How to Choose a Bow for Archery? | Find Your Perfect Match

Choosing the right archery bow comes down to three personal measurements and matching the bow style to your goals.

Knowing how to choose a bow for archery starts with understanding that the best bow depends on your body, not brand preferences or what your friend shoots. Three measurements — eye dominance, draw length, and draw weight — determine which bow fits before you consider style or price. Get these right first, and everything else falls into place naturally.

How Do You Determine Eye Dominance and Draw Length?

Your dominant eye decides which hand you shoot with — right-eye dominant means a right-handed bow, even if you’re naturally left-handed. To check, extend both hands and form a small triangle between your thumbs and forefingers. With both eyes open, center that triangle on a distant object, then close one eye at a time. The eye that keeps the object centered is your dominant eye.

Draw length controls how the bow fits your frame. The standard formula: measure your wingspan fingertip to fingertip, divide by 2.5, and round up to the nearest half-inch. A 68-inch wingspan gives a 27.5-inch draw length. A pro shop can confirm this with a static test — measuring from your thumb web to the corner of your mouth (for finger release) or jaw and ear (for a release aid). Your arrows must be slightly longer than your draw length, so getting this number right affects both comfort and safety.

Which Bow Type Fits Your Archery Goals?

Each bow type serves a different purpose, and matching the type to your goal is the single most important gear decision you’ll make. Here’s how the main categories break down:

Hunters nearly always choose compound bows for their mechanical advantage and compact size in blinds or treestands. Target and Olympic shooters gravitate toward recurve bows — the only style used in Olympic competition. Traditionalists who value history and challenge often pick longbows or recurves without sights or stabilizers. ArcheryGB’s first-bow guide reinforces the importance of matching bow type to your intended discipline before buying.

If you’re helping a young or beginner shooter, Genesis and mini bows offer adjustable draw lengths without tools, making them ideal entry-level choices.

Draw Weight Guidelines for Beginners

Starting too heavy is the most common mistake in archery. Beginners should begin at 20–25 pounds and never exceed 30 pounds initially — this protects your form and prevents injury. A rough guideline is 25% of your body weight, but individual strength varies widely.

For kids ages 4 to 7, 5–10 pounds works; ages 7 to 10 handle 10–20 pounds; ages 11 to 14 can shoot 15–30 pounds. Adult hunters typically shoot 50–70 pounds with compound bows, but maximum weight isn’t required for effectiveness — accuracy matters more than power. Recurve archers can work up to 20–70 pounds over time by upgrading limbs. Invest more in the riser (handle) than the limbs, since limbs get replaced as you increase poundage.

Don’t increase poundage rapidly. Build strength and form first, and always visit a pro shop to test multiple bows at the same specifications before committing to a purchase. Safety checks matter too: always use a stringer when stringing a bow (never hand-string it, which can cause total bow failure), and inspect the bow carefully before each shooting session. Check local hunting laws for minimum draw weight requirements if you plan to hunt.

Once you know your specs and preferred bow type, browse tested bow models and hands-on reviews to compare your top options before visiting a shop. When you test bows at the pro shop, have them set up several models at your exact draw length and let-off. Shoot each one and pay attention to grip comfort, draw smoothness, the valley at full draw, and hand shock. The bow that feels dead (minimal vibration) and natural is your match.