Archery involves real risk of serious injury or death. A drawn bow stores a large amount of energy, and broadheads are surgically sharp cutting tools. Everything published on ArcherySetup.com is researched guidance, not professional instruction. Have your setup verified by a qualified pro shop, follow your manufacturer's specifications, and shoot within your ability.
General disclaimer
The calculators, charts, guides and gear research on this site are provided for general informational purposes only. They are compiled from published manufacturer specifications, industry standards, pro shop guidance and verified owner reviews. We do not test equipment in person, we are not certified bow technicians, coaches or safety instructors, and nothing here creates a professional relationship with you.
We make no warranty that any figure, formula, chart value, specification or recommendation on this site is accurate, complete, current or suitable for your equipment. Use it at your own risk. Where our guidance and your manufacturer's documentation disagree, the manufacturer is right and we are wrong.
Calculator results are estimates
Every calculator here produces an estimate for planning, not a measurement of your bow. Real arrow speed, dynamic spine and downrange energy depend on cam design and timing, string and cable condition, string accessories, rest type, release aid, arrow straightness and consistency, altitude, temperature and your own form. No web page can see any of that.
Treat calculator output as a starting point that gets you into the right group, then confirm it in the real world: chronograph your actual speed, bare shaft or paper tune to confirm spine, and have a pro shop check the result. Do not buy a full dozen shafts on a calculator result alone.
Draw weight
Shooting more draw weight than you can control safely is one of the most common causes of injury and bad habits in archery. If you cannot draw the bow smoothly, with the bow held roughly level, without pointing it skyward and without shaking, the weight is too high. This matters for shoulder health, and it matters for anyone standing near you.
Never exceed a bow's rated maximum draw weight, and never back limb bolts out beyond the manufacturer's stated limit, which is commonly around ten full turns from bottomed out but varies by model. Going past it can allow a limb to come loose under load. Draw weight adjustment on many bows requires a bow press and belongs with a qualified pro shop.
Arrow spine and arrow weight
Arrow spine is a safety component, not a tuning preference. A badly under-spined arrow can flex severely enough to fail on release, and a failed arrow at full draw can cause serious hand and arm injuries. Match spine to your draw weight, arrow length, point weight and bow type, and confirm the match by tuning.
Never shoot an arrow lighter than 5 grains of total finished weight per pound of draw weight. A 60 pound bow therefore needs at least a 300 grain arrow. Shooting under that floor is functionally a dry fire, it can damage limbs, cams and strings, and it voids essentially every bow warranty on the market. This is one of the very few hard rules in arrow building and it has no exceptions.
Also, and without exception:
- Never dry fire a bow, meaning never release the string with no arrow nocked.
- Inspect every arrow before every shot. Flex carbon shafts and listen for cracking. Discard any shaft that is cracked, splintered, dented or has a loose or damaged insert.
- Never shoot an arrow that is too short for your draw, where the point can come behind the rest.
- Retire arrows after a hard impact against anything solid, even if they look intact.
Broadheads
Broadheads are cutting tools sharp enough to cause severe lacerations from a light touch. Keep them in a quiver or closed case at all times when not in use. When installing, removing or tightening one, use a broadhead wrench, keep every part of your hand behind the blades, and never pull toward yourself.
Broadheads also change arrow flight. A fixed blade head amplifies any tuning error that field points hide, so a bow must be tuned and sighted with the exact heads you intend to use. Confirm your local regulations on broadhead type, minimum cutting diameter and mechanical head legality before hunting, since these vary by jurisdiction and change.
Work that belongs with a pro shop
Some jobs involve releasing or containing stored limb energy, and doing them wrong can put a limb, cam or cable into the room at speed. Unless you own a proper bow press and know how to use it, take the following to a qualified pro shop:
- String and cable replacement, and any peep installation that requires a press
- Cam timing, draw length module or cam swaps, and let-off changes
- Limb replacement, limb pocket work, and any adjustment beyond the rated weight range
- Any inspection after a dry fire, a fall, or a suspected crack
If you suspect a bow is damaged, stop shooting it and have it inspected. A cracked limb or a frayed cable does not get better with another few shots.
Range safety and regulations
Know what is behind your target. Arrows travel far past a missed shot and pass through many materials that look solid. Use a proper backstop, shoot only at ranges and in locations where it is legal and safe to do so, and follow every rule of the range you are on.
Hunting regulations, minimum draw weight requirements, legal equipment, seasons, tags and land access rules differ by state, province and country, and they change. Nothing on this site is a statement of law. Verify current regulations with your own wildlife agency before you hunt. Bowhunting content here is limited to gear, ethics, regulations and shot placement theory.
No medical or professional advice
Archery loads the shoulder, elbow and back in ways that can cause or aggravate injury. Nothing here is medical advice. If you have pain, or any existing condition affecting your shoulders, back, arms or eyes, consult a qualified medical professional before shooting or before changing draw weight.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, ArcherySetup.com and Cozy River Studios accept no liability for any injury, death, property damage, equipment damage, legal consequence or financial loss arising from use of this site or reliance on its content. You are solely responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you. See our terms of service for the full statement, and our affiliate disclosure for how the site is funded.
Found something here that is wrong or unsafe? Please tell us through the contact page. Safety corrections go to the front of the queue.