Brace height for flatbow

N

Newalpost

New member
Greetings.....

For quite some time I've been shooting Recurve and reached the level of mediocre quite comfortably, but more importantly I enjoy it. Now I've decided to have a go at Flatbow having seen all my colleagues get up and running in a very short time while I spend time screwing bits together and quite often forget to fit something. Last session I forgot the pressure button and was convinced my arrow rest was sticking out to far. Which I then bent to correct. Then when the arrows flew to the right realised the button was missing, so bent the rest again to its original position. After all this I had a good session.

Also I don't like the idea of getting all my hi-tech recurve stuff wet when it rains, as it does often here.

Anyway, with a bit of luck the postie will be delivering tomorrow my 68" 30lb Buck Trail Blackhawk flatbow. Question is what brace height should I use and do I tie on the nocks in the same place as my recurve?

Thxs
 
Corax67

Corax67

Well-known member
I regularly shoot one of our clubs AFB's (30, 35 & 40#) no idea of maker but they are gorgeous to look at and shoot, and the brace height on the 30# & 35# is around 8.5" for both. With this brace height both shoot very very quietly.

Nocking point is as per recurve and set with a bow square to the arrow shelf.

If I am having a bit of a glum day or manage to get to our Friday afternoon session after an early work finish the 30# is my go to bow happily shooting out to 50yds without effort having taken a whole ten seconds to string - it is such a brilliant feeling not having had to waste 10 minutes plus bolting bits on to a riser or compound bow and as it's as light as a feather you finish up your session totally relaxed.

Also you can be first in the queue for burger & chips at the club bar.

Enjoy the new found freedom :)




Karl
 
N

Newalpost

New member
Thanks for the info Karl. The settings you suggest are the same as my recurve, so that makes things easier.

I'm eagerly awaiting the post because we have a session tomorrow which I'd like to use it at.
Thxs
 
Corax67

Corax67

Well-known member
No problem - if in doubt start a little lower and work up half a dozen twists at a time.

Currently watching the snow from our club car park and thinking it's another AFB day ;)




Karl
 
J

jonnyboyws6

New member
NO experience of the bow in question, but if it's a traditional Hill style, 8 1/2" sounds way too high to me. I have a Jerry Hill Wildcat which is not much above 6" The modern licensed Howard Hill bows are similar, recommending up to about 6 3/8" - 6 5/8"

Karl, if they are club bows, are you sure they haven't just been set up by someone who assumes the brace height should be the same as a 68" recurve?

One thing though, mine certainly does slap my wrist. I've always figured this is a by-product of both the low brace height and the hand position. Howard Hill designed them, and he knew a thing or two about shooting, so if it was a matter of tuning, why did he wear a bracer?

For a traditional American style bow, a traditional American forum such as tradgang or leatherwall might be a better source of information.

Jonathan
 
A

Alicat

Member
My Falco flatbow brace height is recommended to be 7" to 7.5" but they do say play around to find what suits you.
 
Corax67

Corax67

Well-known member
I case I was having a 'moment' given the general consensus as to 7.5" I braved the snow and picked up the 30" - I have photographed the measurement which I cannot get small enough to post on here but it is most definitely 8.5" for that bow.

I also have a pic of the makers mark on the now to determine who it is by but cannot downsize that one enough either :(

Probably best to go with 7.5" and see how your bow performs.




Karl
 
N

Newalpost

New member
Thanks everyone. I think I'll start low and take it from there. Although, I have one more question about this. On my recurve I measure from the centre of the pressure button to the string. Where on the flatbow do I measure from? Thxs
 
N

Newalpost

New member
My bow arrived and I put on the Dacron string that came with it and the 'default' bracing height was 7.5" - i.e I made no further twists to the string. I'm not a great lover of Dacron but it will do for now and I suspect it will stretch so I'll keep an eye on the bracing height.

The bow is nice to use and seems relatively quiet but I have no real experience of other flat bows. I'm trying to go for a point and shoot - instinctive/intuitive - style and managing to at least hit the target at 20m. Well a few missed the boss completely but things improved as the day went on. Just need more practise.

Thxs
 
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