Very Low Brace Height

[Big Boy Blue]

What are the issues with running a very low brace height i.e. around the 20cm mark ? My riser manual suggests 21-23.5, but the bow sound very sweet at 20.5cm.

So I was wondering what defines the minimum brace height and what problems do you get when you shoot at those sort of low values.

In essence "How Low Can You Go"

Phil

[LineCutter]

Can't claim expert knowledge, but IIRC the problem is that the string takes more of a bite out of your limb tips, as well as the limbs themselves travelling further forward than usual before they stop.
i.e. You wear your limbs out sooner.

(To ask a silly question, where are you measuring the bracing height to/from?)

[Bald Eagle]

A low brace height usually means a noisy bow, but if yours sounds ok and shoots sweet, leave it alone! There's more chance of the string slapping yor arm with a low brace height, but more power from the limb. Ideally, stick to the manufacturers rec's and go up or down a few mm 'till it sounds nice.

[Big Boy Blue]

Linecutter

I am measuring the height from the centre of the plunger.

I ask a silly question now. What will wear out on the limbs ?

It was also suggested at a shop I visited that you only should have about 1/4 inch of the end servings not touching the grove that run down the top of the limb.

Phil

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Phil Hodgins

Linecutter

I am measuring the height from the centre of the plunger.

I ask a silly question now. What will wear out on the limbs ?

It was also suggested at a shop I visited that you only should have about 1/4 inch of the end servings not touching the grove that run down the top of the limb.

Phil

Bracing height is one of those "find out what works for you" things. The manufacturers recommendations are just that, not limits. I don't buy the limb wear argument. If the BH is lower, then the arrow is staying on the string for longer and taking more energy out of the power stroke...

On the other hand... My experience with low BH is that you can go too low. The effects on the arrows is to kick the end on release, and in extreme circumstances you can actually pull the nocks out of the end of your shafts. It's no joke looking for small bits of plastic scattered in the grass...

If you're shooting a 68 inch bow, then 20.5 is about 0.5cm below W&Ws recommended minimum, a bit more than that by Hoyt's reckoning. Though G3s are said to be very tolerant of different BHs.

[Big Boy Blue]

Rik

Thanks for that I have been wondering how the limb was going to suffer if the brace height is lower than the recomended values and to be honest I could not come up with any rational reason. But then again I am new to this sort of thing.

You mentioned about the arrow being kicked out on exiting the string, could this account for really bad groups ? I ask, because a friend of mine could not hit anything and his group was very open and he had a braceheight of below 20cm. We found his string was continuely stretching and this was allowing the BH to drop.

I have to say the bow does sound sweet at this low braceheight.

Phil