How do I find my correct draw length?

The Codex names three methods, and you should cross-check at least two of them before settling the matter.

The most reliable starting point is the wingspan method: stand naturally against a wall with both arms extended straight to the sides, fingers spread, and have someone measure fingertip to fingertip. Divide that number by 2.5. The result is your approximate draw length in inches. A person with a 70-inch wingspan arrives at 28 inches. This is a starting figure, not a verdict.

The second method is the arm-and-fist check: stand upright, extend your bow arm forward at shoulder height, and make a relaxed fist as though gripping a bow. Have someone measure from the wall behind your fist - or the back of your fist itself - to the corner of your mouth. That is approximately where your draw hand will anchor, and the measurement corresponds closely to your draw length. If these two methods agree within half an inch, you have a trustworthy number.

A third confirmation: when at full draw on a properly fitted bow, your draw elbow should be slightly behind the arrow line - not sharply bent, not hyperextended - and your bow arm elbow should be rotated clear of the string with a gentle, unlocked bend. If your form looks cramped and your bow arm is bent sharply, the draw length is too short. If you are reaching or your release arm has no angle, it is too long. Both conditions degrade accuracy; the second can cause string-arm injury.

For recurve archers anchoring at the corner of the mouth or under the chin, the numbers above apply directly. For compound, be aware that most modern compound bows are adjustable in half-inch or one-inch increments, and the manufacturer's published draw length corresponds to AMO standard measurement - which adds approximately one inch to the true draw. Your bow technician will know this; mention it if you are ordering modules or a new cam.

Do not guess and shoot heavy draw weights at the wrong length. The injury risk is real and it is not a matter the Committee's catalogs address with any seriousness, which tells you something about their priorities.