Most modern archers wear a bracer (also known as an arm-guard) to protect the inside of the bow arm from being hit by the string and prevent clothing from catching the bowstring. The bracer does not brace the arm; the word comes from the armoury term "brassard", meaning an armoured sleeve or badge. The Navajo people have developed highly ornamented bracers as non-functional items of adornment. Some archers (nearly all female archers) wear protection on their chests, called chestguards or plastrons. The myth of the Amazons was that they had one breast removed to solve this problem. Roger Ascham mentions one archer, presumably with an unusual shooting style, who wore a leather guard for his face.
most modern archers wear a bracer (also known as an arm-guard) to protect the inside of the bow arm from being hit by the string and prevent clothing from catching the bowstring the bracer does not brace the arm; the word comes from the armoury term "brassard" meaning an armoured sleeve or badge the navajo people have developed highly ornamented bracers as non-functional items of adornment some archers (nearly all female archers) wear protection on their chests called chestguards or plastrons the myth of the amazons was that they had one breast removed to solve this problem roger ascham mentions one archer presumably with an unusual shooting style who wore a leather guard for his face