To adjust the draw weight on a Parker bow, use a proper Allen wrench to turn the limb bolts—located where the limbs meet the riser. Turn both bolts an equal number of times: counter-clockwise to decrease weight and clockwise to increase it. Never loosen the bolts more than the manufacturer’s maximum recommended turns.
Hello, I’m Salman Arfeen. Welcome to your go-to guide for making archery simple and fun. Adjusting your bow’s draw weight can feel like a big step. Many new archers worry about damaging their bow or doing it wrong. But don’t worry. It is a very simple and safe process when you know the steps.
A bow that is set to the right draw weight for you is more comfortable, more accurate, and much more enjoyable to shoot. It helps you build good habits from the start. In this guide, I will walk you through every single step. We will make sure your Parker bow fits you perfectly. Let’s get started!
Why Should You Adjust Your Draw Weight?
You might wonder why you would even need to change the draw weight. Think of it like adjusting the seat in a new car. You need it to fit you perfectly to drive comfortably and safely. The same is true for your bow. The draw weight is the amount of force you need to pull the string back. If it’s too heavy, it can cause problems. If it’s too light, you might not get the performance you want.
Here are the key reasons why finding your perfect draw weight is so important:
- Better Shooting Form: A heavy draw weight can make you struggle. You might shake, lift your shoulder, or rush the shot. This creates bad habits that are hard to break. A comfortable weight lets you focus on smooth, correct form.
- Prevents Injury: Trying to pull too much weight puts a lot of strain on your shoulders, back, and arms. This can lead to muscle pulls or more serious injuries. Starting lower and building up strength is the safest way to progress in archery. You can learn more about preventing common archery injuries from health professionals and sports medicine experts.
- Increases Accuracy: When you are not fighting your bow, you can hold it steady. A steady bow means a steady aim. When you can hold your aim without trembling, your arrows will hit the target more consistently.
- More Enjoyment: Archery should be fun, not a workout that leaves you sore and frustrated. Shooting a bow that is set correctly for your strength level makes practice sessions enjoyable and rewarding. You’ll want to shoot more often!
- Builds Confidence: Hitting the target feels great. When your bow is easy to handle, you will see your skills improve faster. This success builds the confidence you need to stick with the sport and keep getting better.
For a beginner, it is always best to start with a lower draw weight. As your muscles get stronger and your form improves, you can slowly increase the weight. This simple adjustment allows your bow to grow with you.
Safety First: Your Most Important Step
Before you touch a single bolt on your bow, we need to talk about safety. Your bow is a powerful piece of equipment, and treating it with respect is essential. Following these simple safety rules will protect you and your bow from harm. These are not just suggestions; they are rules to live by every time you handle your equipment.
Essential Safety Precautions
- Always Wear Safety Glasses: This is non-negotiable. While it is rare, equipment can fail. Protecting your eyes is the most important thing you can do.
- Never “Dry Fire” Your Bow: A dry fire is when you release the bowstring without an arrow nocked. All the energy that would go into the arrow goes back into the bow, which can cause it to break apart violently. This is extremely dangerous.
- Point Your Bow in a Safe Direction: Treat your bow like you would any other weapon. Never point it at anything you do not intend to shoot, even if there is no arrow on the string.
- Check Your Equipment: Before making any adjustments, give your bow a quick look. Check the string, cables, limbs, and riser for any signs of damage like cracks or fraying. If you see anything wrong, take it to a pro shop.
- Read Your Owner’s Manual: Parker bows are no longer manufactured, but if you have the original manual, it is your best friend. It will tell you the specific limits for your bow model, especially the maximum number of turns you can back out the limb bolts. If you don’t have it, a general rule of thumb is never to loosen the bolts more than five full turns from the fully tightened position, but this can vary.
Safety is not about being scared; it is about being smart. Taking a few moments to think about safety ensures you can enjoy archery for years to come. For more detailed safety guidelines, organizations like USA Archery provide excellent resources for archers of all levels.
Tools You Will Need for the Job
The good news is that you do not need a workshop full of complicated tools to adjust your draw weight. The process is quite simple and requires only a few basic items. Having the right tools ready makes the job smooth and easy.
Here’s a short list of what you should gather:
- A Good Set of Allen Wrenches: This is your primary tool. Most Parker bows use standard (imperial) sized Allen wrenches, not metric. Make sure your set is in good condition. A worn-out wrench can strip the head of the limb bolt, creating a big problem.
- A Bow Scale: While you can adjust the weight without one, a bow scale is the only way to know the exact draw weight. It takes the guesswork out of the process. You can use a digital handheld scale or a hanging scale.
- A Bow Vise (Optional but Recommended): A bow vise holds your bow securely while you work on it. This frees up both of your hands and prevents the bow from slipping. If you do not have a vise, you can ask a friend to hold the bow firmly for you, or you can place it carefully on a padded surface.
- Owner’s Manual (If Available): As mentioned, your manual is the best source of information for your specific bow model.
That is it! With these simple tools, you are ready to make a precise and safe adjustment to your Parker bow.
Step-by-Step: How to Adjust Your Parker Bow’s Draw Weight
Now we get to the fun part. Follow these steps carefully, and you will have your bow adjusted in no time. Remember to be patient and work slowly. There is no need to rush.
Step 1: Secure Your Bow
First, make sure your bow is stable. If you have a bow vise, mount the bow in it securely. The vise should grip the riser (the handle part) of the bow. If you do not have a vise, you can lay the bow on a soft, sturdy surface like a carpeted workbench or ask a friend to hold it steady for you. The key is to prevent it from moving while you are turning the bolts.
Step 2: Locate the Limb Bolts
Your Parker bow has two limb bolts. These are the large bolts that hold the limbs to the riser. You will find one at the top of the riser and one at the bottom. These are the only bolts you will be turning. Do not touch any other screws or bolts, as they are likely holding your sights, rest, or cams in place.
Step 3: Find Your Starting Point (Maximum Weight)
To ensure your adjustments are even, it is best to start from a known point. The easiest starting point is the bow’s maximum draw weight. To do this, use your Allen wrench to turn both limb bolts clockwise until they are snug. Do not overtighten them with all your strength! Just turn them until they stop. This is called “bottoming out” the limbs. Your bow is now set to its peak draw weight.
Step 4: Decrease the Draw Weight
Now you can begin backing out the bolts to reduce the draw weight. Turn the top limb bolt counter-clockwise one full turn. Then, turn the bottom limb bolt counter-clockwise one full turn. It is critical that you turn both bolts the exact same amount. This keeps the limbs in sync, which is called keeping the “tiller” even. An uneven tiller will negatively affect your accuracy.
Continue this process, one turn at a time on each bolt, until you get closer to your desired weight. Remember the golden rule: what you do to the top bolt, you must do to the bottom bolt.
How Much Weight Per Turn?
A common question is how much the draw weight changes with each turn. This varies from bow to bow, but a general guideline for many compound bows is:
One full 360-degree turn of the limb bolt often equals a change of 2 to 4 pounds of draw weight.
So, if your bow has a peak weight of 60 pounds and you back out each bolt three full turns, you have likely reduced the draw weight by about 6 to 12 pounds.
| Number of Turns (Counter-Clockwise) | Estimated Draw Weight Reduction |
|---|---|
| 1 Full Turn | 2 – 4 lbs |
| 2 Full Turns | 4 – 8 lbs |
| 3 Full Turns | 6 – 12 lbs |
| 4 Full Turns | 8 – 16 lbs |
This table is just an estimate. The only way to know the exact weight is to measure it.
Step 5: Check the Draw Weight with a Scale
This is where your bow scale comes in. Hook the scale to your bowstring’s D-loop and pull back just as you would if you were drawing the bow. Pull in a smooth, steady motion until you hit the back wall. The scale will show you the peak draw weight. If it is still too high, back the limb bolts out another half-turn or full turn each. If it is too low, turn them clockwise a bit. Keep checking until you reach a weight that feels comfortable for you.
Step 6: Check Your Work
Once you have set the draw weight, do a final check. Make sure you have turned both bolts the same number of times from the fully tightened position. A quick visual inspection can help. The gap between the limb pocket and the riser should look about the same on the top and bottom. Take a few practice draws (without an arrow) to feel the bow. It should feel smooth and balanced.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adjusting the draw weight is easy, but a few common mistakes can cause problems. Being aware of them will help you do the job perfectly.
- Turning the Bolts Unevenly: This is the most common mistake. If you turn the top bolt three times and the bottom one only two times, the tiller will be off. This can make the bow noisy, less accurate, and add extra wear to the components. Always count your turns!
- Loosening the Bolts Too Much: Every bow has a limit. Backing the bolts out too far can be catastrophic. The bolt could come out of its threads, causing the limb to fly off under pressure. This is incredibly dangerous. As a universal safe rule, never loosen the limb bolts more than 5 full turns from the max position unless your manual explicitly says it is safe. For some models, the limit may be even less.
- Using the Wrong Tool: A loose-fitting Allen wrench can easily strip the head of the limb bolt. Once stripped, the bolt is very difficult to turn or remove. Use a high-quality wrench that fits snugly.
- Forgetting to Check Other Settings: Changing the draw weight can sometimes slightly affect other parts of your bow’s tune, like the nocking point or cam timing. After a significant weight change, it is a good idea to shoot a few arrows through paper to check for a clean arrow flight. For most beginners, small adjustments will not cause major issues, but it is something to be aware of as you advance.
Here is a quick troubleshooting guide for common issues you might face.
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bow makes a creaking noise when drawing. | Limb bolts may be uneven or need lubrication. | Ensure bolts are turned an equal number of times. If the noise persists, have a pro shop apply a small amount of lubricant. |
| Arrows are hitting inconsistently high or low. | Limb tiller is off, or your sight needs re-adjusting. | First, confirm limb bolts are even. Then, re-sight your bow at different distances. A change in draw weight will change arrow speed and impact point. |
| I’ve backed the bolts out 5 turns, but the weight is still too high. | The bow’s weight range may not be suitable for you. | Do not back the bolts out any further. You may need a bow with a lower peak draw weight (e.g., a 40-50 lb bow instead of a 60-70 lb bow). |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do I need a bow press to adjust the draw weight on a Parker bow?
No, you do not need a bow press to adjust the draw weight. A bow press is only required for changing the string and cables or making other major repairs. You can adjust the draw weight simply by turning the limb bolts with an Allen wrench.
2. How do I know what my correct draw weight should be?
Your ideal draw weight is one you can pull back smoothly without excessive straining, shaking, or contorting your body. You should be able to hold it at full draw for several seconds without trembling. For most adult beginners, starting between 30 and 40 pounds is a great range.
3. What happens if I turn the limb bolts unevenly?
Turning the limb bolts unevenly throws off the bow’s tiller. This means one limb is working harder than the other. It can lead to poor arrow flight, increased noise and vibration, and potential long-term damage to the limbs or cams. Always keep the turns identical for the top and bottom bolts.
4. How many times can I safely turn the limb bolts?
The safest answer is to check your owner’s manual. If you don’t have one, a widely accepted rule for most compound bows is not to exceed 4 to 5 full turns from the fully tightened position. Going beyond this limit can be extremely dangerous. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
5. Can I increase the draw weight above the bow’s maximum rating?
No, absolutely not. A bow rated for 60 pounds cannot be turned up to 65 pounds. The maximum draw weight is achieved when the limb bolts are fully tightened. Attempting to tighten them further can damage the bolts, riser, or limbs. Always stay within the manufacturer’s specified range.
6. Will changing the draw weight affect my draw length?
On most modern compound bows, including Parker models, adjusting the draw weight does not change the draw length. Draw length is typically adjusted by moving the module on the cam or by changing the cam itself, which is a separate process.
7. My Parker bow is old. Is it still safe to adjust?
As long as the bow is in good condition with no visible cracks or damage, it should be safe to adjust. However, with any older equipment, it is always a good idea to have it inspected by a professional at an archery pro shop. They can check for hidden issues and ensure it is safe to shoot and adjust. The Archery Trade Association has a retailer locator that can help you find a qualified shop near you.
Conclusion: Enjoy Your Perfectly Tuned Bow
Congratulations! You now have all the knowledge you need to adjust the draw weight on your Parker bow safely and confidently. It is not a complicated mystery—it is a simple, straightforward process that puts you in control of your equipment.
By taking the time to set a comfortable draw weight, you are setting yourself up for success. You will build better form, improve your accuracy, and most importantly, have a lot more fun every time you pick up your bow. Remember to always prioritize safety, work slowly, and keep your adjustments even.
Archery is a journey of continuous learning and improvement. Mastering a basic skill like this is a huge step forward. Now, get out there, practice with your perfectly adjusted bow, and enjoy the satisfying thud of your arrows hitting the target.
Happy shooting!