Check brace height before you start changing the bow's setup. Take a clean measurement, make a small adjustment, then measure again. The method below applies to recurve bows; for your BOSEN bow, follow the recommended range for its model and length.
How to measure recurve bow brace height
Brace height is the perpendicular distance from the bowstring to the grip pivot point—the deepest part of the grip—with the bow strung but undrawn.
Use a bow square, also called a T-square. Set its T-head against the grip pivot point, keep the measuring arm at 90 degrees to the string, and read the scale where the string crosses it. Keep the ruler square; a tilted reading is not the measurement you want.
Brace-height ranges vary with bow model and length. Do not copy another archer's setting without checking your own bow's recommendation. A setting outside that range may produce more noise and vibration; fine adjustments within it can help achieve a quieter, smoother release.
How to adjust brace height
Adding twists shortens the bowstring and raises brace height. Removing twists lengthens it and lowers brace height. Make adjustments with the bow unstrung.
- Unstring with a bow stringer. Leave the upper loop around the upper limb near the tip and remove the lower loop from the lower limb tip.
- Control the string. With the sight-window side facing you, hold the center serving in your left hand and the lower loop in your right. Add twists in the string's existing twist direction. Keep the serving tight.
- Start with a small correction. For raising brace height, 4–6 full turns is a starting increment, not a fixed rule. Stay within the string maker's permitted twist range. Let the twists distribute evenly along the string.
- Restring and check. Use the bow stringer, make sure both loops are properly seated, then measure again.
- Refine the setting. Still too low? Add a few twists. Too high? Remove a few. Use smaller changes as you approach the desired brace height, always within the bow maker's recommended range.
Record the final measurement. Check it regularly, especially while a new string beds in: a slight increase in string length can lower brace height. Correct the setting by measurement, not by remembering how many turns you added last time.
Recurve bow brace height FAQ
Should the bow be drawn when I measure brace height?
No. String the bow, but leave it undrawn. Measure from the resting string to the deepest point of the grip.
What brace height should I use for my BOSEN bow?
Use the range specified for your model and length. If you are unsure, ask BOSEN Archery for the correct brace-height range. The diagram's 8-inch example is not a setup specification.
Will 4–6 twists give every string the same brace height?
No. Different strings respond differently. That count is an initial adjustment, not a target. Restring, measure, and reduce the size of each adjustment as you get closer.
Should I twist the bowstring clockwise or counterclockwise?
Follow the string's existing twist direction when adding twists. Clockwise depends on your viewing angle. Do not loosen the center serving.
Why does brace height drop with a new string?
A new string may lengthen slightly as it beds in. Check the measurement and add twists as needed to restore the setting within the recommended range.
Can adjusting brace height reduce bow noise and vibration?
It can help. Check whether the current setting is within the manufacturer's range, then make small adjustments within that range. A quieter release is not a reason to exceed it.
For model information, see the BOSEN bow limbs collection. For related reading, see our ILF longbow limb fit and length guide or browse Archery Guides.
