Brace height

[mzombek]

I went to the ETAR archery shoot in Pa this past weekend. I ran into an old friend of mine from wheeling. We started talking bow building and sparked my interest to get back to building. My question is what determines the brace height. And how do you adjust it?
Thank you.

[Kirkll]

I went to the ETAR archery shoot in Pa this past weekend. I ran into an old friend of mine from wheeling. We started talking bow building and sparked my interest to get back to building. My question is what determines the brace height. And how do you adjust it?
Thank you.

The bowyer determines the brace height. 

When prototyping limb designs you focus on the way the limbs are bending, where they are bending,  and getting the proper pre load on the limbs to get the highest performance. Then there is limb travel, and string angle to factor into the equation and manipulate.

After you are happy with all these things, the last thing that you do is determined is your brace height by measuring back to the riser block from the string and mark the deepest part of the grip location.  Typically 7-7.5" is the most desireable.

[Crooked Stic]

I am not sure if the bowyer determines the brace hieght. Most guys set the brace hieght where the bow is quite. Could be different for each guy depending on release etc. The bowyer may recommend a starting point and the shooter adjusts lower or higher. Twisting the string raises or lowers brace.

[Kirkll]

I am not sure if the bowyer determines the brace hieght. Most guys set the brace hieght where the bow is quite. Could be different for each guy depending on release etc. The bowyer may recommend a starting point and the shooter adjusts lower or higher. Twisting the string raises or lowers brace.

     

[Crooked Stic]

 

[Mad Max]

I was told to brace as low as possible without hitting your wrist, then tune for quite.

[Longcruise]

I was told to brace as low as possible without hitting your wrist, then tune for quite.

Yeah,  I brace where I'm getting good arrow flight.  I was shooting an ASL at 4.5" brace and getting good arrow flight but it was hard on the wrist.  I went to 6.5" and stiffer arrow.

[Kirkll]

I went to the ETAR archery shoot in Pa this past weekend. I ran into an old friend of mine from wheeling. We started talking bow building and sparked my interest to get back to building. My question is what determines the brace height. And how do you adjust it?
Thank you.

Ok ... let's read the OP here again....

If you read the last 3 sentences. We are talking about building bows....what determines brace height? And how you adjust it? 

We are not talking about how an archer adjusts his brace, or what your preference is, or even a bowyers recommendation on brace height. He was talking about building them, and determining the brace height, and how to adjust it.

You guys want to try again here?

[Watsonjay]

To jump into the foray.... To me it is the bow design that determines the optimal brace height. Does a bowyer go into designing a bow aiming for brace height as a goal?? Maybe, to me I start with desired length and performance and shape. Whatever the brace height ends up at is based off of optimal performance of the design. That is my perspective.

So in my eyes yes the bowyer SUGGESTS starting brace height but only because of the design he has created. Optimal is different for each individual

[mzombek]

Thank you for everyone's input. I greatly appreciate it

[kennym]

To jump into the foray.... To me it is the bow design that determines the optimal brace height. Does a bowyer go into designing a bow aiming for brace height as a goal?? Maybe, to me I start with desired length and performance and shape. Whatever the brace height ends up at is based off of optimal performance of the design. That is my perspective.

So in my eyes yes the bowyer SUGGESTS starting brace height but only because of the design he has created. Optimal is different for each individual

  

[Crooked Stic]

That's kinda what I was trying to say Kenny-----

[KenH]

I'll jump in on the Design defines  brace height side of things.  Old fashioned "English longbow" 60-72" long straigth bows used the fistmele brace height or roughly 6".  Short recurved Asian style bows brace between 7"and 9"