Archers with a sturdier build shoot heavier draw weights
1 study · 33 archers measured
The summary today
The only data come from 33 Indian archers of national and international level, measured with a battery of anthropometric indices and related to the draw weight of the bow they used, from 26 to 60 pounds, 44.8 on average. Draw weight rises in bodies that are heavier for their height: the correlation with the robusticity index, which is height minus the sum of chest girth and body weight, is -0.379 (p = 0.029), and the negative sign means exactly that, because the index falls as the body gets fuller. Draw weight also correlates with the hand index (r = 0.420) and the foot index (r = 0.370). There are three reasons for caution, though: the sample mixes recurve and compound archers, who do not shoot the same draw weights, and the study does not separate them; many indices are crossed with draw weight without correcting for the number of comparisons; and the robusticity index has an enormous range in this group, from -29.5 to 51.2. It is a cross-sectional association, in a single elite sample, and it does not say whether the build allows more pounds or the pounds build the body.
Also phrased as: "build and draw weight"; "body type and bow poundage"; "sturdy archers pull more weight"; "draw weight by physique"; "body mass and draw weight"
In practice
It is said that an archer with broad shoulders and a solid build can afford more pounds, while a slight archer should stay lighter and move up slowly.
Evidence
-
2023
For Archers Published later
In 33 Indian archers of national and international level draw weight correlates with the robusticity index (height minus the sum of chest girth and body weight) at r = -0.379, p = 0.029: a lower index, meaning a sturdier body, goes with a heavier bow. The mean index is 17.59 ± 14.66, from -29.50 to 51.20; draw weight runs from 26 to 60 pounds, 44.82 ± 8.11 on average, in a sample that mixes recurve and compound archers.
Anthropometric Measures of Elite Indian Archer: Identification of Features for Talent Development · Jayashree Mazumder
-
2023
Context Archers Published later
In the same sample draw weight also correlates with the hand index, r = 0.420 (p = 0.015), and with the foot index, r = 0.370 (p = 0.034). The correlations come from a matrix with many indices, with no correction for multiple comparisons.
Anthropometric Measures of Elite Indian Archer: Identification of Features for Talent Development · Jayashree Mazumder
Status history
- 2023 Reported A single cross-sectional study of 33 high-level Indian archers: draw weight correlates with the robusticity index at -0.379 (p = 0.029), meaning it rises in bodies that are heavier for their height, and it also correlates with the hand index (r = 0.420) and the foot index (r = 0.370). The sample mixes recurve and compound archers without separating them, the correlations are low and the comparisons many: an association in a single sample, hence reported.
Related
Related articles
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- Anthropometry and setup: draw length, arms, bow sizeHow draw length sets arrow length, spine and actual draw weight, and what the studies say about archers' arms, height and body proportions against score.
- What draw weight to choose: how to find it and when to change itWhat draw weight to choose and when to change it: marked versus actual poundage, how much strength to use, three criteria, young archers and each division.
Research lines
Cite
Campagna, M. (2026). Archers with a sturdier build shoot heavier draw weights (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/equipment/body-build-draw-weight
@misc{campagna2026_corporaturalibbraggio,
author = {Campagna, Matteo},
title = {Archers with a sturdier build shoot heavier draw weights},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/equipment/body-build-draw-weight},
note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}
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