🏹 Bow Sight Tape Calculator
Generate accurate sight tape marks for any distance using two known reference points
| Distance (yds) | Mark Position (in) | Arrow Drop (in) | Cumulative Move |
|---|
| Arrow Speed (fps) | Drop at 20 yds (in) | Drop at 40 yds (in) | Drop at 60 yds (in) | Drop at 80 yds (in) |
|---|
| Distance Change | Typical Mark Move (slow bow) | Typical Mark Move (fast bow) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| +10 yards | +0.35 to 0.50 in | +0.20 to 0.35 in | Move increases with distance |
| +20 yards | +0.80 to 1.10 in | +0.45 to 0.70 in | Parabolic growth |
| +30 yards | +1.40 to 1.90 in | +0.80 to 1.20 in | Significant at long range |
| +40 yards | +2.20 to 3.00 in | +1.30 to 1.90 in | Verify by shooting |
| +50 yards | +3.30 to 4.50 in | +1.90 to 2.80 in | High sensitivity to form |
A bow sight tape is a little strip that helps the sight of a bow show yard marks for various distances. With it, archers know where to set their pin when they shoot at different ranges. It is very important to find the right tape for a particular bow and there are several ways to do that
The most popular method for finding the right bow sight tape is testing it at two distances. Most use 20 and 60 yards. When the bow hits perfectly at both, the archer chooses the tape that best matches those benchmark marks.
How to Choose and Use a Bow Sight Tape
If the bow is set at 20 and 40 yards, it can still point to the same tape as 20 and 60. The main point is to match the tape to the actual impact, not just follow the speed written on the tape. That speed number is only for help.
Some archers mark a blank tape at distances like 40, 60 and 80 yards, and later choose the nearest pre-made tape. Interestingly, that tape occasionally looks 10 fps slower than what was actually measured by a chronograh. Draw length and the radius of the sight also affect the choice of the tape.
When one puts on new tape, it is good to set it as far out as possible. For instance, one can set the bow to hit perfectly at 60 yards and later place the tape so that the mark shows exactly 60. Pins can be slightly corrected, but a bow sight tape that is not perfect must be thrown away and replaced.
There are programs that allow archers to print own bow sight tapes at home. One is called TaPeS, and downloading it costs around 15 dollars. It allows users to create tapes with various colors and lines using only two known distances.
Online there are also free tools for printing tapes, and some include flight analysis. Because one prints them, some archers search for strong vinyl paper or material that glows in the dark for use in their inkjet printer.
Bow sight tapes can be tricky. Even professionals have problems with them, and some keep three or four tapes on their riser during outdoor tournaments. If something changes on the bow (as new strings), draw length, weight or arrow weight, the tape must be redone.
Good strings that are not factory-made are one of the best investments for a steady bow.
Some bow sight tapes work only for particular brands. Certain tapes work with hybrid sights and particular models, but not with others. There are also metal tape sets, where a full set offers 30 scales on 15 tapes, including blank and pitch scales.
Some have special marks to help avoid setting the sight on the wrong number. Metal tapes for distances up to 100 yards are available for certain models in 40 different speeds.
