brace height question

[walkabout]

normaly i set my brace height with AMO standard, and it sometimes seems a bit low. i was wondering how you guys guage your brace height? do you measure from the back of your handles? i understand fistemele, however i know on selfbows this is sometimes too high of brace.

[red hill]

I just read in the TBB 1 that it's pretty much your choice, depending on comfort.  It also said that a bow with a low brace will shoot faster than a bow of equal strength but higher brace.  Personally I try the fistemele but usualy end with what feels "right."
Stan

[walkabout]

thanks for the reply. i usually use the marks on my tillering tree to set brace height, ending up usually around 7 3/4", which i think AMO adds 1 3/4" so in reality it would be about 6" then i tune when i shoot the bow for quietness and arrow flight.

[Dublin Joe]

I like my fletching to clear the grip by 1/2" or so.

[DogVilleDane]

I was told recently, that the expression "Rule of Thumb" (I am not sure that this expression exists in English?) actually came from this exact problem :-) ...

Meaning - Make a fist, stick out your thumb - and that should fit between the string and the handle. (Is that what is called "Fistemele" ?)

Otherwise, I agree with the others - go after what feels right. To me, a too low setting is when the feathers of my arrows tangle with the arrowrest when I fit the arrow to the string before shooting. I have not found any indicator of too high yet - any of you have found one? (Perhaps the too low arrowspeed?)

[Loren Holland]

The lower brace, per TBB, maintains contact with the string longer, transfering energy longer or more of the stored energy from the limb is used, however you look at it. this is deceptive because a few twists of the string, make the pull feel higher, buts its really less efficient.

I try to get to a fistmele, and then see how it shoots. any wristslap? does the fletching clear the riser? go as low as you can without those two problems and you're good right?

I had heard the rule of thumb was the old english width of the stick that it was legal to beat your wife, enforcing "moderate correction".

[Pat B]

I use my fistmele for brace height all my bows. It usually makes it so the fletching just misses the belly of the bow when on the string.

[walkabout]

ive got some big hands so fistemele seems a bit much, like i said i have been using my tillering tree marks and going from there and tuning for wrist slap noise etc. right now if the string sits in the 7" notch or a bit above i call it good, then usually end up raising or lowering a bit depending on how it shoots.

[Bladepeek]

Just an aside that would get me in a lot of trouble if I pursued it. I heard the "rule of thumb" came from the fact that under old English law, a disobedient wife could be beaten with a switch no bigger in diameter than your thumb. Course if I ever tired that, she would take a stick no bigger in diameter than her arm and smack some sense back into me:-)

[4est trekker]

I also use the fistmele, which just happens to be exactly what allows my fletchings to just clear the rest as Pat said.  I used to use carry a short piece of arrow shafting with a nock installed that was cut to the exact length I wanted my bow braced at.  When I strung it up I wish nock the little jig and swing it back and forth, adjusting the brace height until it just barely cleared the back of the bow.  I just use my fist or an arrow now, but it was a handy little jig...for what it's worth.

[walkabout]

very cool ideas.ive used arrows to check the brace height but never thought about designating a piece of shaft for measuring.

[mater]

I had a bow that would get a vibration and make the arrows go in a small circle with to low of brace height. I found that the string had stretched. I only had to wind it about 7 or 8 turns to stop the problem.

  Mark

[DogVilleDane]

Good to learn where that expression came from - "Rule of Thumb" - now I have some knowledge that I can give back to all the other guys at the Archery club at our next training session  

[George Tsoukalas]

Generally, I shoot the lowest brace height at which the bow performs well which always seems to be around 7 in from string to back of bow. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/selfbowcare.html

[003sim]

I start with the feathers clearing the belly/shelf. I then shoot an arrow. I shorten my string a couple turns and shoot another arrow. You will hear and feel when you reach that sweet spot.