New Bow String

[native_texan]

A few days ago I ordered a new custom bowstring for Eagle, my Samick Sage bow (40# @ 28 in). I contacted Ol Man who, after several PM's, graciously agreed to make me a new bow string. I plan to start from scratch in tuning my bow. The string was my first choice. While the new string is being made, I will also replace the velcro pads on the limbs.

I suspect that I will have to increase my brace height to quiet my bow. It's loud at 7 1/2 and 7 5/8 inches. In some research I did, it says that if I increase my brace height, the draw weight will increase but my speed will decrease.

Question: I shoot right handed. Do I really want to decrease my speed when I am only drawing 26 inches? Or should I "suffer" a little noise to keep arrow speed up? I have checked and rechecked my draw length several times: marked my arrow at the front of the riser while my anchor is at the corner of my mouth. I am standing straight up, slight cant on the bow, right elbow up.

Thank you and may God bless.

[TxAg]

The draw weight won't change. Arrow speed will suffer only a little. I'd have a quiet bow over a noisy now anytime!

[RickBarbee]

Doug builds a fine string.

Yes, your draw weight will increase some, but likely not enough to notice much if any at all.

A performance decrease does not necessarily occur from raising the brace hight. Sometimes it does, sometimes it don't, but it won't be enough for you to worry about it if you don't go real high with it, and with one of Doug's strings on there you're probably going to see some performance increase regardless of what you set the brace height at as long as you get your arrows matched to the bow properly.

You'll be fine. Put the string on, and raise the brace height to where the bow is quietest, and most stable, getter tuned up, and go shoot.

Rick

EDIT:

P.S
I would set the brace height at 8 to 8.25 inches, and see how she behaves.
I'm betting you will like it.

[TxAg]

Rick, can you explain how changing the brace increases or decreases weight? My brain keeps telling me 40# limbs are 40# limbs.

[RickBarbee]

Rick, can you explain how changing the brace increases or decreases weight? My brain keeps telling me 40# limbs are 40# limbs.

Raising the brace height involves shortening the string. The shorter the string the more it will bend the limbs when drawn, thus increasing the load/draw weight.

Lowering the brace height gives the opposite results.

Rick

[TxAg]

Raising the brace height involves shortening the string. The shorter the string the more it will bend the limbs when drawn, thus increasing the load/draw weight.

Lowering the brace height gives the opposite results.

Rick

i'm not arguing here....just trying to learn so bear with me.

If your starting point is further back (raising brace) wouldnt that preload the limbs but in reality you're not drawing the limbs back as far....thus weight is basically unchanged?


For instance, if brace is increase 1/2", coming to 28" draw doesnt change, but the actual length that the string traveled has shortened

[native_texan]

Raising the brace height involves shortening the string. The shorter the string the more it will bend the limbs when drawn, thus increasing the load/draw weight.

Lowering the brace height gives the opposite results.

Rick

I think I see. So the limbs being bent more because the string is shorter actually increases the draw weight slightly as the bow limbs move toward the point where the limbs begin to "stack" when it is drawn?

[Cropduster]

It is sort of like follow through. The longer the arrow is on the string as it is going forward the more energy is applied to the arrow. Does that make sense to you?

[native_texan]

It is sort of like follow through. The longer the arrow is on the string as it is going forward the more energy is applied to the arrow. Does that make sense to you?

Ahhhhhhhh .... That makes sense. That's a great explanation.

[native_texan]

Doug builds a fine string.

Yes, your draw weight will increase some, but likely not enough to notice much if any at all.

A performance decrease does not necessarily occur from raising the brace hight. Sometimes it does, sometimes it don't, but it won't be enough for you to worry about it if you don't go real high with it, and with one of Doug's strings on there you're probably going to see some performance increase regardless of what you set the brace height at as long as you get your arrows matched to the bow properly.

You'll be fine. Put the string on, and raise the brace height to where the bow is quietest, and most stable, getter tuned up, and go shoot.

Rick

EDIT:

P.S
I would set the brace height at 8 to 8.25 inches, and see how she behaves.
I'm betting you will like it.

Thanks Rick ... After I get eagle quieted down, I'll be shooting and working on form and releases. I'll wait a bit before I tune arrows when I'm shooting a little distance. Thanks so much for your comments and patience. God bless.

Thank all of you who commented as well. God bless.

[TxAg]

i'm not arguing here....just trying to learn so bear with me.

If your starting point is further back (raising brace) wouldnt that preload the limbs but in reality you're not drawing the limbs back as far....thus weight is basically unchanged?


For instance, if brace is increase 1/2", coming to 28" draw doesnt change, but the actual length that the string traveled has shortened

So after some quick research it appears i just answered my own question. Weight will change somewhat but in very small increments as mentioned. Perhaps the shorter string and actual string travel offset eachother somewhat. At the end of the day, my quick reading tells me every bow is different and the best thing to do is test on a scale if it might make a difference to the shooter. I can live with that.

[RickBarbee]

i'm not arguing here....just trying to learn so bear with me.

If your starting point is further back (raising brace) wouldnt that preload the limbs but in reality you're not drawing the limbs back as far....thus weight is basically unchanged?


For instance, if brace is increase 1/2", coming to 28" draw doesnt change, but the actual length that the string traveled has shortened

I understand you're not arguing, and I love discussing this stuff.

28" from the front of the shelf measures the same regardless of sting length, but the shorter the string, the more the limbs have to bend to allow you to get to that 28 inches.

Hard to explain without drawing some sort of illustration showing it, so this is the best I could do on short notice.

Figure 1 shows the limb able at 28" draw.

Figure 2 shows how much the limb angle would have to increase with a shorter string drawn to the same 28"

Rick

[BowBuddy]

Usa a longer heavier arrow that will quiet itI have a 27" draw length, and my arrows are 30.5"

[fletcherfor2]

Bill,

I got the impression from your earlier brace height thread (and somewhat from this thread as well) that you are of the opinion that brace height adjustments are one of the aspects of tuning arrows to your bow.

I can see where brace height adjustment can be a tuning tool, but in my opinion you shouldn't consider the brace height as an adjustable element in the tuning of arrows. It is an adjustable element in the tuning of the bow, but once the optimum is found it becomes a fixed element.

In my opinion, your brace height should be a fixed entity and not an adjustable commodity. Once you have determined the correct brace height that gives you the quietest and the smoothest bow (least hand shock), leave it alone. Write down that number somewhere and check your brace height periodically to see if it has changed and don't consider it as an adjustable element in the tuning any further. New strings will stretch somewhat for a while. How much stretch and how long awhile is dependant on the string material.

Once you've determined the optimum brace height for your bow, then the arrow tuning comes into play with the variables of spine, length, and point weight. The draw length needs to become a fixed (not variable) entity as well.

I have found that it can be difficult to determine the quietest and smoothest brace height without first installing string silencers.

I'm sure there are others that will disagree, but I hope this makes some sense.

[Selfbowman]

Beaver Balls and wood arrows.Selfbow guys like a low brace because you get more speed the longer the arrow is in the string and still absorbing energy from the bow.