Build out the side plate?/

[capt eddie]

If it is nessecary for me to build out the side plate of a R/D longbow.  Is that a sign of spine to light or to heavy?  How can brace height effect the spine.

[Stagmitis]

Spine is too weak if you have to build out the shelf.

A lower brace height acts much like a longer draw...It increases your power stroke putting more energy thereby weakining the spine compared to a higher brace...

[champ38]

You weaken the spine by raising the BH and vise versa.

[capt eddie]

Two replies and two differant answers. Does the higher BH give more preload, like a longer draw, increasing bow weight at a shorter draw?

[champ38]

Thats my understanding capt eddie, increasing the brace ht slightly increases the draw wt of the bow and decreases the angle of offset as the arrow leaves the bow, thus making the arrow act weaker...I could be wrong, if so, some one will come along shortly and straighten me out  

[Old York]

From Easton: Increasing brace height will make the arrow shoot weaker, and decreasing brace height will make the arrow shoot stiffer.

I.O.W. - if your arrows are shoot too stiff, raise BH; too weak, lower BH. Counter-intuitive as hell, but it works for me.

Also - I've found tweaking the BH shows the desired results when one is  already  close in spine, if too far out, may not see desired results. Best thing to do is experiment & see what results  you get.

[hvyhitter]

I usually set the BH where the bow shoots quietest,then tune the rest of the bow/arrow combo.

[capt eddie]

I tuned the BH to the quietest and not slapping my arm.  I see no change in arrow flight.

[Shakes.602]

I was  ALWAYS  Told that the Higher the Brace Height, the More Forgiving the Bow will be to Semi-Crappy realeses.