Learning how to draw a compound bow can take some time.
However, learning how to draw a compound bow is an important first step to take if you ever want to be proficient with a compound bow.
The compound bow is one of the most popular archery bows currently available in the market. It is used in both hunting and target shooting. These bows offer a wide variety of adjustment options and are suitable for both novice and experienced hunters. If you have recently bought a compound bow, you might be wondering how to draw it properly. Well, you are in the right place. We have created this guide to show you how to draw a compound bow.
Things to Keep in Mind When Drawing a Compound Bow
· Keep Your Head Straight Up
Some archers bring their heads back from the string while others lean into the bowstring. When you are drawing the compound bow, make sure to keep your head straight up and don’t look at your target. You can aim for the target once you have drawn the bow.
· Use Your Back
A draw will use both your arms and your back. So when you are at a full draw, squeeze your shoulder blades together. Make sure to do this gently and don’t try to jerk them together. If you are still unable to draw the bow to a full, you might have to lower the draw weight.
· Relax Your Shoulders
Keep your shoulders as low as you can. Make sure that they are relaxed, and you aren’t pulling too hard. If you have to pull very hard, it means that the draw weight needs to be adjusted to suit you.
· Keep Your Wrist Flat
While you are drawing the bow, make sure to keep your wrist as flat as possible. You could end up with a wrist injury if your wrist bends too much during the draw.
· Keep the Bow String Centered
When you are drawing, the bowstring should be lined up with your bow’s center. Make sure that you aren’t pulling right or left.
· Take Stock at Complete Draw
At the time of the complete draw, make sure that your chest is facing perpendicular to your target, and your index finger is near your mouth. This is called finding the archer point. Your elbow on the draw arm should be right behind the arrow.
· Keep it Smooth
Make sure to draw in one continuous motion. If you are struggling, try lowering the draw weight.
These are a lot of things, but you don’t have to get everything right when you are just starting out. You can do well in archery while you are working on these things, so don’t think that you have to perfect everything before going to the range. You will learn to draw a compound bow with practice properly, and in time, you will get all the details right. You would see great improvement as you incorporate every little detail into the draw. Here are a few more things that you should pay attention to if you want to improve your draw.
Pay Attention to Your Grip
When you are drawing a compound bow, make sure that your grip is relaxed. Many novice archers have a good grip when they are holding the bow, but they grip too hard when drawing. Avoid this. You must hold the bow with a decent force so that it doesn’t vibrate, but you must also be relaxed and calm. This way, your grip would be just right. Remember that a very tight grip can result in a serious welt on your bow arm, so maintain a firm yet relaxed grip while drawing a compound bow.
What to Do If Your Bow Lifts Upward
When drawing a compound bow, make sure that your bow is pointed at the target. If you aren’t able to draw properly without your bow lifting upward, it means that you are using a bow that’s too heavy. In other words, the bow’s draw weight is too much. This can be dangerous as you might end up misfiring while your bow is pointing upward. So if your compound bow lifts upwards while you are drawing, lower its draw weight.
The Right Draw Weight
You won’t be able to properly draw a compound bow if you don’t choose the right draw weight. Draw weight refers to the amount of force it takes to draw the bowstring. Pulling back the string of a bow whose draw weight is 10 lbs is a lot easier than pulling back the string of a bow with a 40 lbs draw weight.
You might wonder why it is important to set the right draw weight.
Well, if you set the draw weight too low, you would overdraw the bow, and your arrow will not be as accurate or fast as you would like. On the other hand, if you use a bow whose draw weight is too high, you will have a hard time drawing, and you might end up injuring yourself in the process. Thus, it is very important to set the right draw weight before you nock an arrow and pull the string.
Final Thoughts
We have provided complete guidance on how to draw a compound bow. Focus on everything discussed above and take the time to practice. The more you practice, the better you will get. Pay attention to your grip, the position of your arm, and the draw weight. Make sure to choose the right draw weight for your compound bow. If you are struggling to draw, try lowering the draw weight.