Draw Weight by Age: A Starting-Point Chart

There is no official draw weight by age chart. What does exist are starting points from youth programmes and bow makers: Scouting America recommends 15–20 lb recurves for Cub Scouts, the school programme NASP uses a bow that adjusts from 11 to 20 lb, and Bear suggests its 25 lb Brave for ages 8 to 12. Treat these as a first guess only, because a child's strength and draw length matter far more than their age.

Starting points from the sources

Here is what each source we read says. Some name ages or grades; others describe a bow with no age at all.

Scouting America's manual recommends a "light-draw-weight" take-down recurve for each group, "because the bow will fit many archers who have different lengths of draw." It also says true compound bows "are not recommended at this level because they must be set up to fit each individual archer."

The USA Archery figure is a ceiling for one equipment class, not a recommendation for any age.

Why strength and draw length matter more than age

Two ten-year-olds can differ by several inches of draw length and a lot of strength. Genesis, whose bow is used in NASP, sends families to a retailer rather than giving ages.

Draw length also changes the weight a child pulls. Bear's FAQ says draw weight "is measured at 28 inches on traditional bows" and that "for every inch of draw length above or below 28 inches you add or subtract 2 pounds." By that rule of thumb, a recurve marked 20 lb pulls roughly 12 lb at a 24-inch draw. Measure first with our draw length guide.

Signs the bow is too heavy

Any one of these means go lighter:

• The archer points the bow skywards to get the string back.
• Arms shake before anchor, or they can't hold at anchor for a few seconds.
• The release is snatched, or the string slips away early.
• Arm, shoulder or fingers are sore after a short session.

Our guide on how to choose a bow for a child adds a simple draw-and-hold test.

Progressing to a heavier bow

Move up only when form holds through a whole session, in small steps, and not always with a new bow. Genesis says one counter-clockwise turn of each limb bolt lowers draw weight by "approximately 1.4 pounds," so its bows can be adjusted gradually within their range: 6–12 lb for the Mini, 10–20 lb for the Original and 25–40 lb for the Gen-X. Takedown recurves take new limbs, and adjustable compounds such as the Bear Cruzer G3 must be set to the child's draw length.

The ranges here start a conversation; they don't replace a fitting. A coach or archery pro shop can measure draw length, check the real weight at that length, and watch the child shoot.

If you're shopping, you can browse light youth recurve bows or beginner youth archery sets on Amazon. Check each listing's draw weight, the draw length it's rated at, and the arrow length.

Frequently asked questions

What draw weight should a beginner start with?

For children, the sources we read cluster between about 6 and 25 lb, depending on the bow and group. For any beginner, the right weight is one they can draw smoothly, hold steady and let down under control. Start light and let a coach confirm it.

What draw weight should a 10-year-old use?

There's no fixed answer. NASP puts students from grade 4 on a bow adjustable from 11 to 20 lb, Scouting America suggests 15–20 lb for Cub Scouts, and Bear suggests its 25 lb peak Brave for ages 8 to 12. Measure draw length and test the draw first.

Is 20 lb too much for a child?

It can be. Twenty pounds tops NASP's range, Scouting America's Cub Scout range and USA Archery's Basic Compound class. A recurve's marked weight is at 28 inches, so a short-armed child pulls less. If they shake, sky-draw or can't hold, go lighter.