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Last Updated on June 17, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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Brace Height In Archery – What Is It
Are you a beginner at practicing archery? Amateur or experienced, you must know that brace height is one of the most significant factors for this sport.
So, what is a bow’s brace height, and how does it affect your target?
Key Takeaway
Brace height is an important measurement in archery that affects arrow speed and accuracy. A shorter brace height generally leads to faster arrow speeds but can also decrease accuracy.
Summary
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- Brace height is the distance between the bow’s grip and the string when the bow is not drawn.
- It can be measured with a T-square.
- A shorter brace height can increase arrow speed but decrease accuracy.
- A longer brace height can improve accuracy but decrease arrow speed.
- The ideal brace height depends on the type of archery (target shooting, hunting) and the archer’s preference for speed or accuracy.
- Different bows (recurve, compound, longbow, crossbow) have different recommended brace height ranges.
The brace height of a bow is the distance between the center of the string and the grip’s throat. It can considerably impact your shooting technique. A bow’s brace height affects the maximum distance you can draw the bowstring. It is called the power stroke.
That is not all. There is more to brace height and its influence on your overall performance in archery. Worry not. This article will give you a detailed insight into a bow’s brace height and how it impacts your game.
What is Brace Height?
Height usually refers to the height of a specific object (or person). However, when it comes to brace height, it is the horizontal gap between a bow’s body and its string. The deepest part of its body is called a pivot point.
Alternatively, you can refer to the area of a bow’s frame from where you clutch this equipment. It is called the grip. The measure of the gap between the pivot point or the grip and the string is the brace height, which is usually between 5 and 10 inches.
Though it is not the only factor determining your performance, it is undoubtedly one of the most significant. The brace height can affect your power stroke negatively or positively. Therefore, it is essential to understand its significance in enhancing your archery performance.
How to Measure the Brace Height?
Several modern bows have all their specifications written in their descriptions. However, many of them may not have it pre-specified. Do not worry. With a T-square, you can measure the distance between the pivot point and your bowstring.
It is a special T-shaped measuring instrument used to determine a bow’s brace height. It is like a ruler for checking the distance, and it can be easily found at online or offline stores.
How does Brace Height Influence Archery Performance?
So far, you know what brace height is and that it can influence archery performance. But how exactly does that happen? The brace height of a bow can impact your shooting technique. It affects the arrow’s speed and, as a result, the accuracy in touching the target.
Let us learn about the effects of brace height in detail.
Brace Height Affects the Speed of Arrow
Professional archers choose a bow with a low or short brace height. The smaller the brace height, the faster the arrow.
When you release the arrow, it is in contact with the string even after it is straight. This is because the string also travels in the opposite direction of the archer along with the arrow due to the arrow’s high momentum. The velocity of an arrow starts to decrease after the release.
If the brace height is low, the arrow will remain in contact with the string for longer, even after its shot. As a result, the energy transferred to the arrow will be higher. This makes it cover a larger distance in a short period, resulting in an increased speed.
For this reason, manufacturers make bows with shorter brace heights. Such bows are fast bows and may have a brace height of around 7 inches.
Connection Between the Brace Height and Speed
Several experienced archers say that every inch of brace height impacts the distance an arrow covers by ten feet in a second. If your bow’s brace height is reduced by one inch, your arrow can travel an extra ten feet in one second.
Alternatively, if you increase the brace height by 1 inch, the arrow will cover 10 feet less. Again, this is the distance covered in 1 second.
That said, you must know that a bow with a low brace height or a fast bow makes a lot of noise. Though professional shooters may prefer a fast bow, it may not be helpful for a hunter. The game would then be aware of the hunter’s presence.
The increased speed and energy of the arrow cause stronger vibrations, resulting in a louder sound. You need not worry. You can add a rubber tool if you are a hunter and still prefer a fast bow. It will help absorb the noise, making it easy to hunt.
Brace Height Affects the Vertical Torque
When pulling the arrow backward, it needs to pass above the grip or the area where 
you are holding the bow. This creates a vertical torque, which is the measurement of the space between your hand’s grip and the area from where the arrow will pass.
The angle at which you pull the string determines the amount of vertical torque. If the brace height is short, this angle will be more significant, and so will the torque. Thus, the brace height becomes crucial to your performance, even if your shooting technique is correct.
That said, if your draw length is short, the vertical torque will be lower even if the brace height is less. An archer with a longer draw length may face a higher vertical torque with the same bow. Thus, it can be said that the power stroke or the draw length also affects the forgiveness of the arrow.
Brace Height Affects the Accuracy of Target
The bow affects the flight path of the arrow. If this effect is positive, it is referred to as higher forgiveness, and vice versa. This means that if the level of forgiveness is high enough, the shot will be accurate. It is not rocket science.
Thus, a bow needs to have a high forgiveness level. If your bow is forgiving, the small errors will be compensated for, resulting in an accurate shot. Still, even with a forgiving bow, getting an accurate shot would be a little challenging for a new archer.
You must know that a bow’s brace height influences its forgiveness. So far, you know that while a low brace height helps improve arrow speed, it also increases virtual torque. When it comes to forgiveness, a higher brace height is better, too.
If the brace height is higher, the arrow will leave the string earlier. Though this may decrease speed, it also means that the archer’s influence on the shot will lessen. The archer’s body movement will affect the accuracy of an arrow if it is connected to the string for an extended time.
Thus, if you opt for a high brace height, your shot will have greater forgiveness and consistent accuracy. Additionally, it will reduce the chances of a wrist slap from the string.
What is the Solution to Speed and Accuracy in Archery?
Vertical Torque
Lowering the arrow rest and bringing it nearer to the grip can decrease the vertical torque. In recently manufactured bows, the distance between the throat of the bow and the arrow hole is less.
This distance will be comparatively higher in older bows. A lower vertical torque helps with a better shot.
Brace Height
Lower brace height means higher speed, so manufacturers have changed this aspect. New bows have decreased brace height, resulting in fast bows that every archer loves.
Bow Design
The bow’s overall design also helps improve your shot’s speed and accuracy. The latest bows are designed to be fast, smooth, and consistent, with less vibration. It is achieved by innovative construction and the use of better materials.
How do you determine the brace height according to the types of bow?
Brace Height in Recurve Bow
The limbs of a recurve bow are curved, which distinguishes it from other bows. A recurve bow is designed to store high amounts of energy.
The extra curves of this equipment help the archer shoot the arrows farther away, too, with higher force. When you draw a recurve bow, its limbs will be curved away from you.
A recurve bow usually has a brace height between 7 and 10 inches. However, you can change it up to 0.5 inches.
Changing the brace height in a recurve bow will affect the sound you make while shooting and the amount of vibration caused by the force applied while releasing an arrow. You can adjust the brace height to increase or decrease these factors.
Brace Height in Compound Bow
Compound bows are known for their accurate shots. When you see a compound bow for the first time, it will seem intricate. However, it is easy to use. It has wheels on both of its limbs that are connected by a pulley.
Most new compound bows have a pre-determined brace height. The manufacturers allot a specific brace measurement according to the model. Most bows have a short brace height to enhance their speed.
That said, the brace height in a compound bow does not make much difference. Due to their complex nature, these bows have various aspects that affect speed, power, and accuracy.
Brace Height in Longbow
Longbows are among the most simple and traditional bows. They are made
of one piece of wood without any separate limbs and can be as long as 5 feet or more.
Longbows are made of elm, yew, or other types of wood and are pretty strong. However, practicing much to gain precision with such a bow would be best.
The brace height in a longbow must be 1/12th of its total size or length. If your longbow is 72 inches long, its correct brace height would be 6 inches.
Brace Height in Crossbow
A crossbow is the most modern type of bow. In this equipment, you do not need to draw the string as it requires a trigger to shoot the arrow. You must only latch its significantly small arrows by pulling the string and pressing the trigger. It may be a recurve or a compound bow.
Due to its unique design, the brace height in a crossbow differs considerably from that of other bows. Here, the brace height is the distance from the string to the intersection of the riser and rail. Two lines will be engraved on the deck surface as a preset.
You must maintain the height between them. Try to keep it short. You can also set a brace height according to your preference, but it is recommended to start at 1 inch.
How to Adjust the Brace Height in a Bow?
You can easily do it with your string if you want to change your bow’s brace height. By twisting the string, its length and brace height will decrease. Attaching a shorter string to the limb will cause it to recline downwards, causing the riser to go farther away.
As a result, your bow’s brace height will increase. You can increase the brace height to improve the forgiveness level or reduce the vertical torque. It may also help diminish extra noise and vibration.
Alternatively, you can undo or open the twists in your string to reduce the brace height. This will help enhance the arrow’s speed.
If you own a longbow or recurve bow, you may need to adjust the brace height. Though you can get professional help for the job, you can do it yourself. Getting a bow stringer from an online or offline store will be helpful here.
The best way is to change it by 1/8 inch every time and note the difference. This will help you keep track of the required brace height. You can let one of your friends stand next to you to observe the resulting change better.
Note: If you own a compound bow, consult a professional to adjust the brace height.
What to Consider While Adjusting the Brace Height?
Though adjusting your bow’s brace height may seem pretty straightforward, you must keep a few things in mind. The very first is, knowing the type of string. Flemish strings, for example, require higher precision while 
twisting and untwisting.
The design of a Flemish string is a little tricky. It is made of opposing twists. If you do not be careful while untwisting, it will come off and get ruined. Though you can tie it back, it is challenging work. Moreover, it may not result in accurate construction.
Another factor to consider is a string’s stretchiness. Some strings may stretch with time, so you must put on the string and leave it overnight to fit in place.
Alternatively, you can shoot a few arrows to let the string stretch enough and then measure its brace height.
Apart from that, you must know that a short brace height may influence the balance of your bow. It may increase the top-heaviness of the bow, making you automatically bend forward. You can purchase a balancing device to deal with this issue, as it may affect the shot accuracy.
What is the Ultimate Brace Height for Your Bow?
Several aspects must be considered to determine the correct brace height for your bow. Here are the important ones.
Purpose of Shooting
The first deciding factor is what you are using the bow for. If you bought a bow for hunting, you must go for a higher brace height as it reduces the noise. Alternatively, if you are 3D-shooting, you can opt for a short one to gain more speed.
Skill and Experience
Remember that a short brace height may improve your speed but affect the accuracy of your shot. Be true to yourself, and do not give in to the temptation of speed. As a beginner, you must try to make do with the preset brace height.
Your Style
Your way of shooting may be different from your friend’s. Though taking advice is helpful, applying it is up to you. Do not play with the brace height under someone’s influence. Make the decision based on your performance and requirements.
Note: brace height may differ according to models and types of bows.
Here are the accurate measurements if you still want to change your bow’s brace height.
| Length of the Bow (inches) | Brace Height (inches) |
| 48 | 6 – 6.75 |
| 52 | 6.5 – 7.25 |
| 56 | 7 – 7.75 |
| 60 | 7.5 – 8.25 |
Final Words
As you may have understood, the brace height of your bow can significantly impact your performance. This measurement is paramount, from the speed and accuracy to the vertical torque and forgiveness.
Knowing your personal experience’s essential factors can help you seamlessly determine the correct brace height. Ask yourself questions like: Is speed more significant than noise and vibrations? Or do you want to improve your game and achieve higher accuracy?
Be clear about what you want, and take the shot!
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