Types of String
Strings is made from a single strand of material, known as an endless loop.
The loops on each end of the archery bow string fit over the ends of the bow limbs. The top loop is larger than the bottom loop which allows it to slide down the upper bow limb when stringing the bow.
The centre serving is the extra thread around the centre of the string. This is where your fingers go on the string when shooting.
The nocking point is where the arrow 'nocks' onto the string. Sometimes two nock points are fitted to prevent the arrow from moving up or down on the string. |
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Aramid Fibres (Kevlar)
These "Liquid Crystal Polymers" are very strong and came into use in the 70s. These fibres are strong but shear easily resulting in frequently broken strings. Some of these strings lasted as few as 1000 shots. Kevlar should be waxed carefully due to moisture. |
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High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) fibres (Spectra/Dyneema)
These ultra long chain polyethylene fibre strings were developed in the mid 80s and became far more popular than Kevlar. |
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Dacron
This polyester string was developed in the 50s & 60s. Dacron is durable and slow. The slow speed is due to the excessive stretch on each shot. This material is ideal for bows with wooden risers or limbs. With Dacron, a low number of twists are required. |
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Angel Dyneema
This material is very stable and comes with a light wax content and best suited to compound bows. |
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Fast Flight
This is one of the most popular materials as it is easy to use, has a long life and has little stretch. Can have high wax content. |
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Fast Flight 2000
This material is stronger than Fast Flight. It is also larger in diameter, and has less wax content.
Fast Flight 2000 is easy to work with but remember it has high wax content.
It is also a good idea to always have a back up string.
If you have a string that is waxed, ensure you wax it every so often. Burnish the wax carefully with a leather cloth to melt the wax into the bow string. Waxing keeps the string strands together and also lubricates the fibres the string is made up of. Before beginning to do some serious shooting with a new string, shoot a good few arrows with it. |
