I've discussed how I'm wanting to get a new bow and then lower my poundage even further. Building on that draw length. Recently I was measuring how tall my kids were and then I did wing span for S&G's. I was also measured I'm 75 inches tall (6'3) with a 77 inch wing span. Over time I've shot 31 inches, 30 inches, and right now 29.5 inches. MFJJ had a youtube short on knowing what your draw length should be, which got me thinking about draw length again. if you do the wingspan / 2.5 I'm just under a 30.5 inch draw. When I went down to 29.5 it was because I had been reading how at some point when the US Olympic Archery team had a new coach he lowered all their draw lengths a little bit and they improved. I have no idea where I read/saw this but I remember it. What are the pros and cons of over draw, right on, short draw? How close are you to this type of measurement compared what you're actually shooting? Also does thumb release v wrist strap finger trigger release effect this at all?
I measure out to a 28.2" draw length with the wing span method. An exact 27.5" draw length gives me the best pin float, with a 3/4" long d-loop. The kicker is you can't trust what the bow mods claim they are. For example, two of my bows are a Solution and a RevoltX, both the same manufacturer. At 27.5" draw length the Solution actually is a 27-7/8" draw length and the RevoltX is 27-5/8". The RevoltX I actually use the 27.5" draw length and make the d-loop length 5/8". But the Solution I use the 27" draw length setting and then set my d-loop length longer, a 7/8" long d-loop for that setup. You see a lot of people say they shoot the draw length that "feels the best". Perhaps that is 1/2" one way or the other of how they measured and started with the wing span method. What "feels" the best, aside from actually using a draw length that causes soreness or pain of course, is not the greatest way to set your draw length. It is not about how it feels, it is about the best results on the target. What do we ultimately want? The best accuracy we can get. Since the "proper" way to shoot a bow is to let the pin float on the bullseye and we pull through until the release fires, then it is going to be best if our pin float is as minimal as we can get it. So, experiment with it. Find what gives you the best pin float. When I set up a bow, I'll start at my normal 27.5" draw length setting. Put on my normal 3/4" d-loop. Then I'll draw the bow (always with an arrow nocked, even though I'm not going to shoot), anchor in, and hold my pin on a spot at about 30 yards. Watch how the pin floats. Then I let down, move the draw length to 27"and do it again. Then I'll set the draw length to 28" and do it again. I find the setting that shows the best pin float. IME, too long of draw length has a pin float that is slower but wanders farther away from the bullseye. Too short will show faster pin movement but it doesn't wander as far away from the bullseye as too long does. You're looking for the best of both. And from my first paragraph, that can be different for different bows, even within the same manufacturer. After that there's several more things that can be done to refine pin float. D-loop length, d-loop height, cam timing, tiller...Paige Pearce has a great video called "how I make my bow aim better" that is a good watch. You don't have to get into all the things she does, but just draw length setting, d-loop length, d-loop height can make a world of difference.
For your question about release type, I generally do not mess with the bow's draw length setting when changing from an index to a thumb but I do have to change the d-loop length. I can use the same everything for both if I really had to, they're not way off from each other, but for best pin float I will see a benefit from adjusting d-loop length. How much and which way really depends on the difference between the two releases. For example, a "normal trigger" index and something like a B3 Exit Pro or a Stan Onnex are fairly similar, but a forward trigger style index like the B3 Hawk vs. either of those hand helds is pretty drastically different.
sooooo, you get your pin to 'float' .... hmmmm, novel idea, must try that some time .. (mucho sarcasm and some envy for those in Rio Linda) ..
