Recurve equipment selection – Maple Ridge Archery
Page 1 of 3
Equipment selection recurve:
This document is only meant as a guide and each archer should be individually assessed.
Equipment to get you started:
After the initial decision to join archery, you will need to purchase the following
equipment:
Finger tab
Armguard
Arrows (set of 6 with extra fletches and arrow nocks and glue for repairs)
Not required but is handy to have:
Quiver (this holds the arrows)
After a month or two:
Bow
(Some stores offer a bow program where you can purchase a used bow and trade it in
for a longer/higher poundage as your archer grows and improves so inquire while you
are at the shop on your first visit)
The finger tab and quiver are right handed or left handed. If you pull the string using your
right hand you are a right-handed shooter. If you pull the string with your left hand, you are a
left-handed shooter.
Arrows:
When you shoot indoors, you shoot 3 arrows each end.
We suggest you buy a set of 6 inexpensive aluminium arrows from an archery store.
Arrows are manufactured from several companies and come in different flexibilities/stiffness
based on the archers draw length and the “poundage” of the bow they shoot.
When you are just starting, we recommend that children shoot a bow UNDER 20lbs and adults
UNDER 25lbs. Refer to the chart in the next section regarding purchasing a bow.
1516 are a good arrow for younger archers shooting 15lbs
1616 are a good arrow for average height archers shooting up to 25lbs.
Taller archers may need 1716 or 1816’s – the archery store will help you.
Archers NAME:
Right handed or Left handed:
age
Height:
Arm span:
Bow currently using (length and pounds):
Suggested arrows:
Checklist (required)
Additional (not required immediately)
Armguard
Quiver
Fingertab
Arrows
Extra arrow fletches/nocks for repairs
sex
Recurve equipment selection – Maple Ridge Archery
Page 2 of 3
Ready to buy your own bow?
When you buy your own bow you may also need to buy different arrows. We suggest a
set of 12 as 6 are shot each end in the outdoor season. A discussion about arrows
follows this section.
Your height in inches or your arm span finger tip to finger tip=
Divide your height or span by 2.5 = draw length
Add 2inches to your draw length = your arrow length.
For example
Height = 65inches (5’5”)
Draw length = 26inches
Arrow length = 28inches
What length of bow should I select?
(a growing archer can purchase a longer bow then they currently need and grow into it )
Height/Span
40 - 46
47 - 53
54 - 58
59 - 63
64 – 68
69 – 71
72 - 76
Draw length
16 – 18
19 – 21
22 – 23
24 – 25
26 – 27
28
29-30
Arrow length
18 – 20
21 – 23
24 – 25
26 – 27
28 – 29
30
31 - 32
Wood
Not under 52”
Not under 56”
Not under 60”
Not under 66”
Not under 68”
Not under 70”
Fiberglass
Not under 42”
Not under 48”
Not under 54”
Not under 62”
Not under 64”
Not under 66”
Not under 68”
For the average person, height and arm span are the same, so draw length could be estimated
by height.
A recurve bow with a riser and limbs.
A riser often comes in 23” and 25” and is right handed or left handed. A riser should last you a
while and you may want to shoot Olympic style with a sight, so make sure it has the ability to
mount a sight and attach a clicker. Most often the limbs will have different weights posted on
them based on the bow length. Most commonly a limb will be posted with the weight for a 66”
or 68” bow length. For instance 30lbs at 68” or 32lbs at 66”. To calculate what your draw
weight is, subtract or add 2lbs per inch difference from a 28’ draw length. If your draw length is
26” and you limbs are 32lbs then you are actually drawing 28lbs (28 – 26 = 2inches x 2lbs/inch
= 4lbs, subtract 4lbs from 32lbs)
How many lbs should I be drawing? Don’t overdo it when you are beginning!
Children 6-8
Children 8-12
Boys 12 - 14yrs
Girls 12 – 14yrs
Boys 15 – 17yrs
Girls 15 – 18yrs
Men
Women
Beginner archers:
About 10lbs
About 12lbs
About 15 to 16lbs
About 12 to 16lbs
16 to 22lbs
15 to 18lbs
16 to 24lbs
16 to 20lbs
These low weights are suitable for learning archery indoors. An archer needs to learn FORM
indoors and then increase the draw weight to prepare for outdoor distances.
Recurve equipment selection – Maple Ridge Archery
Page 3 of 3
What about arrows?
Arrows models will be matched by your actual draw weight (lbs) and your arrow length.
So if my height is 65inches
My draw length is 26 inches
My arrow length is 28 inches
My total bow length (tip to tip unstrung) is 66 inches. My limbs say 34lbs at 66”. This is based
on a 28” draw length. My draw length is only 26inches so I am really drawing 30lbs (subtract
2lbs per inch difference) and I am using 28inch arrows.
I could choose any of these types of arrows, (this chart is for Easton brand arrows)
Size relates to the diameter and spine relates to the “stiffness” of the arrow.
How many arrows do I need to buy?
Indoors you shoot 3 arrows at a time so purchase at least 6 arrows for the indoor season.
Outdoors you shoot 6 arrows at a time so purchase at least 12 arrows for the outdoor season.
Always purchase extra fletches and arrow nocks and glue for arrow repairs.
Can I use the same arrows indoors and outdoors?
Yes as long as the arrows are suitable for the possible increase in limb weight you may need to
shoot outdoor distances.
What else do I need?
Your bow will need an arrow rest system, this can be a simple “stick on” rest or a more
complex rest and plunger system.
Sight: If you are shooting sighted you will need to purchase a sight.
Finger tab: this can be a shelf tab for sighted shooters or a simple finger tab. These are right
handed and left handed.
Arm guard
Finger sling
Quiver: this holds your arrows and should have a pouch to hold a note book. These are right
handed and left handed.
Bow stringer
Other equipment for intermediate shooters: is a stabilizer, a clicker and a bow square