Sorry for the basic question but just starting to look at bows. How do you measure brace height and what is desirable and why? Thanks

i believe its from the deepest part of the grip to your string. how much is necessary really depends on your drawlength. a 6" brace height may not be desirable for a 30" draw, but may be fine for a 26" draw. it has to do with the forgiveness of a bow concerning torque placed on it by the shooter. it also has to do with the pain inflicted by the string when slapping the crud out of your forearm. while a 5 1/4 may not slap a 25" drawlength person, it may rip skin from a 30" draw. i shoot 29" and have a 7" brace height on my bow. its fine. i've shot 6" and it was fine - except every once in a while - slap - owwwww! theres probably more, and i could be completely incorrect. hopefully one of the demi's will chime in.

the shorter the BH the faster the bow will shoot.

it really does not matter if you have a short draw length or a longer draw length if you are gripping the bow incorrectly the string will slap your arm regardless of the brace heighth however it is more likely to get slapped by the string from a short Brece heighth bow compaired to a long brace heighth bow because the string will naturally be closer to the arm in the un-drawn position.
a short brace heighth bow will make you more conciancious of your form.

good accuracy depends on a good and consistant form shooting shorter brace bows.

Check out this link Terry, I think you will like it.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm

I hope you like to read!

Paul

Great link!!!!!!! Thanks.

The shorter the brace height, the longer the power stroke of the cam. Shorter BH bows are less forgiving because the arrow is on the string longer, thus giving the archer more time to break form. Also, as we all know, the faster the arrow the less forgiving anyway.
Conversely, taller the BH the shorter the power stroke of the cam, slowing the bow down, but making it more forgiving.