I think if you are getting smacked every time, there is a issue with letting your bowhand wrist collapse in, or perhaps overdrawing. I used to use a bracer/armguard regularly, and would get smacked once in a while, but since going to more of an open stance, I never need one. I still put in on for hunting to avoid any possible sleeve interference though (plus I have a really cool one from Carson at Echo Archery, and it seems like a shame not to use it!).