Brace Height and Bow Performance

[McDave]

Isn't brace height dependent on the amount of reflex/deflex?  Isn't that the reason why most longbows have a low brace height, because they don't have much deflex?  And why some recurve bows such as BW, with a lot of deflex, have a high brace height?  Wouldn't a BW with a brace height of 8 1/2" have about the same tension on the limbs as a straight-handled longbow with a brace height of 6 1/2"?

That's why I wonder about general rules, such as starting with a brace height of 6 1/2" and tuning up from there. I would imagine that if you started tuning a BW from 6 1/2", you'd probably have to change the string before you got to the correct brace height, whereas if you started some longbows there, you might be starting too high.

[rraming]

As far as keeping the arrow on the string longer--- bows with longer brace heights are generally more forgiving than shorter, less chance of moving prior to arrow leaving the bow. Granted lower brace is faster and quiet is quiet. You can also tune your bow by shooting though a chronograph and find the fastest speed, silencers will quiet it down.