An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I' m notorious for shooting/owning/selling many bows and I' ve owned about 14 different bows over the last 5years. I' ve always noticed that the general belief on these and other boards is that BH is the key to forgiveness and accuracy....Well I' ve owned bows w/ BH as low as 5 3/4 " (PSE Baby G) and as high as 8" (High Country Brute Force and Hoyt Havoc) and about everthing in between. These aren' t factory spec BH (I don' t think) but what they were after I found the " sweet spot" . I can honestly say that I' ve noticed very little difference in accurracy between any of the bows I' ve owned...In fact, if I had to rank them, I' d rank the PSE Baby G and the Havoc as a tie for #1 in the accuracy dept. The Baby G had attributes that I did not like that may be related to BH, like recoil and vibration but IME it had no effect on accuracy. The most unpleasant bow I ever owned was the High Country Brute Force which probably had the highest BH of them all. How big a consideration should BH be in selecting a bow? I say it is pretty much a non-issue with todays modern bows. When you look at and compare bows, is BH a deciding factor?

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

The biggest factor with brace height for me is arm clearance.

I shoot my best with just a slight bend in my bow arm - with my shoulders square or slightly pointing right of the target. This puts the most of the force into the large shoulder bones and I hold much steadier. This is also the best way for me to use back tension. A low brace always catches my clothing when I shoot like this.

Yes I can open up my shoulder alignment, and turn my elbow out more to accept a lower brace - but my shooting, like most who do this will suffer IMO.:)

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I too have owned plenty of bows with different brace heights. My lowest one was a Darton Maverick. I believe the listed BH is 6 1/4" but mine is closer to 6" . I have shot that bow in bitterly cold weather. I took a buck at 30 yards in minus 38 degree windchill one time. During the many cold hunts I have used the bow not once did I ever hit my arm or clothing and the bow is very accurate.

On another bow that has a BH of 7 1/4" when I first got it if I wasn' t careful it would clip my sleeve every now and then. I put a different grip on it and it took care of the problem so there is more to BH than just a measurement.

My feeling is this, I do believe if a person is starting out in archery it could cause them problems. Poor form of course throws everything out of wack. And too, it could be more of a challenge for longer draw archers to pull off shot after accurate shot with a shorter BH.

But I would have to agree that for ME brace height by itself has not been a problem. However it is something I look at when I am considering a bow.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I agree. I think brace height is one of the biggest misconceptions in archery. I have read articles , where on a shooting machine ......brace height makes absolutely no difference. And I believe it from my personal experiences.

However I do agree that they probably are not the smartest choice for a beginner or for someone that only pulls their bow out a few weeks before season each year.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

Brace height is the second thing I look at when selecting a compound, right after axle to axle length. I won' t even look twice at a bow that' s less than 40" long or with less than 8" brace. Antler Eater is dead on the money when he says short brace bows cause problems for long draw shooters. Even an 8" brace gives me a 25.5" power stroke, and that' s a long way for an arrow to travel when attatched to the string. Lots of room for form bobbles to screw things up. The sooner I can get the arrow off the string, the better I like it. It simplifies tuning and it greatly improves my accuracy.

6" brace height is for smurfs. [>:]:D

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I too am a big proponent of high brace heights. It has nothing to do with accuracy, but everything to do with forgiveness. Accuracy problems are, in general, tuning issues. Any given bow will be more forgiving with a higher brace height. For me, it is too difficult to compare bows of different makes and styles. Too many factors affect forgiveness to easily compare the effects of brace heights on different brands. I do know that if I' m putting torque on a bow, the shorter time the arrow is on the string, the less torque imparted to the arrow.

My biggest reason for wanting high brace heights is also sleeve clearance. Sure, under good conditions with a normal stance, the string may not hit a sleeve on a heavy jacket, but what about the shot where you' re leaning far to the right, with your upper tors twisted counterclockwise to the back side of a tree? If you' re forced to shoot with an extremely closed stance, then brace height will always be a concern. Persoanlly, I consider 7" a short brace height and 8" barely adequate. I' m probably spoiled from the days when everything I shot was 9" or more.

It is my belief that lots of hunters miss deer from hitting their sleeves, but aren' t even aware of it, under the excitement of a shot at an animal. Heck I know guys who hit their arms when wearing no sleeves and taking their preferred stance when shooting at a target. Imagine what an extra inch or two of clothing would do.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I had a Patriot last season with a 7-1/2 BH and now I have a Black knight with 6-3/4BH and before I bought the BLK I put my hunting clothes that I use thru out the season plus my cold weather ones and I did not hit my arm at all. The Pat was forgiving and Acc.IMO the black knight is just as forgiving and Acc. as my old Pat.IMO is that BH comes into play is if you are a beginner, esp. if your shooting form is not that great.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

When is your shooting form most likely to be ' not that great' ? When you' re hunting! Animals coming in from unexpected angles, with you probably cold and maybe short of sleep (if not somewhat hungover), adrenaline pumping...

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

What I meant is that from seeing alot of beginners myself included when I was just starting out I would anchor differently the holding arm would either be slightly bent then change to being straight. the more exp. hunters regardless of being surprised or sleepy or somewhat hungover;) still will anchor the same the holding arm will be either slightly bent or straight. I' ve been surprised before overly excited but I still (instinctly) got my anchor and everything else put in place.regardless if sitting or standing or having to stretch. the more you shoot you will,IMO instinctly get in your right anchor and holding form. did this make any sense[:-][X(]

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

It makes perfect sense. However, you' ve completely forgotten to factor in Murphy' s Law. I can' t remember a single hunt I' ve ever been on that didn' t carry Murphy along as an unwelcome guest. Even things that can' t possibly go wrong will find a way to go wrong, and there' s no need to invite them to happen with a low brace height bow.

For 3D or target, fine. You' ve got a gob of time to make sure each element of your form is right. But a low brace bow simply is not the best choice for a hunting bow. Just my humble opinion, of course.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

Well I' ll let you know how my Black knight does this season:D;)

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

There is an ideal tool for any job, and although I could field dress a deer with a machette, I' m sure I' d do a better job with my Buck Folding Hunter. :D Likewise, 9 out of 10 times, the low brace height will not cause me a problem. It' s the 10th time I' m not willing to endure. ;)

I practice a lot and I' m a decent shot. Even so, I' ve had a bow string hit my sleeve while shooting at a deer. My stance was extremely closed and it was a very cold day and I had on a very heavy jacket. Fortunately, the deer was only about 5 yards away and it didn' t matter that I missed my target by 6-8" at 5 yards. The deer died withins seconds. That bow had a 7" brace height. 8 1/2 to 9" brace height and everything would have gone perfect. Could I have avoided my sleeve with proper form? Not on that shot. Proper form wasn' t an option when turning that far too my left. The deer had been walking from my right to my left. I didn' t even realize my stance had become so closed.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

well I used to think that too.Until I shot a maverick with a 6 1/2 " BH.If I was a knuckle dragger like AP who shot fingers,then I would be more concerned with BH.But for us smurfs low BH is not a problem.We really should be thinking more of Power stroke and that is dependant on your draw length.I can shoot a 6" BH with a 28" draw and still have a shorter power stroke than someone with a longer draw length.Of course a longer power stroke has advantages if you can shoot good.Those of us with short draws need the extra stroke to keep up with you tarzans with 31" draw lengths.The only other isssue is arm slapping.I think many people have problems because they are shooting a little long on draw length. We bow hunt in tee shirts so it' s not that much of an issue.In short if you are a release shooter with good form and an average or short draw length don' t get too hung up on BH.

CB

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

Straightarrow do you think a arm guard could have helped you in that shot? this is my first season with a short BH. But like I said before I shot the bow with all my hunting clothes esp. the heavy,bulky stuff. And didn' t hit, but you and AP made some good points. I just might have to think about using a arm guard.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

btpatriot02 - I forgets who makes it - it is an elastic camo sleeve that you slide over your bow wrist - I use it - and it holds everything in real tight and works great

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I' ve metnioned this before, but one of the first post on this thread reminded me of it -so here it goes again....

I held a phone call conversation with The owner of Diamond bows and he mentioned to me that just straight comparing brace heights was not comparing apples to apples as some manufactureres cam designs allow more foreward advancement of the string past the resting point during the shot sequence than others. It' s been a while since that conversation, but the main point is still a good one. I might not have quoted him correctly, but you get the jist of it.

This would explain why some bows with a 7" BH will slap your arm when another with a 6 3/4" bh never gets near it.

I guess a tight nock or metal loop would also add to the foreward movement of the string during the shot sequence.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

I use one, I think it' s made by Buckwing products (?) !!

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

Dave c, it also doesn' t take into account, reflex.

IMO this is more important that brace heigth.You could take a bow with an 8" brace and 3 1/2" reflex and that thing will still hit your sleeve in a bad form circumstance.If you take a straight riser bow with 7" brace you will have 1 sweet hunting machine.


It is also true that the sub 28" draw shooters have less to worry with in the brace heigth depatment but imo they still don' t need to disregard it totally.

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

Rack thanks for the suggestion I seen it in the cabelas catalog but one ? does it give enough stretch over a wool jacket?

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

TFOX, I' d never thought of reflex being part of it, but I guess you' re right. I prefer deflexed risers. Can' t stand reflexed risers because they' re SO easy to torque in comparison. I' d rather have the forgiveness rather than the speed.

The cam overtravel is another issue. Also heavy nock setups. Arrow nocks that are too tight. Arrows that are too light. String/cable creep. All will cause the string to whip further forward than it needs too.

What about bow quivers? Seems to me the extra weight on the side of the bow would make a bow twist/torque to the side after the shot and cause a low brace string to tag the arm. Especially on a heavy reflexed riser?

RE: An observation/question on Brace Height and Shooting...
 

Actually, I had one on, but it can only do so much when wearing a bulky jacket. I think the main cause was the extremely closed stance that I had to use. With a normal stance and a tee shirt on, I can shoot a brace height under 6" without ever hitting my arm. Add an inch of clothes and the extremely closed stance and it' s a whole different story.