Look at the Brace Height of the Compound Bow
When buying a compound bow there are many different types of measurements and numbers that are quoted that explain certain aspects of the bow. Things such as the speed at which the bow fires an arrow and the weight of the bow itself become descriptive of what type of bow you are buying. All of the facts and figures can be combined together to give you a reasonable idea about the bow before you even pick it up and hold it in your hands.
One of those measurements that are always quoted is the brace height of the bow. This will seem like a mystifying idea for anyone who has not had a lot to do with compound bows before. It’s an important measurement and will give you an idea about how accurate the bow might be for you.
The brace height is the measurement that is taken from the string to the pivot point of the bow’s grip. In very general terms the shorter the brace height of the bow, the more powerful the bow is likely going to be. However there is a trade-off for gaining that extra power because as the brace height gets shorter the bow becomes less forgiving and accuracy becomes more of a problem.
What this means is that a person with less skill and experience shooting compound bows should be more interested in bows that have longer brace heights. Sure, the bow won’t shoot quite as strong and hard as bows with short brace heights but it will certainly give you a better chance at shooting accurately.
There are many different types of compound bows available with a variety of different brace heights depending on what the bow has been designed for and who it has been designed to cater for. A bow such as a Hoyt Katera will cater for a wide range of shooters with a brace height of 6” which is around the middle of the road while the PSE X-Force Dream Season will be more forgiving with a brace height of 7″.
Match the type of compound bow that suits the kind of shooting you want to do as well as your level of ability. Remember, just because a bow is powerful doesn’t necessarily mean the bow will be right for you.