I'm of similiar size as you and shoot a Hoyt Ultratech at 31". I've dropped down to 30" but had the same results you described. I can keep a bend at the elbow and have the peep come back to my eye with a more vertical head at 31". I personally don't shoot with a straight arm. I can tell when my string stretches as my arm will not bend and I start to get string slap. Try it and see what happens. One thing to watch is to make sure your arrows are long enough!