Totally lost, archery skills going the wrong direction

[shredder4286]

I've been shooting for a year now. I thought I was "overbowed" so I sold my bear encounter, thinking a new bow would help. Turns out- after I had already agreed to buy a different bow- the archery shop in Colorado where I bought the bear set the bow up at a 26" draw length.

The tech at the bow shop measured me, and said that I'm actually a 29 1/2" draw length. So we set the new bow up for that length and I've felt totally wobbly, uncomfortable and screwed up every since.

Should I go back to a shorter draw length? I loved shooting my bow the way it was set up at very first, but now it's just aggrivating...

Wanna be able to shoot accurately enough to hunt this fall.

[RadSav]

How tall are you?  26" seems a little short, but 29.5" is actually quite long for the average person.  To be 29.5" you'd need to be between 6'1" and 6'2" in height.  Unless you are a gorilla or a girl

[bobcat]

I would try to adjust to your actual draw length. You actually gain quite a bit of speed with the extra 3 inches of draw length, with no downside. Other than your not accustomed to it.

[dreamunelk]

How tall are you?  3" is quite bit.  If correct you should feel more natural.  You may want to get remeasure from someone.

[shredder4286]

How tall are you?

  I'm 5' 10"! So, 70" divided by 2.5 is 28..

You may want to get remeasure from someone.

   I'm in Colville. The only "bow shops" I know of that are fairly close are Camo'd arrow and Clarks all sports. But Clark's customer service for archery is usually pretty unhelpful. (Camo'd arrow is where I bought the new bow at)

[buckfvr]

Does your bow have adjustable draw length cams ?   I cant immagine you are a 29 1/2 @ 5ft 10"         What bow did you get ?  Give us more info about bow.

If they set you up at 29 1/2" and then added a string loop, you are definetly stretched out too far.....Im thinking 28" with a loop would be right......

[jgrimes]

Have someone measure your wingspan from tip of middle finger to tip of middle finger and then divide by 2.5. Height isn't an exact way to determine draw length. Some people have gorilla arms like Rad said.

[shredder4286]

Does your bow have adjustable draw length cams?

We didn't have to get any modules to adjust it.

The bow is a hoyt power hawk.

[dreamunelk]

http://www.huntersfriend.com/draw-length-weight.htm

Try this link for instructions.  Have someone help.   It may be correct but, if it feels strange after shooting for awhile then something is wrong.

On a side note I gained and extra 1.5" recently when a pro shooter friend informed me my release was adjust incorrectly.  Took a couple of days and it started to feel good.

[RadSav]

How tall are you?

  I'm 5' 10"! So, 70" divided by 2.5 is 28..

You may want to get remeasure from someone.

   I'm in Colville. The only "bow shops" I know of that are fairly close are Camo'd arrow and Clarks all sports. But Clark's customer service for archery is usually pretty unhelpful. (Camo'd arrow is where I bought the new bow at)

Yeah, you would have to be built like an anvil to be 5'10" and fit to a 29.5" bow.  28" sounds about right to me +/- .5"  That should be much more comfortable than being 1.5" too long.  And it will avoid a lot of bad habits from forming.  Wingspan like you mention is the very best measure.  Although the measurement has to be done with the archer relaxed.  If you stretch out you get too long a measurement.  Shooting a short draw length rarely is a cause for bad habits while too long of draw length leads to nothing but trouble.

[shredder4286]

Shooting a short draw length rarely is a cause for bad habits while too long of draw length leads to nothing but trouble.

There's a good bit of truth in that I bet. I just can't figure out why She'd set me up for a draw length that was so long for me.

Anyway, maybe I'll go over there tomorrow and have her adjust it so it's shorter.

[buckfvr]

Start out by taking it back and having them set you up at 28, take some shots, and maybe try 28 1/2 .....compare and move on....You may have gotten 29 1/2 as that was what they had.......just sayin.....seen it before.

If all else fails, I can have you come over and shoot so I can see what is going on first hand.....

[RadSav]

I've seen a lot of shops get busy and count the A,B,C... backwards on the Hoyt cams.  They think they are setting it shorter when they are actually setting it longer   Nice thing about that cam is you should not have much trouble getting it back where you need it.

Maybe she had just seen that albino turkey she wants to shoot out there!  Got excited and couldn't think straight

[shredder4286]

Start out by taking it back and having them set you up at 28, take some shots, and maybe try 28 1/2 .....compare and move on....You may have gotten 29 1/2 as that was what they had.......just sayin.....seen it before.

If all else fails, I can have you come over and shoot so I can see what is going on first hand.....

Ok, cool. I appreciate the offer to help.

I just measured my wingspan. If I relax, it's 70". If I push my chest up against the wall, it's 71 3/4".

They think they are setting it shorter when they are actually setting it longer

Maybe so, but they meant to set it up at 29 1/2". Either way, I'll go get it shortened. Thanks for the advice everybody. I'll give you an update once I get it all figured out.

[mountainman]

So many variables. wingspan divided by 2.5 gets rough anotomical minus 1/2" for d-loop and release, but what kind of release? This is also variable. actual body size and build has alot to do with it also. Best way is to have someone knowledgeable to look your form over and advise. Kirk Anderson in Omak would be glad to help. You can find him by his wie Kym at Daves gun in Riverside. Or if ever in Wenatchee stop by and see me at High Mountain Hunting Supply and I would be glad to help, no charge.