Bow String Twist

[n.rijkebusch]

Hi all.

I have been tuning my bow and would like to know whether it matters which way I twist the bow string? As there are left and right hand archers, does it make any difference? I am right handed.

I await with interest any info or thoughts on this.

Cheers
Nigel

[Kae]

I twist the string so that the release from the archers fingers tightens the string/center serving, otherwise it comes undone!

Kae.

[n.rijkebusch]

My question is for when you twist the string to increase the string height. Should it be be anticlockwise or clockwise. ?

[Bald Eagle]

Clockwise, turning the top loop for a right hander, opposite for left, Shop bought strings are usually twisted for right handers, for lefties it's best to have one made

[Robin the Hood]

Originally Posted by Kae

I twist the string so that the release from the archers fingers tightens the string/center serving, otherwise it comes undone!

Kae.

There is logic in what Kae has mentioned and it is not that the question has been answered wrongly.
As a right handed I have always twisted mine clock-wise looking from the top.
The serving for the centre if started left to right should be going over the string away from you.
When this is done it will be easier to see the relevance of what Kae has mentioned when the twists are added to adjust.
.........

Paul

[n.rijkebusch]

I think Kae's comments a very important. There is more than meets the eye here. And I am grateful for all the answers to my question. When I ordered my strings I was not asked whether I am right or left handed, so any advice is appreciated. There last thing I want is to twist the wrong way and end up with problems. By-the-way the strings come with no twist in them.
Thanks for your replies.
Nigel

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by Robin the Hood

There is logic in what Kae has mentioned and it is not that the question has been answered wrongly.
As a right handed I have always twisted mine clock-wise looking from the top.
The serving for the centre if started left to right should be going over the string away from you.
When this is done it will be easier to see the relevance of what Kae has mentioned when the twists are added to adjust.
.........

Paul

Sorry but Kae's logic is another of the great archery myths!
How can release from the archers fingers tighten the serving? The serving is a spiral that you are holding the middle of. This means as the serving rolls off the fingers, one end of the string will twist more and therefore that end of the serving will tighten. At the same time the other end of the string will lose twists and therefore that end of the serving will slacken. Which end is which depends on which way round the serving goes compared to which hand you are using.
This misunderstanding comes from the requirement to twist the string in the same direction as the turns on the serving. When serving a string ALL the servings should be put on so that they spiral in the same direction, and then the string should twist in the same direction. As the twists are applied to the string, it will tighten the spiral of the serving. Twisting the string in the wrong direction will loosen the spiral of the serving enabling the finished ends of the serving to work loose. Then the serving comes undone. It matters not a jot whether you are left or right handed when shooting a string, just when applying twists.

My book "string making for the ambidextrous" available soon

[Tony_zelah]

When I make a string I twist the string and apply serving clockwise for a right handed archer or anti-clockwise if their left handed so that as they loose the string every thing tightens. Not saying this is right but it's the way I was taught.

[Jerry Tee]

Originally Posted by grimsby archer

Sorry but Kae's logic is another of the great archery myths!
How can release from the archers fingers tighten the serving? The serving is a spiral that you are holding the middle of. This means as the serving rolls off the fingers, one end of the string will twist more and therefore that end of the serving will tighten. At the same time the other end of the string will lose twists and therefore that end of the serving will slacken. Which end is which depends on which way round the serving goes compared to which hand you are using.
This misunderstanding comes from the requirement to twist the string in the same direction as the turns on the serving. When serving a string ALL the servings should be put on so that they spiral in the same direction, and then the string should twist in the same direction. As the twists are applied to the string, it will tighten the spiral of the serving. Twisting the string in the wrong direction will loosen the spiral of the serving enabling the finished ends of the serving to work loose. Then the serving comes undone. It matters not a jot whether you are left or right handed when shooting a string, just when applying twists.

My book "string making for the ambidextrous" available soon

Its not a myth when you get up to the pounages that Kae uses. I have had similar problems shooting compound off fingers.

[Kae]

Originally Posted by Jerry Tee

Its not a myth when you get up to the pounages that Kae uses. I have had similar problems shooting compound off fingers.

It makes a difference on my 52# recurve, I'll let you know if it makes a difference on my 98# warbow.......

Kae.