How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

Please read this very interesting link and give me your thoughts:
http://www.archeryexchange.com/information/info_pages/speedvsforgiveness/Speed-Forgiveness.shtml

My take on the information provided is that one shouldn't be so concerned that a bow has a brace height lower than what "conventional wisdom" says it should. Rather, flatness of trajectory should be valued over "forgiveness".

To sum up the link above, take for example the following two bows:

1- A 7" brace height bow shooting 270 fps

2- A 6" brace height bow shooting 300 fps

Now it's true that the 7" BH is more forgiving to shoot but what isthe actualgroup size difference between that and the 6" BH? Let's say for sake of comparison that at 20yds the 7" BH bowcan group 2 inches and the 6" BH bow can group 3 inches. However, because the two bows are shooting different speeds, the 300fps 6" BH bow has flat trajectory all the way to 30yds and the 270fps 7" BH bow drops 12 inches at 30yds. So, is that extra inch of forgiveness (in BH and in group size at 20yds) really worth it considering that it only performs that way at 20yds?

In hunting scenarios, we want more than just to be able to put the arrow where it counts at 20yds. Often, deer appear out to 40yds. In my (not so experienced yet)opinion, I'd take the "less forgiving" bow that will only be an inch or two off the intended mark at 30ydsover a more forgiving bow that drops a whole foot. I know someone will say that's what multiple pins are for but then that means you have to be on the money at judging distance. How many low miss or worse yet lowhit posts do we get each season? I'd still take the bow that's flat out to 30yds and will probably only drop another 2 inches at 35yds and another 4 inches on top of that at 40yds over a bow that drops a whole 2 feet at 40 (which is what my current set-up does)

What are your thoughts and what am I not considering?

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

Forgiveness will give you MORE than speed in the woods.The whole speed thing is blown way out of proportion.A 270 fps bow will only drop 1-2" more on a 45 yard target shot for 40 than a 300 fps bow.You only measure miss distance when using pins and not total drop.I have a range finder so that will not come into play.


Forgiveness is huge because we all make shots with less than perfect form in the woods.To what degree we need is debatable.The 6" brace bow is much touchier than the 7" brace but that isn't the only disadvantage.The string clearance on your clothes will come into play also.


I like having confidence in my equipment to help me when I need to lean out around a tree and make a 30 yard shot.I can not get my grip perfect for this so the brace willHELP me.


However,a longer brace will not make you a better shot,in a perfect situation.Put both in a machine and they will both repeat.The problem is that we are not machines and stuff happens.


Also,don't expect the high brace to be so forgving that any shot will be good.That won't happen either.It is a matter of degrees and that is why most consider a 7" brace a good compromise for hunting.

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

Well, something you have to answer for yourself. My bow has a big brace 7 7/8 and I have gotten 292 with a 400grn arrow out of it. I settled on the mid 280's. I think forgivness is worth more than a flatter trajectory. I'd rather hit what I'm aiming at than miss it faster. If you can go fast and hit it, serve up that mojo.:D

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

one thing you are leaving out is brace height is going to be more forgiving on left/right mistakes besides up/down.

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

ditto, ditto and ditto, I would also like to add that when the weather gets cold and you have a large bulky jacket, you stand a better chance at hitting your sleeve and throwing things off with a shorter BH bow.....

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

The guy who wrote that article was an accomplished tournament and 3-D shooter shooting in set conditions. His form was probably near perfect. What did he prove? That if either bow is shot the exact same way it will shoot tacks.

What didnt he prove? How this has no relation to a hunting scenario. Try using perfect form from a treestand in november with a buck coming by. Flinch, torque, drop your bow arm, etc. with the less forgiving bow and you may be off mark a couple inches. Do that with a short BH and you can miss by feet!!

Speed is very nice but dont sacrifice forgiveness. BTW my bow shoots 302 fps with a 7.5 BH.

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

I will take a higher brace height over 20 fps any day!

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

I agree with this.

And who tries to compare a target bow to a hunting bow. I have yet to see one person say you should hunt with a round wheel target bow, because its ether this or that 6” BH bow. Give me a break! And yes in a shooting machine or with near perfect form you would not see a difference, especially at 20yds. Try this with some average hunter. I don’t think you would see a ¼” difference. Also most hunters do not use perfect form. Its hard to do with a heavy coat in a tree and shooting behind your tree and under branches another tree. When most of us that talk about forgiveness are talking about other hunting bows like a Hoyt Vectrix XL 314fps 7 ½” BH VS Hoyt Vulcan 325fps 6” BH. If you want speed and nice brace height look at a Bowtech Allegiance 7 ¼ BH Smooth mods 318-325 fps how much faster do you need? And you don’t have to have a 5” or 6” BH.
This guy is trying to confuse people for no good reason. Next time maybe he could try to compare apples to apples or something close at least!

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

I'll choose BH over fps any day. For many of the afore mentioned reasons.

RE: How forgiving is a FORGIVING BRACE HEIGHT really?
 

It seems to me from my own observations that bows with higher fps make the weird swishing sound.
My bow shoots about 251 fps give or take some and I dont get that same sound and havent had
a deer jump my string yet. I hear this all the time at the outdoor range. I was almost going to buy the
new hoyt vetrix but that arrow sound threw the air made me forget it. As for shooting 40 yards I dont shoot it.
30 yards and closer and im doing great. Just my little thought.