Changing brace height significantly

[InFamousElGuapo]

Hi everyone,

I am new to recurves (originally shot compound) but I always had this hunger to shoot traditional. Long story short I bought a brand new Stalker Stickbow Coyote FXT 62 in. at 49#. I have been trying to bare shaft tune my arrows and thought I was going in the right direction, but when I received my Traditional Carbon arrows from 3 Rivers Archery I found that my fletchings were sitting on my shelf. I measured my brace height and it is 3 inches. I contacted South and he told me the goal for this bow is around 7.5 inches. He told me to twist the string to get to this point but when I did it looked like I was unraveling it.

So, how do I get my brace height to 7.5 inches from 3 inches? That seems like a lot to make up by twisting the string. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I watched a couple of videos online and did a search but seems like twisting the string is only good for 0.5 - 1 inches.

Thank you for the help.

[McDave]

I think they sent you the wrong string with the bow. There is no trad bow I’ve ever heard of that should be braced at 3”. The lowest I have ever heard of is about 6 1/2”. If you are even able to twist the string enough to get to 7 1/2”, you will be overtwisting the string and the bow won’t work very well. Either get them to send you the correct string, send the bow back, or get yourself a new string from one of the many fine string makers on Tradgang. If you call one of the string makers here, they will ask you questions about your bow and make sure you get the correct string.

You may be twisting it in the wrong direction if it looks like it is unraveling.

[nek4me]

For a quick check of the string you have it should be around 58" for a 62"  recurve. Also how are you measuring your brace height? It should be from the deepest point of the grip to string.

[kenneth butler]

What they said above.  Something is definitely wrong. No string should be twisted that much. I don't believe it is your measurement as you said your feathers are on the shelf. That won't work. Measure your string and bow and report back to the bowyer. They shouldn't have told you to twist the string that much. Hopefully some miscommunication somewhere. Let us know. We will get you straightened out somehow. >>>>----> Ken

[InFamousElGuapo]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I really appreciate it. I have attached some pics so if you see anything I am doing wrong I would love to know. I bought another string from 3 Rivers which is the green string and it is 1 inch shorter than the original. It does not look like it made much of a change though.

[InFamousElGuapo]

[InFamousElGuapo]

edit

[InFamousElGuapo]

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[kenneth butler]

You are not doing anything wrong here. The brace height is way too low. 1" is a pretty good difference in the string and would take a lot of twists to change one an inch. Maybe something is marked wrong. What does it say the length of the bow is and is that the AMO length. Are you ordering the string per actual length or the AMO length. Measure the bow from nock to nock along the belly going straight across the handle. Measure the length of the string. Tell us the measurements you get. No worries we will get to the bottom of this. I am going to be up for a while yet. I will watch for your answers. >>>----> Ken

[McDave]

Looks like your measurements were correct. Normally, when you put on a new string it should brace a little high, unless it has been prestretched.  No hope for that string on that bow, unless you can find a person who knows how to make strings who can unravel it and make it shorter. The usual way to measure brace height is to turn your bowsquare around so the part you have on the string is on the deepest part of the grip, and measure brace height with the scale against the string. Either they keep sending you strings that are too long, or your bow isn't really 62”. Both seem unlikely, but as Sherlock Holmes said....

[kenneth butler]

The rest of the pictures came in while I was typing. I only saw the first one. Wrong Wrong Wrong. Don't shoot it like that. I suspect someone put the limbs on the wrong length riser. Something is definitely out of whack. The strings are way to long for that bow. Read everything marked on the limbs and riser. Read all your papers. Give me those measurements. We need to figure it out so you will know what to tell the bowyer. String,limbs,or riser is wrong. You don't want to just make it work you need them to make it RIGHT. Sorry this happened to you. It is tough for a new guy to think or know the Bowyer is wrong. We will see it through. >>>----> ken

[nek4me]

If you get the three measurements Ken referenced - the bow nock to nock along the face and handle, your actual string length, and the bow and/or limb marked length we'll be able to determine what you have.

Once you know actual bow length you can tie a new loop in one of the strings so your string length loop to the new loop is  4" less than actual bow length and then measure your brace height and adjust the new loop until your brace height is 7.5" and you will know your needed string length.  But don't try to shoot it until you get a new string at the correct length.   

[reddogge]

Dave mentioned above how to measure brace height. I say that because none of your pictures show that. Turn the square so the side with the clips is against the deepest part of the handle and measure to the string.

[kenneth butler]

While a couple of comments above describe a more precise method to measure brace height don't let it confuse you. It is obvious the way you have the bow square on, the brace height is around 3"  You are correct it is way too low. The Coyote,Wolverine,and Dingo have interchangeable limbs but about 4 different riser lengths. You have an obvious mismatch somewhere. Come on back we will get it right. >>>----> Ken

[InFamousElGuapo]

Yeah I did that already but uploaded the wrong pic from my phone. I did not change the pic because you could still get a good idea of the measurement. Thanks for the advice though, I do appreciate it. I have contacted South and we are currently working on a solution. He got back with me asap.

[InFamousElGuapo]

By the way, you all have been absolutely awesome for the help, I truly appreciate it.

[kenneth butler]

You are very welcome.  You got it my friend. They should get you fixed up. If you have any more questions holler. >>>>--------> Ken

[moebow]

late to the party, been out of town.  Sounds like you have the brace height worked out. 

BUT you also said "new to recurves" -- that's good!!  Then you mention bare shaft tuning -- that's not so good.  SO! once you get brace height where it needs to be, get some full length 500 spine arrows and just shoot for a while.  Any tuning attempt will only show how your form and execution is going NOT any tune for the arrow.  That comes later and especially bare shaft.  Right now, bare shafts will ONLY show how good or bad your shot execution is and will NOT indicate a "tune."

Save yourself LOTS of expense and frustration and just shoot arrows for a while!!

Arne

[InFamousElGuapo]

Moebow,  that might have been some of the best advice yet haha. I've been watching so many tutorials on arrow tuning I think I need to just get my shot execution down first.

[InFamousElGuapo]

Alright, I got the 7 1/2 inch brace height! South sent me a shorter string which placed it at 6 inches and then I twisted it to get to 7.5 inches. Now that I am here, do I need to worry about my string untwisting back to previous height? Would waxing it help this?

Thanks!