Its the amount of power needed to draw the bow back to release position. With a compound bow you'll have a certain percentage of 'let-off' (usually 75 or 80% with modern bows) which means once youre at full draw, you'll only need to hold the remainder of the draw weight back to set your shot, aim, and release. For example, if your bow's draw weight is 50 lbs. and it has an 80% let-off, you'll only need to hold back 10lbs at full draw. This is the purpose of the cams and cables you see on compound bows and why they are much easier to shoot consistently than a traditional bow.
With a traditional bow, you'll be dealing with the full draw weight through the entire shot. That's why it takes a bit of instinct and a lot more practice and training to be accurate at range with a longbow or recurve.
The bow has had a HUGE impact on human history, from war to hunting. So it's preserving a very important and old tradition. It does require strength as well. A bow's power is told by how hard it is to pull the string back, it's called the draw weight and is given in pounds. For example, a bow with a 45 pound draw weight, an average weight, would be just as hard to pull back as lifting something weighing 45 pounds. You have to hold that with your fingers all the while your arms are shaking because that's what happens when you strain your muscles. Then you have to release all fingers exactly the same time and hope the wind doesn't kick up!
The answer to that question will change depending on what type of recurve bow and for what purpose you will be shooting. For example, if you are hunting and are planning to kill a large animal, you will likely want a recurve bow with over 50lbs of draw weight. If you shoot with less weight than this, you may only injure the animal and that would be cruel. Bows with over 50lbs of draw weight are more difficult to pull back and hold steady, therefore the accuracy of your aim will be reduced. If on the other hand you want to shoot targets and need to be as accurate as possible, such as in a field archery competition, you will want a draw weight that is under 50lbs. In fact 30 - 40lbs would be a likely choice. This will allow you to hold more steady on the draw and line up your target. The lower weight will be acceptable as all you need to do is reach your target, not kill it. Please note, this is in regard to recurve bows only, not compound. That's a whole other world.
20 pounds, with a 24 inch draw would be a good starting point.
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/huntingregs.pdf No restrictions on draw weight in SC.
Mathews SoloCam bows have 10 pound weight reduction range from your Bow's peak weight (example : if your bow has peak weight of 70 pounds, you can adjust it as low as 60 pounds).Draw weight adjustments are made using either a 3/16" or 7/32" Allen wrench. Turn the limb bolt clockwise to increase the draw weight and counterclockwise to decrease the weight. Each rotation is equivalent to 2 to 4 pounds of draw weight. It is very important to adjust the limb bolts equally but do not exceed 5 full turns out from maximum draw weight.
1993.
"The bow's draw weight is around 22 kilograms (48 pounds) for men, and over 17 kg (38 lbs.) for women. The bow consists of a riser and two limbs." -- olympic.org/archery-equipment-and-history
when you have let off on your bow, when you pull it back depending on the bow you will have anywhere from 50% to 80% let off, which means if your bow is a 70 lbs pull draw weight and you have 50% let off then you are only holding 35% of the draw weight. now if your bow has 80% let off then your holding only like 18 20 24 % of the draw weight.
20lbs or less, otherwise the bow will be too strong for them to handle, at that age I would recommend 10-15 lbs.
I assume you are talking about archery. Around 45 pounds of draw weight would be a minimum of what you should hunt with. I use 60 lbs. The arrow flies flatter and has a faster travel the more weight you shoot. Just don't turn it up too much or you won't be able to pull it back at the moment of truth!
The bow has had a HUGE impact on human history, from war to hunting. So it's preserving a very important and old tradition. It does require strength as well. A bow's power is told by how hard it is to pull the string back, it's called the draw weight and is given in pounds. For example, a bow with a 45 pound draw weight, an average weight, would be just as hard to pull back as lifting something weighing 45 pounds. You have to hold that with your fingers all the while your arms are shaking because that's what happens when you strain your muscles. Then you have to release all fingers exactly the same time and hope the wind doesn't kick up!
An arrow chart is available at the Easton Arrows website.Answer provided by: CUPID'S GATE ARCHERY - San Francisco & Marin Countywww.cupidsgatearchery.com
30" is not a draw weight, it is a draw length. It is the length of the draw from the bow to the string when the bow is drawn.
Anyone with adequate training in the skill and safe usage of a bow can shoot with any bow that is right for them. Remember that the bow should be the right "draw weight" for them, draw weight is strength and a bow that is too powerful will make it unsafe to use in the person's hands, this applies to adults as well as children. If you get your child some training and provide them with a suitable compound bow, they will be perfectly capable and allowed to use one on a suitable archery range. (NOTE: I am a real archer and I am an expert on the subject) ...This is just my personal opinion and is simply worth consideration to you, but traditional archery is ideal for the sport of archery becasue you can appreciate the extra skill needed to use it and the feeling of connection to history can be well rewarding.
Draw weight is the power the arrow is loosed at. Bows with more draw weight like long bows require very strong people to handle. The better the draw weight the further/harder the arrow flies eg: Arrows peircing chainmail... Hope this was the answere you were looking for. Enjoy...
The limbs are the parts of the bow that store the potential energy for the shot. the bits that bend when you draw the bow
The draw weight should be marked on the bow. You cannot go any higher than the marked draw weight unless your bow has removable limbs, then you could buy limbs with a higher draw weight. You will ruin the bow if you use it with a higher draw rate.