How to choose your first bow

The type of bow determines the equipment and technique you will use, but two bows of the same type can feel very different. If you are still choosing between recurve, barebow, traditional and compound, start with our comparison of bow types. Here we look at the next step: fitting a particular bow to the person shooting it.

Five measurements and specifications to keep distinct

Draw weight: choose what you can repeat

Drawing a bow once and training with it are different tasks. A suitable draw weight lets you learn the movement without adapting it to an overly heavy draw. If you increasingly raise your shoulder, shorten your draw or rush to release the string, review your equipment and technique with your coach. More draw weight does not, by itself, guarantee a better shot.

The weight marked on recurve limbs is measured under specified conditions, often at a draw length of 28 inches. The weight you actually draw depends on your draw length and the bow’s configuration. A measurement at your own draw length is therefore more useful to a shop than the limb marking alone. General poundage rules based on age, sex or height cannot replace this measurement.

Do not buy heavier limbs simply so that you will not “outgrow them too quickly”. At the beginning, a manageable draw weight and repeatable technique matter more. When choosing a riser, discuss the option of changing limbs later and check that the parts are compatible.

Bow mass: try it with the accessories fitted

A bow that is easy to draw can still be heavy to hold up. The mass of the riser, sight, stabilisers and additional weights changes how the complete setup feels and balances. Compare more than bare risers: try a setup like the one you intend to shoot.

Pay attention to the shape of the grip, too. Does your hand naturally settle in the same place, or do you keep having to adjust it? Two bows of the same mass can balance differently. World Archery’s first-bow guide recommends handling risers and, where possible, trying them before buying.

Choose draw length and bow size together

Measure your draw length while using the movement taught by your coach and reaching the agreed anchor position at your face. Height alone does not tell you how you will stand, position your arms or finish your draw. This position can change as you learn, so your first measurement is not a size fixed for life.

Recurve bow length is chosen with your draw length, the riser and limb combination, and the string angle at your fingers in mind. An “adult” label is not enough. The manufacturer’s size recommendations help narrow down the choice, but you still need to check the fit in practice.

For a compound bow, it is especially important to check that the particular model’s draw length adjustment range includes your measurement. The reduced holding weight at full draw (let-off) does not remove the peak draw weight you must pull through. Check both before buying, and have a specialist adjust the bow according to that model’s instructions.

A right-handed bow is held in the left hand

The marking RH (right hand) generally means that you draw the string with your right hand and hold the bow in your left. With LH (left hand), it is the other way round. This is easy to confuse when buying online.

Shooting handedness is assessed through hand comfort and the eye used for aiming. Your dominant eye does not necessarily match your dominant hand. The Archery GB instructor handbook suggests starting with a comfortable shooting side and assessing eye dominance if aiming difficulties arise. If your hand and eye preferences do not align, try the options with a coach before ordering a bow.

Match the arrows to both the archer and the bow

The right length is essential for the arrow to remain properly supported at full draw. An arrow that is too short can fall off the rest. Draw length and the length of an arrow you order are not the same measurement: the seller needs to know exactly where your stated length starts and ends.

Spine describes an arrow shaft’s resistance to bending. Arrows of the same length or material do not necessarily suit the same bow. A manufacturer’s selection chart considers arrow length, bow type, actual draw weight and specified setup variables, such as point mass. You can see this in the Easton 2026 target arrow charts.

Treat the bow and arrows as one system. Check their suitability again when changing limbs or draw weight, or shortening arrows. Leave arrow cutting and assembly to a specialist; a beginner should not trim arrows to the exact length that happened to be enough for one of their first shots.

What to try and record before buying

If possible, try the planned setup at a range with a coach. Assess how it feels over repeated shots, rather than just the first draw. Follow the range commands during the trial and never release the string without an arrow.

• Shooting handedness: RH or LH, which eye you aim with, and whether the position is comfortable.
• Measured draw length: including the measurement method used.
• Draw weight and settings: actual recurve draw weight at your draw length, or checked compound bow settings.
• The complete setup: bow length, riser and limb models, a compatible string and the chosen accessories.
• Arrows: model, length, spine and matched components.
• Total budget: include finger protection or a release aid, depending on how you shoot, an armguard, quiver, case and any fitting needed.

When buying a used bow, its exact model, part compatibility and condition also matter. A photograph cannot confirm that a bow is undamaged or that its adjustment range will suit you. A compound bow in particular is best checked and set up by a specialist who works with that equipment.

Start with a training session and clear measurements

World Archery recommends getting to know archery at a club or range and speaking to a coach before buying equipment. That lets you base your decision on your own shooting form and a setup you have tried. If you want to start archery in Klaipėda, read about archery training or contact the club to discuss where to begin.