How to Set Draw Weight the Right Way
Set draw weight to the heaviest poundage you can draw smoothly while seated, with the bow held level, and hold for five seconds without shaking. Adjust it with the limb bolts, turning both limbs equally, and never back a bolt out past the manufacturer's stated maximum number of turns.
Draw weight is where ego does the most damage in archery. The honest test is not what you can haul back once on a good day, it is what you can draw under control, from a seated position, at the end of a cold morning, without moving the bow off target. Nearly every archer shoots better after turning the bow down, and nearly every archer resists doing it.
The seated draw test
Sit in a chair with your feet flat. Hold the bow out at shoulder height, pointed at a safe backstop, level with the floor. Draw straight back. Do not raise the bow toward the sky and pull down into position, which is the movement people unconsciously use to recruit their whole body.
If you can complete that draw smoothly and settle at full draw for five seconds without the pin dancing, the weight is appropriate. If you cannot, turn it down. This test is strict on purpose, because a treestand, a kneeling position behind cover, or a cold shoulder in late season are all harder than a warm range session.
Safety: sky-drawing a bow, pointing it steeply upward to recruit more muscle before pulling down, is dangerous. If the release fires or the string slips, the arrow leaves at an unpredictable angle and you lose all control of where it lands. Range officers stop it for a reason. If you cannot draw level, you are overbowed.
How to adjust the limb bolts
Compound draw weight is set by limb bolt tension. Bottomed out, the bow is at its peak rating. Backing the bolts out reduces weight, usually by 2 to 3 pounds per full turn, though the exact figure varies by bow.
- Use the correct size Allen wrench and seat it fully, because rounding a limb bolt is an expensive mistake.
- Bottom out both bolts first so you have a known starting point at peak weight.
- Back out the top bolt one full turn, then the bottom bolt one full turn. Keep them within a quarter turn of each other at all times so limb tiller stays even.
- Count and record your turns. Write it in your phone.
- Check the manufacturer's maximum number of turns, commonly 5 to 6. Going past it can allow a limb to shift in its pocket at full draw.
- Recheck cam timing and draw stop contact after a large change, and re-sight the bow.
A bow rated 60 to 70 pounds gives you a 10 pound working window, not an unlimited one. If your honest number is 45 pounds, you need different limbs or a different bow, not more turns.
This is the strongest argument for a wide-adjustment bow as a first purchase. A model covering roughly 5 to 70 pounds lets you start at a weight you can actually control, move up as strength builds, and adapt it for another shooter in the household without buying new limbs.
Draw weight, speed and trajectory
Higher draw weight buys a flatter arrow, which means a smaller error when you misjudge distance. That is a real benefit, but it is smaller than most people assume, and it is the only benefit.
| Draw weight | Minimum arrow weight | Typical arrow speed | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 lb | 150 gr | 190 to 215 fps | Youth, beginners, indoor target |
| 40 lb | 200 gr | 220 to 245 fps | Small-framed adults, small game, target |
| 50 lb | 250 gr | 245 to 270 fps | Legal for deer in most states, very shootable |
| 60 lb | 300 gr | 265 to 290 fps | The most common hunting weight |
| 70 lb | 350 gr | 280 to 310 fps | Larger game, longer shots, strong shooters |
| 80 lb | 400 gr | 295 to 325 fps | Specialist use, rarely justified |
Speeds assume a typical hunting arrow and a 28 to 29 inch draw. Your own number depends on draw length and arrow weight, and the arrow speed calculator will get you closer than the IBO figure on the sticker, which is measured at 30 inches with a 350 grain arrow.
The 5 grain per pound rule
The minimum arrow weight column above is not a suggestion. Total finished arrow weight must be at least 5 grains per pound of draw weight. A 70 pound bow needs a 350 grain arrow minimum, a 60 pound bow needs 300 grains, and a 50 pound bow needs 250. Below that, the energy that should go into the arrow goes into the limbs and cams instead. It behaves like a partial dry fire, it damages bows, and it voids essentially every warranty on the market.
This is why draw weight changes and arrow changes belong in the same conversation. Turning a bow up 10 pounds raises your minimum arrow weight by 50 grains. Check yours with the total arrow weight calculator and confirm the resulting energy with the kinetic energy calculator.
Draw weight and spine
Arrow spine requirements move roughly one group per 10 pounds of draw weight. A shaft that tuned beautifully at 55 pounds can tear stubbornly at 65 for no other reason. If you change draw weight by more than about 5 pounds, recheck spine with the arrow spine calculator and reconfirm with bare shaft tuning before assuming the rest moved.
Building up safely
Archery loads the rotator cuff and the rhomboids in a way that few other activities do, and shoulder injuries from overbowing are common and slow to heal. Increase by 2 to 3 pounds at a time, shoot at the new weight for two to three weeks, and stop increasing the moment your form degrades. Draw a resistance band in the shooting motion on off days if you want to accelerate the process. If your shoulder aches the day after a session, you went up too fast.
Related guides
- How to measure draw length: fit the bow to your frame first
- Archery form fundamentals: the back tension that makes weight manageable
- First bow setup checklist
- Compound vs recurve for beginners: holding weight differs enormously between the two
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my draw weight is too heavy?
Sit in a chair, hold the bow out level at shoulder height, and draw it straight back without pointing it skyward or dipping it. If you cannot do that smoothly and hold for five seconds, the bow is too heavy for you. Sky-drawing, shoulder hitching and shaking at full draw are all signals that the weight is winning, and every one of them builds bad form that is hard to unlearn.
How do I turn down the draw weight on a compound bow?
Back out the limb bolts with an Allen wrench, turning both limbs exactly the same amount, usually a half or full turn at a time. Each full turn changes weight by roughly 2 to 3 pounds on most bows. Never back a limb bolt out past the manufacturer maximum, which is commonly 5 to 6 turns, and always keep both limbs within a quarter turn of each other.
What draw weight do I need for deer hunting?
Most states set a legal minimum between 35 and 45 pounds for deer, and many bowhunters shoot 55 to 65. What matters more than the number is arrow weight, broadhead sharpness and shot placement. A well-tuned 50 pound setup with a heavy arrow and a sharp fixed blade outperforms a poorly tuned 70 pound rig. Always check your own state regulations, since minimums vary.
Does higher draw weight make me more accurate?
No, and it usually makes you less accurate. Higher weight buys a flatter trajectory, which shrinks the penalty for misjudging distance, but it costs holding steadiness, shot count and consistency. Most archers shoot noticeably better groups at a weight they can draw 40 times in a session than at their absolute maximum. Trajectory is a small advantage. Fatigue is a large one.
Can I increase draw weight later?
Yes, within the limb range of your bow. A bow rated 60 to 70 pounds cannot go to 75, but it can start at 60 while you build strength and move up over a season. Increase by 2 to 3 pounds at a time and shoot at the new weight for a couple of weeks before going further. Also recheck arrow spine, because higher weight stiffens your dynamic spine requirement.
Does draw weight affect arrow spine?
Directly. Higher draw weight requires a stiffer shaft, and the jump between spine groups happens roughly every 10 pounds. Changing draw weight by 10 pounds without rechecking spine is a common reason a previously tuned bow suddenly will not group. It also changes your minimum safe arrow weight, since the 5 grain per pound floor scales with draw weight.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, verified owner reviews, and pro shop guidance. We do not test gear in person. Draw weight and arrow spine affect safety, so follow your bow manufacturer's specifications and have setup work checked by a qualified pro shop.