Archery Brace Height: Speed vs. Forgiveness

Archery brace height is the distance between the bowstring and the deepest part of the bow grip — called the pivot point or throat of the grip — when the bow is strung and at rest. It is a static measurement taken with the bow undrawn.

Why Brace Height Matters

Brace height controls two competing qualities: arrow speed and shot forgiveness. A shorter brace height extends the power stroke — the distance the string pushes the arrow — producing higher arrow speeds. As a general rule, each inch of brace height change corresponds to roughly 7–10 feet per second. The trade-off is increased hand shock and noise. A longer brace height reduces hand shock and produces a quieter, more forgiving shot because the string contacts the arrow for a shorter period, leaving less time for form errors to affect the arrow.

Brace Height by Bow Type

For compound bows, brace height is set by the manufacturer and should be kept within their specified range. Compound target bows often use brace heights of 8–9 inches; hunting and 3-D bows — where speed takes priority — typically run 5–7 inches. On most modern compounds with parallel limbs, twisting the string does little to change the brace height, so adjustments beyond the factory spec require professional press work.

For recurve bows, the archer actively manages brace height by adding or removing twists in the bowstring. Common reference ranges by bow length:

• 62–64-inch bow: 7½–8½ inches
• 66–68-inch bow: 8–9 inches
• 70–72-inch bow: 8¾–9½ inches

Always check your bow manufacturer's specifications first — these ranges are starting points, not fixed targets.

How to Measure Brace Height

Use a bow square (T-square or bracing gauge). Place it at the pivot point of the grip, perpendicular to the string, and read the distance to the bowstring. For recurves, add twists to raise brace height or remove twists to lower it — make changes one or two twists at a time, then re-measure before shooting.

Factors That Influence Ideal Brace Height

• Draw length: Longer draw lengths typically benefit from a longer brace height to manage hand shock.
• Shooting style: Target archers often favour longer brace heights for stability; hunters may accept shorter heights for extra speed.
• Riser geometry: A deflex riser produces a higher brace height; a reflex riser produces a shorter one, generally increasing speed at some cost to forgiveness.

Brace height interacts closely with other setup variables. Our recurve bow string setup guide explains how string length and twist count affect this measurement. For the traditional term behind the concept, see our entry on fistmele and how it was measured historically. Hunters tuning for maximum speed will find relevant context in our bowhunting equipment guide, and our page on bow centerline geometry rounds out the full picture of bow geometry.