- amazon s3...the bow as it passes the bow, this is called the "archer's paradox"....

www.TraditionalArcheryAcademy.com

Traditional Archery Academy



Crows Head Archery offers a wide range of Traditional Longbows,

Recurves, Arrows, Quivers and Bow Building Supplies.

If you are looking for a high quality Traditional Bow and great

customer service, then Crows Head Archery is the place for you.

http://www.crowshead.com/

http://www.crowshead.com



Dominant Eye

Arrow Rest (R/L/U)

Draw Length

Draw Weight

Bow Type Brand

Brand/Bowyer Type

Draw Length Spine Weight

Draw Weight Shaft Length

AMO Point Weight

Brace Height Fletching Type

String Type Brand

String Length Type

Size

Brand Brand

Type Type

Size Capacity



This is a simple process for finding your dominant eye

1. Extend your arms in front of you with your palms facing away.

2. Bring your hands together, forming a small hole by crossing the thumbs and fore fingers.

3. Choose a small object about 15-20 feet away from you. With both eyes open, focus on the object as you look

through the small hole.

4. Close one eye and then the other. When you close one eye, the object will be stationary. When you close the

other eye, the object should disappear from the hole or jump to one side.

5. If the object does not move when you cover one eye, then that eye is dominant. The eye that sees the object

and does not move is the dominant eye.

**Source: https://www.verywell.com/how-to-determine-eye-dominance-3421648

**Image:rippleoutdoors.com

http://www.rippleoutdoors.com/contact-us/my-one-sheet/shooting-with-both-eyes-open/



This is the most frequently asked question that we get from new traditional archers. This can be confusing, so lets

make this as clear as possible:

If you pull the string with your RIGHT hand, you want a RIGHT hand arrow rest

if you pull the string with your LEFT hand, you want a LEFT hand arrow rest

Here is a picture to help:

Right Hand Arrow Rest: You will place the arrow on the left side of the bow , hold the bow with your left hand and

draw back the string with your right hand.

Left Hand Arrow Rest: You will place the arrow on the right side of the bow , hold the bow with your right hand and

draw back the string with your left hand.

***Still not sure? It might help to figure out which eye dominant you are. If you are right eye dominant, then we sug-

gest a Right Hand arrow rest. If your are left eye dominant, then we suggest a Left Hand arrow rest.



This is also a very frequent question, but here are a couple good rules to follow and a table of draw weights that can

help you pick the right draw weight.

Once you start shooting you may want to increase the Draw Weight of you bow, but don’t go too heavy to fast.

Going to heavy might make pulling the bow back hard and take the fun out of shooting. So if your trying to make

your decision…..go for the lighter choice.

3 big rules for Draw Weight selection:

DONT GO TOO HEAVY - if you choose a draw weight that

is too heavy or to hard to pull back then you are going to

be disappointed with your bow and you will not have fun

shooting.

ATTENTION Compound bow shooters - most compound

bows have a "let off" so a 70# compound bow might feel

like a 30# traditional bow. DO NOT COMPARE compound

bow weights to Traditional bow weights

BOWHUNTERS - Each state has restrictions on the minimum draw weight for bow hunting, check with your

state. Most require a minimum of 40LB draw weight at your draw length.

Suggested draw weights:

Attention Bowhunters

You will be required to have a

minimum draw weight for the state

your hunting!

Youth Weight Draw Weight

Small Child 40-60LB 10-15LB

Larger Child 50-70LB 10-15LB

Small Youth 70-100LB 15-20LB

Larger Youth 100-120LB 20-25LB

Young Adult 120-150LB 25-35LB

Women Weight Draw Weight

Small Frame 100-130LB 25-30LB

Medium Frame 130-160LB 30-40LB

Large Frame 160LB 40-50LB

Men Weight Draw Weight

Small Frame 120-150LB 30-40LB

Medium Frame 150-180LB 40-55LB

Large Frame 180-200LB 45-65LB



This question is a little easier to answer than most because there are 3 easy ways to figure out what your draw

length should be. All of these methods will get you close to what your draw length should be. I recommend the

height method overall.

Arm Span Method

Stand with your arms out and palms facing forward. Don't stretch when measuring, stand comfortably and

naturally. Have someone else help you to measure from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other. Then

divide that number by 2.5. The result is your suggested draw length in inches for your arm span.

If you don't have someone to help, you can simply hold a measuring tape from one hand to the other

The Height Method

Simply take your height in inches and divide by 2.5 amd round down to the next draw length

Example: 6' Tall = 72"/2.5 = 28.8" Draw Length or 28.5"

The Chart Method

Here is a chart that can also help you find your draw length

I would suggest doing all methods and see if you come to the same or close to the same draw length and then go

with the longer one

Height Draw Length

4'11" 5'0" 5'1" 23.5"

24"

5'1" 5'2" 5'3" 24"

25"

5'3" 5'4" 5'5" 25"

26"

5" 5" 5'6" 5'7" 26"

27"

5"7" 5'8" 5"9" 5'10" 27"

28"

5'10" 5'11" 6'0" 28"

28.5"

5'11" 6'0" 6'1" 28"

29.0"

6'1" 6'2" 6'3" 29.0"

29.5"



Understanding arrows and arrow selection

There are many different types of arrows available for the traditional archer. Most common arrows are: Wood,

Carbon and Aluminum. There is no wrong choice for the type of arrow for your bow, but you need to make sure you

choose the right arrow within the chosen type. Each kind of arrow has a "Spine" or deflection rating. This "Spine" is

the amount of stiffness or flex that the arrow has. This is important because the arrow needs to flex or bend around

the bow as it passes the bow, this is called the "archer's paradox". The type of bow you shoot, draw weight, draw

length and point weight all play a part in selecting the right arrow for your bow.

Carbon: arrows built from carbon material and are generally very straight and keep their straightness overtime.

Generally speaking, Carbon arrows are the most durable arrows because they can take an impact and still stay

straight.

Aluminum: arrows built from aluminum and generally straight and keep their straightness overtime. Generally

speaking, aluminum arrows are not as durable as carbon arrows because they more easily damaged or bent when

they take an impact.

Wood: arrows built from wood material like cedar that require the arrow to be straightened by hand from time to

time. Generally speaking wood arrows take the most work to keep straight and are the most vulnerable to impact

damage.

Wood arrows seem to fly the best off a wood bow if properly spined and straightened. I recommend that if you have

the time to hand straighten, then you should shoot wood arrows, if you lack the time or diligence to hand

straighten, then go with carbon.

Points and Broadheads

Every arrow will need to have a point or arrowhead at the end and this depends on your intended use for the arrow.

Field points are used for target archery and broadheads are used for hunting. In general all points have a weight

associated with them which is referred to as the "Grain" of the point. In general if you plan on bowhunting, then you

should practice with a 125Grain field point, and then install a 125 Grain Broadhead when going out to bowhunt.

Knowing your arrow length

Once you have established your draw weight and your draw length, we suggest adding 1 inch to the draw length to

determine your Arrow Length. This will extend the arrow past the bow and make sure that your broadhead does not

hit your bow at full draw.

Example: Draw Length 28" and a arrow length of 29"



We have developed the Crow’s Head Archery Arrow Spine Selection Charts to help you pick the right wood arrow

for your bow. This chart is easy to use and assumes the following:

Selfbow: off center arrow rest and a 125GR point

Example:

45-50@28 with 29” Arrow Length and 125GR Point

Our suggested spine weight would be: 45-50 Spine Wood Arrow

WOOD ARROW SPINE SELECTION CHART Off Center Shot Selfbow w/ 125 GR Point Arrow Length

Draw Weight at your Draw Length 24" 25" 26" 27" 28" 29" 30" 31"

25-30 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40

30-35 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45

35-40 <30 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50

40-45 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55

45-50 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60

50-55 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65

55-60 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70

60-65 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75

65-70 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80

70-75 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85

75-80 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85 85-90

80-85 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85 85-90 90-95

85-90 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85 85-90 90-95 95-100

Off Center Shot Selfbow w/ 100 GR Point Arrow Length

Draw Weight at your Draw Length 24" 25" 26" 27" 28" 29" 30" 31"

25-30 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 30-35

30-35 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40

35-40 <30 <30 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45

40-45 <30 <30 <30 <31 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50

45-50 <30 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55

50-55 <30 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60

55-60 <30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65

60-65 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70

65-70 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75

70-75 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80

75-80 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85

80-85 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85 85-90

85-90 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85 85-90 90-95



***FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH YOUR SPECIFIC BOW STRINGER***

1. Slip the bowstring loops over both ends of the bow past the string grooves

2. Insert 1 bowstring loop into place and leave the other past the string grooves on the handle side.

3. Place the bow stringer securely onto both ends of the bow

4. Step onto the bow stringer in the center while holding tight to the middle of your bow handle

5. Pull upward on your bow and then push the loose bowstring loop into the grooves

6. When both loops are securely in place, slowly release the tension and unstring the bow stringer

7. Reverse this process to unstring the bow

Example: This illustration may not apply to your particular bow stringer



Basics of Bow Brace Height

What is Brace Height? The distance from the back of the bow (where your bow hand touches the bows) to the

string. See Image below.

Why change your brace height? Here are 2 big reasons that you might want to change your brace height:

Changing brace height can reduce noise/vibrations when shooting your bow

Changing your brace height can reduce string slap on your bow arm

To increase brace height, simply remove the string from the top OR the bottom and twist the string until it gets

shorter. Twist 5-10 times and put the string back on, continue until you get the brace height you want. ONLY

TWIST FROM ONE SIDE!

Adjust the brace height to your desired size to avoid string slap and vibrations

We suggest adjusting your brace height prior to setting a nock point on your string.

BRACE

HEIGHT



Knowing your equipment can keep you safe on the range and make learning easier.

Bow: A recurve bow is listed below, but the same parts apply to longbows as well

Arrow: Basic parts of the arrow are listed below



Arm Guard: protective material worn around

the forearm of the arm that holds the bow and

are designed to protect your forearm from the

bow string.

Glove: protective glove usually worn on 3 fingers,

used to protect your finger from the pressure of

the string over time.

Tab: protective material worn to protect fingers

from the pressure of the string over time.

Back Quiver: Container worn on the back used to

hold and protect arrows



Belt/Range Quiver: Container worn on the belt

used to hold and protect arrows

Ground Quiver: Container that rests on the

ground used to hold and protect arrows

Bow Quiver: Container that is attached to the

bow used to hold and protect arrows



Always use a bow stringer

Never pull a bow beyond its stated draw

length

Example: 40#@28” indicates that the bow

pulls forty pounds at twenty-eight inches,

measured from the back of the bow

Never shoot a bow without an arrow—this is

called dry firing

Draw and release should be done in one

smooth motion, holding the bow at full draw

for no more than one or two seconds

Never store your bow in a hot place—room

temperature is appropriate

Never string the bow backwards

Do not let the bow stay wet for a long period

of time

Always store the bow either laying flat or hang

by the bowstring

Never let the bow strung for more than 8

hours at a time ( check with bow builder)

Wax the bowstring if needed when string is

dry

Do not press or push the tips of the bow into

the ground

Walk with the arrow heads pointed down

Make sure the points of your arrows are away

from your legs and not pointed towards other

archers

Never shoot a damaged arrow or arrow with

loose feathers

Check your arrows before you shoot for cracks

or damage

Check your arrows for loose feathers



The Traditional Archery Academy was

born out of a need for high quality

resources for those interested in

learning more about Traditional Bow

building, arrow building, archery leather

work and Instinctive shooting.

Our goal is to provide courses, ebooks

and guides to help the traditional

archery community learn and have fun.

http://www.traditionalarcheryacademy.com

- amazon s3...the bow as it passes the bow, this is called the "archer's paradox"....

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