Bow brace height: 6 in vs 7 in
Brace height is the distance from the deepest point of the grip to the string at rest. Modern hunt compounds run 6 to 7 inches. Shorter is faster because the string pushes the arrow longer; longer is more forgiving because the arrow leaves the string with less time for form errors to imprint.
Scenarios with real numbers
6 in brace height
PSE EVO EVL 34 runs 6 in brace. IBO 342 fps. A 425 gr arrow leaves at roughly 292 fps. Faster arrow means flatter trajectory: 8 in less drop from 40 to 50 yards versus a 7 in brace bow. Downside: torque on grip prints on the target. Tuning window is narrow.
6.5 in brace height
Hoyt RX-9 Ultra runs 6.5 in brace. IBO 340 fps. The middle ground. Fast enough for open western hunts, forgiving enough to shoot from a treestand shivering.
7 in brace height
Bowtech SR350 runs 7 in brace. IBO 335 fps. A 425 gr arrow leaves near 285 fps. Slower by 7 fps than a 6 in brace bow but easier to tune; the arrow is off the string before minor grip torque translates to the shaft.
What the numbers mean at 50 yards
6 in brace, 292 fps: drop from 40 to 50 yards is 11 in. 7 in brace, 285 fps: drop is 12 in. That is a 1 in difference. The forgiveness difference between the two rigs is bigger than the trajectory difference.
How to pick
New to bowhunting: 7 in brace. Experienced shooter chasing western yardages: 6 to 6.5 in. Cold treestand hunter with gloves: 7 in for the wider tuning window.
What bowhunters are saying
I shoot better groups off a 7 in brace bow than a 6 in bow. The 7 in gives me a hair more forgiveness on the release and cold hands. I trade the 7 fps for that every day of the week.
Petersen’s Bowhunting reader letter, 2025 gear issue