"Brace Height"

[paleFace]

i was thinking about this brace height thing this afternoon while shooting in a new bow string that my bud Chad (Champion Bow Strings) made for me. what the heck does a brace height adjustment do. i know it changes the distance from string to bow and finding the sweet spot will have a bow shooting much better. but why?

 i guess what i'm looking for is the scientific explanation of what changing the brace height actually does and why.    :confused:

[Matty]

Alot...If my brace ht, moves by 1 or 2 twists from the string on certain bows i have, there is NOTICABLE difference in arrow flight, A couple of twists will move your nock pt. up and down. Arrows will come out of the bow wrong, it can be a disaster.  I usually start with the recomendation, Shoot 6 arrows.. Take notes, Move 5 twists shoot 6..Take notes..Move 5 twists, shoot 6 take notes etc. I usually go 25 to 30 twists in BOTH directions and figure out from there what worked best.. I'm happy when I can see my feather spinning down range with NO tail whip or porpoising. with a quiet bow. usually from there a bareshaft will fly well.  If I'm prepared I'll use a video camera and tripod to review what I cant see.  It takes a good couple of hours to  get it right where I want it. Once it's set I buy a NEW "T" square for that bow and Mark it with a sharpie where everyhing is THEN I write it all in a little note book I have for that bow.

[O.L. Adcock]

Paleface, Brace height is more closely related to acoustics then any thing. It's all about harmonics. What you are looking for is smoothest and quietest. I DON'T reccommend using brace height as an arrow tuning adjustment. Yes it will make a difference but once you get it in the smoothest/quietest spot, why move it?? Tuning adjustments can be made with centershot, arrow length, and point weight without moving the brace height....O.L.

[Matty]

K well he knows a hell of alot more than me....If I would have know I would have been followed up bu O.L. I would have just been an observer...

[O.L. Adcock]

Matty, Don't do that! Your way of doing things is just as valid as mine so throw it out there!    The exchange of ideas and different ways to do things is huge benefit to discussions......O.L.

[paleFace]

thanks guys.  Matty like O.L. said it's always good to hear from different folks and get different views. O.L. i use your tunning method on all my bows and have had great luck. i just never really understood the hype on brace height except for how it quiets the bow.

[vermonster13]

Remember, every inch of draw adds about 4% of performance to a bow. Changing a bows BH from 7-8" will cost you approximately that much. Like all things, there are trade offs. I go with the quietest I can get it then add string silencers as needed. I have had some bows that only liked a specific BH and anything else felt like an electric shock to the arm either over or under the magic number with the noise to go with it.

[paleFace]

Dave i notice a big difference in bow noise going from 7 1/2 to 8" on the brace height with 8" being much quieter. it might just be me but the bow seems to group a lot better at 8" also.  when you mention performance are you talking about arrow speed?  without having a chronograph i am not able to check it but if it is the arrow speed, approx how much difference is 2%?  i wouldn't think that little would be noticeable.

[jacobsladder]

the higher brace height slows the arrow because there is less force driving the arrow... i wouldnt worry about that... find the spot where your bow shoots quiet and the least vibration..... a few feet per second means squat up close and perosonal....steve