Kisser Button Placement: Anchor Point Guide

A kisser button is a small soft-plastic or rubber disc that attaches directly to the bowstring and touches the corner of the archer's mouth at full draw. It acts as an additional string-to-mouth anchor point, confirming the archer has reached the same head position on every shot before releasing.

How to Set Kisser Button Placement

Correct kisser button placement is a fit-to-archer process, not a fixed measurement. Start roughly one to two inches from the top of the D-loop as an initial reference, then refine from there. Draw to your full anchor — ideally with a partner — and have them slide the button until it sits comfortably at the corner of your lips. Make sure the slit in the button faces away from your mouth. Because most buttons have a side slit, you can install them without removing the string. Once confirmed, small C-clips or anchor clamps on either side lock the position in place.

Why Archers Use a Kisser Button

Head Position and Consistency

The core benefit of kisser button placement is anchoring head orientation. Small variations in how you tilt your head during the drawing phase produce left-right and up-down errors in arrow flight. When the button makes consistent contact at the corner of your mouth, it confirms your head is oriented the same way shot after shot. It also helps reveal unwanted face pressure on the string — if you feel the button digging in, that flags excess contact before it creates fliers.

Glasses, Facial Hair, and Competition

Archers whose facial hair changes seasonally, or who wear glasses, often find a physical reference point more reliable than feel alone. In competition, where pressure is high, the tactile confirmation of an archery kisser button supports repeatable execution. Kisser buttons are notably used by Olympic recurve archers, though their use is a personal and coaching choice — not universal at any level.

Re-Tuning After Installation

Adding a kisser button adds mass near the center of the string, where weight has its greatest effect on string travel. This slows string speed and affects how much the arrow shaft bends. After any kisser button placement change, check bracing height, center shot, and spring tension. Without adjustment, arrows may not clear the riser cleanly.

Kisser Button on Compound Bows

On a kisser button compound bow setup that also uses a peep sight, both references must align to the same head position. If they point to slightly different orientations, they will give conflicting signals. Set one anchor reference at a time, confirm it, then verify the second aligns before finalizing either.