{{short description|Distance between a bow and its string}} {{Wiktionary|fistmele}} '''Fistmele''', also known as the "brace height", is a term used in archery to describe the distance between a bow and its string.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fistmele Fistmele] at [http://www.thefreedictionary.com thefreedictionary.com]</ref> The term itself is a Saxon word (suffix ''-mele'' referring to the old form of the archaic sense of {{Wikt-lang|ang|meal}} as "measure") indicating the measure of a clenched hand with the thumb extended.<ref>Hansard, George Hagar (1841), [http://www.archerylibrary.com/books/book_of_archery/chapter10/chapter10.html "Of The Shaft, Ancient and Modern,"] Chapter 10, ''The Book of Archery,'' [http://www.archerylibrary.com The Archery Library]</ref>
Different brace heights may be obtained from the same length of string by twisting it around before affixing it to the bow. A proper height helps to reduce noise upon the release of an arrow and vibrations in the bow itself. Consequently, if the distance is too small excess noise and poor arrow flight are the results. A bow is said to be "overstrung" when this distance is exceeded.<ref>[http://www.martinarchery.com/o_manual/trad1.html Brace Height (Fistmele)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203144636/http://www.martinarchery.com/o_manual/trad1.html |date=2008-12-03 }} in the ''Martin Archery Traditional Bow Manual''</ref>
==See also== *Archery *Bow string *Archery Trade Association standards
==References== <references/>
Category:Archery Category:Units of length Category:Human-based units of measurement
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