my style of shooting, although originally it was an awful pain (literally). Now I use it to my advantage because I now have developed a quick draw and release cycle, and I can draw my 48" bows a little further than actually comfortable (or "safe"?) and get a little extra power out of the shot without sacrificing accuracy. Admittedly, it is a little trickier to shoot this way, but I've gotten used to it. I have a 56" Top Archery take-down bow coming today that I'm looking forward to getting used to also. Thx.

As you said, the exception tends to be English Longbows which are tillered to a very specific draw length. If you exceed this they do break :) Nice vid!

Thanks for the explanation on anchor points with shorter bows! No more worries about a wrong anchor point for me, as I'm using the corner of my lips and the side of my thumb across my cheek. Again you have more information in one video that I could think of :) great channel 👍🏻👍🏻

Same here I like your common sense as well your simplicity 👍 how you explain, salute to you sir

In terms of stacking, sometimes it depends on bow design too. There are some very good short bows out there, I have a Super Mag 48 from Bear Archery which is a 48 inch hunting recurve bow (it's 50 pounds at 28 inch draw). And oh golly is this bow nice and smooth for how short it is!!

this is why i prefer anchoring 70inch, 66 never gave me two reference points because it wouldnt touch my nose and chin/lip. i never considered why until now. glad this was recommended today. cheers.

I'm thinking about getting a cheap recurve just to start out and this video answered a lot of my questions! Thanks and nice channel :}

Love your videos. I have not yet taken up archery, I have an appointment with an archery club in a few days. This video discusses using a short bow with a tall person. What about a short person using a long bow, what are the disadvantages if any of doing this?

Finally some words about bow size...!!! I have 31" draw length and my beginner bow was 68". Then it became too week for me so I have decided to make a change...to hunter bow which is 60" and at the same time much stronger (45# at 28"). I had to convince people in archery shop that it's fine, limbs will not break as this is not a long bow or compound where there are some limitations of draw length. With my draw length it will be around 52-53# and yes - there is a problem with arrow pinch, that's why I shoot with 3 fingers under. And guess what? NO PROBLEM!! (at least so far) :)

I prefer compounds over recurves but one thing you dont get with compound bows is those big bows that are almost as tall as you are and while that makes recurves less ideal for hunting me as a target shooter think a longer bow looks cooler.

NUSensei Man, you are awesome! Love the way you explain stuff!

I'm 6 feet, my natural bone alignment draw is 38 inches (thumbdraw).. I practically have to use something like a manchu with 36 inches draw just to feel comfortable using it

I really like the way you teach ,to every perdón Who wants yo learn about Archery ,cheers !!

Almost six years later...I am currently using a bow that "too short" for an adult; as a wheelchair user, larger bows are simply too much for someone who has to shoot from a seated position. The bow is, however, adjustable to be comparable to a smaller adult's strength level.

Hi, so I am almost 6 feet tall and I bought my first Sanlida Noble Recurve at 68”. In my first class, the instructor told me that I couldn’t bring that bow and that it would be too dangerous, but I had been shooting it on my own for a couple weeks without any problems. Is it really dangerous? She said she doesn’t know how it hadn’t exploded yet.

So using a bigger size for example 68" instead of 66" will just result on a lower draw weigh?

The string came off the limb tip on my friends bow. The thread on the outside had separated and it just flung right off. He bought a new string and never had the issue again.

0:59 I thought he dry fired it for a second

Hello! It might be that no one sees this, but I am doing some research for fun about bows, and for the life of me there is one question that I just can't find an answer to, so I were wondering if any of you bow-gurus could help me? Basically, what I want to know is: Can recurve/reflex bows be made as large and powerful as a traditional longbow, if not then why? What pros and cons are there to each size and/or type?

What about short people with 26 inch draw lengths or less? Almost every begginer bow is 62 inches, thats taller than I am. Wouldn't a shorter recurve be better? If so who sells them? I've seen a handful of 58 inch bows on amazon but they are brands I've never heard of.

Hello . Love our vids . I have a 58in hunting recurve and I'm 183cm . I got my bow as a gift and I was scared of shooting it because allot of people said that it would break .

good to know I am constantly being criticized about having a small bow for target shooting

Exactly what I was looking for!

Very helpfull mate cheers. Been shooting compounds and love them, now looking at getting some type of hoyt recurve for targets. Some helpfull info thanks

прикольно. в детстве серьезно занимался стрельбой из лука. приятно смотреть как интрумент изменился за 25 лет))) у меня бы лук "ямаха" тяжелый но мощный)

Like the video, I know you’ve reviewed the Madarin duck line of recurves which aren’t traditional wooden (I believe) it’s telling me there is a maximum draw of 31 inches, but i am 32, does this still apply, or are they just covering themselves. Need help !

I have a 29.6” draw length and just bought a 66” bow. Couldn’t find a longer one that I liked at a reasonable starter price. Will this be alright or should I cancel the order and keep looking?

Hello, recently started archery after six years again and like your videos, great work! Currently im shooting a Hoyt Eclipse with short limbs, giving me a 66" bow with a draw length of about 27". After some shooting i have the issue that my index finger really starts hurting. (Also did six years ago). Is it because of my technique/fingertab/anatomy or did your hear about someone with similar issues with shall bows? Greetings from Germany!

I have recently acquired a 54" recurve "primitive" bow. It's quite nice. It has a ~40# at 20-22 inches.I'm six foot tall. The bow does not want to be overdrawn. It's a single piece of red oak. I'm not going to hunt with it or do formal target shooting. It's a backyard bow for me. I also am interested in learning the mystical art of instinctive shooting. The bowyer has given me some nice advice, but I'm wondering on what your take on this is as I will not be able to hold my left arm straight (I'm right handed) and anchor on my cheek.

I'm 13 and my dad bought a bow that is 66". Is it okay????

I have a 30 inch draw, what would the best set up be for flight archery? long limbs on a very short riser? or something else, or would the difference in speeds be too negligible?

What do you recommend for a 6 y/o that is trying to get into archery. Been looking around for something for my nephew.

But... what about brace height? Huge problem with using a bow that's 'too small' for you.

I have a 29 1/2" draw length (on average) and heard bow length is determined by doubling the draw length... So with my draw, is there a significant difference between 58" vs 60" bow length?

Nu Can you explain in a video how to combine raiser with limb size and is a smaller or bigger riser is preferred??

I have a 32 inch draw and a 58 inch bow it use to pinch my fingers really bad butt after a few months I don't even notice it anymore

I have a wooden bow of 24 poundage but still it becomes difficult for me to anchor/pull. Wasting both my energy and stamina.should I go for a little less poundage?

Am I mistaken or was that a backwards recurve in the thumbnail

My dad found a bow but it didn't have a string or arrows, he didn't buy, I just wanted to know how I could get a good bow string for it, I don't know the size of it or anything

please help me? i am a small FEMALE, 5,08 feet, 120 pounds, right eye dominant and write with my right hand. the measurament i got from my finger to finger (draw length) was 1,61cm which i converted here and got 63,4 inches. i then divdided the above 63,4 inches by 2,25 and got 28,1. which by your list here i should get a total lengh bow between 66 to 68. did i caculate all the above correct? i was thinking in getting a 23 inch riser so this way i have more choices to pick limbs and make it 64 inches total lengh or 66... giving me more possibilities. what do you think? or a 25 inch riser?

I am 71 inches or 1.8 meters tall and I have bow that is a one piece bow and is 54 inches long with a weight of 55 pounds. I get some major shakes when I draw an anchor point the one used in the video. Wondering what advice you have as far as exercises or possibly altering the draw length

Good information

Quick question, I started shooting recurve Olympic style. I’m 6’4 with 31 3/4” draw, I have been told to use a 72” bow but they seem to be a rare unicorn to find. Would 70” with 25” riser be a bit short for me? Since finding a 27” riser for under $500 seems impossible. Thanks

So even for me who has a 32 inch draw length it won't break? Also would the 64inch Samick Spyder XL be a good starter bow for me with my draw length?

I recently made the change to a 68" bow from a 70" with a 29.25" draw length. I was having trouble with the string resting heavily against my chest and wanted better limb efficiency. So far it seems comfortable, but I've noticed my anchor point has changed and I get slight callouses on the edges of my 2nd and 4th fingers on my draw arm from the pinch. Any advice?

Hi NUSensei. When you say 68" your refering to the total lenght of the bow right from tip to tip. I was looking at a rise that came in 2 lenghts. I cant remember what they were it was a hoyt and just for example said 21" and 24". Then i checked out some limbs and they seemed to come in different sizes too... so what difference does the length of the riser have. Im very confused now.... or have i just confused myself haha

Hey, I love your videos. Could you make a video explaining how your make your videos? Like how you document yourself?

Fantastic video, thanks!!

sir..how to increase draw weight if we use longbow..? some people say to shorter the limb..but some people say use tape in the limb. what do you think..?

Hopefully you can help me with this. I am 5'11" with a 29" draw length. According to my research i should be using a 66" or 68" bow. Why is it that most of the major brands (i.e Bear, Hoyt, PSE, etc) don't carry any traditional recurves that are around 66" to 68" on their website. The largest bow most of the companies have is around 60". Am i just searching for the wrong thing, or should i be looking into other more specific brands??? Thank you ahead of time.

I'm 11 years old and a bow the wrong size i was using broke

5'6 with 44 inch?

+NUSensei should i choose 68 or 66 bow. Iam 67,5 inch tall but so 66 would be closer but im thinking about future in archery so 68 would be for future. Thank you for awesome videos.

what about a 32" draw lenght i bought a 68" with 20 lbs and it works well?

I have a 30" draw length what would be the shortest recurve I could get that would still be relatively comfortable

Is there a discernable deference between the Bear Bull's-eye x vs the Sage? The reason I ask is they seem to me a layman very similar but the Bear is 99 where as the sage is 139.00. I am finally going to give archery a try I have been wanting to get into it for a couple of years now, but I haven't because I felt that if I was going to do it I should "do it right" and buy the expensive stuff. Well two years later no bow. I just could not spend that much on something that I might or might not like. Especially since I have a new home and children. My sons birthday is the 20th and I have decided to get him the lil Brave 2. I would like to get a bow so that we can learn and have fun together. I know 40 bucks isn't much savings but it would pay for some arrows and things plus I like the look of the Bear better. Any advice would be great.

Very helpful! Thanks.

i am 14 years old, can i use a samick sage take down recurve bow ,i have some experience but i'm not so familiarize with the recurve bow or should i start with something else ,if sou what?

So today (after 3 years) I decided to measure my draw length...I know I'm an idiot...and found that I have a roughly 28 inch draw length. I've been shooting a samick sage 62 inch recurve (originally with 50 lb, now 40 lb limbs) for about 2-3 years as my first, and currently only bow. I only shoot at a target and have not hunted with it, yet, and found out that according to charts, I need a bow 6 inches longer. What are the set-backs of shooting a bow like that? Will it affect accuracy for the better to buy a longer bow? Should I buy a new bow? Or continue to use my 62 inch, which I'm used to

I just had a 62" Samick Sage limb snap on me. 28" draw, 40 lbs. limbs.

Nice tutorial guide...

Lol. My kaya firefox. Is 50 inches. And 60 pounds at 31 .i draw 32 and anchor padt my ear using thumb draw .Yet my target bow my anchor is chin like yours. And my draw length is only 27.

Hi! Great videos! I'm a beginner looking to target shoot. Far as I can see and have been told a 68' bow minimum is what I need (I'm 5'10, 28 draw length). But I have found a bow I like for a good price to start out with which is 64", would this hinder my introduction in to learning how to shoot well in this size? Thanks!

NUSensei do I have to twist bowstring 9 times or keep it straight??

I'm a beginner archer seeking for a new bow, I was about the buy the Samick Sage when I learnt about bow sizes. I have a 26" draw length too, so according the charts i should purchase a 64" samick journey right ? Still, in the product description, the journey is the "Sage for 6ft tall, or more, people". So what do you think about it ? I should get a 62" Sage to begin with or a 64" ?

I have 27.8 inches arm length, is 68” good for me ? Plss

Hi, I just wanted to know if you have the mission menace bow. I've really been looking into it and I wanted to know what you thought of it or similar bows

Ever shot a Yumi bow before?

Is that also mean if i use more bigger size of the bow it's fine Sensei? I will use maximum bow size..😂

Good video, thanks

That you so much!!

Congratz, you are as good as 8 year old.

How long are your arrows

how do we know the sun's hot if we've never touched it before?

Man, I hate they use inches and foot to measure things :(

I have a 32 in draw shoot a 58" bear grizzly

I'm about 5ft6" but I have obscenely long arms, which makes my draw length 31". So I always end up with a really huge bow.

What about too big

My dads and brother now is bigger than I’m 4 feet 9

very informative, as always BUT PLZ use the metric system!, so the rest of the world knows what you are talking about!

I was stringing a 60# Yew longbow (and I was 11 years old), and I shattered it.

Wow, what a noisy bow !!

Thank you! Now im not worried that 60 inch bow will be too big for me im 14 years old.

1st

When I was 12 I used a 62" 50 pound recurve

*dry fires bow*

Should have also addressed the issue with a shorter smaller person using a longer 70-72" bow with aggresively recurving limbs that do not open at their draw length leading to less accuracy (recurves only reach stability in the limbs when they open as per Dr. Lieu's recurve instability in his "Recurve Fundamentals").

Finally, thank you so much. As someone with a 32.5" draw it's been a lot trying to figure this out