What Draw Weight Do Olympic Archers Use?

Olympic archery draw weight for elite recurve men is typically in the high 40s or low 50s of pounds, with women a little lower. A 2018 World Archery report found the recurve men at that year's World Cup Final averaged "around 48-50 pounds," the women "a few pounds lighter," and noted that Chang Hye Jin won Olympic gold in Rio on a bow weighing "just 39 pounds on her fingers." No beginner needs to match them.

What elite recurve archers reported shooting

World Archery's equipment page says "drawing a competitive recurve bow can require more than 20 kilograms (50 pounds) of force." Its 2018 feature named examples, a snapshot of that season.

Notice that Ellison and van den Berg both went down. Ellison told World Archery: "You might have control over 53 or 54 pounds but it will break down your body faster, and after three to four days of training you will get really sore and need two days off."

Is there a rule limiting recurve draw weight?

Not in the rulebook we read. Book 3 (version 2026-01-27), rule 9.2.1, says of compound bows that "the peak draw weight must not exceed 60 lbs." The recurve section, rule 9.1.1, describes what counts as a bow but gives no draw-weight figure. A 60 lb recurve cap sometimes quoted online appears to mix the two up.

Marked weight vs on-the-fingers weight

The number on a recurve limb is measured at a standard draw. Bear's traditional bow manual says all its bows are weighed at 28 in, measured from the deepest cut of the grip to the string plus 1¾ in, with the weight marked to the nearest 5 lb. Bear says weight changes by about 2½ lb for every inch you draw more or less, so its example bow of 50 lb at 28 in draws about 52½ lb at 29 in.

That's why elite archers talk about weight "on the fingers." An archer with a long draw holds more than the limbs say; a short-armed archer holds less. Bear's figure is a rule of thumb for its own bows, so a bow scale is the way to know your real weight. Measure first with our draw length guide.

How beginners should progress

World Archery's article sums it up: "The universal advice is to start shooting at a low poundage and work your way up in weight as your strength and technique improves." Van den Berg warned that "if you shoot too high a poundage, it's difficult to execute technique properly," and Wijler added: "I see a lot of young people who go up way too fast in terms of poundage, and I would definitely recommend taking it very slow."

So start light and move up in small steps only when your form holds for a whole session. Our guide to choosing your first recurve bow covers starting weights for adults, and our draw weight by age chart gathers programme guidance for young archers.

When you're ready to build an Olympic-style bow, you can browse Olympic recurve risers and limbs or bow scales for checking draw weight on Amazon. Treat listings as examples to consider, and check the limb weight is stated at 28 inches.

Frequently asked questions

What draw weight do Olympic archers use?

In World Archery's 2018 snapshot, elite recurve men averaged about 48–50 lb and women a few pounds less. Individual figures ran from 39 lb on the fingers for Olympic champion Chang Hye Jin to 53 lb for Mete Gazoz. Each archer settles on a weight they can control shot after shot.

Is there a maximum draw weight for Olympic recurve bows?

Not in World Archery's Book 3 recurve rules we read. Rule 9.1.1 defines the recurve bow without any draw-weight figure. The 60 lb peak limit in rule 9.2.1 applies to the compound division only, so don't confuse the two. Rulebooks are revised, so check the current Book 3 before an event.

Do women Olympic archers use lighter bows?

On average, a little. World Archery's 2018 report said the women at the World Cup Final were shooting "a few pounds lighter, on average" than the men. Weight isn't destiny, though: Chang Hye Jin won Olympic gold in Rio with 39 lb on her fingers.