New String- bare shaft all over again???

[KSdan]

So, I've been shooting trad for 25 yrs.  Had some 5575s bareshaft tuned perfect.  Been using the same set-up for a couple years now.  Well, my shooting has seemed a little erratic this fall so I went back to the drawing board just to assure myself. . .  Oh MY!!  My arrows were really off!  I had to cut them down 3/4" (which gives me zero clearance now) and drop 50gr of wt in the point.  I am really shocked.

So- Question:  I did go to a new string this summer from one of our sponsors.  I think it shoots a little harder and I am using a different silencer set up. Could a different string make that big a difference??

I really am amazed.  ??

[gringol]

yes.  I've been in the same place you are now.  A better string is the best way to improve bow performance imo.  Pretty crazy how much of a difference a string can make, isn't it?

[riverrat 2]

I had a 10 strand Ultra-Cam on my 60"Centaur. I had a terrible time getting arrows to fly straight that my 62" Centaur shot perfect. There was only a pound of difference between them,and they were both built the same way. I put a D-97 14 strand on the 60"er,and it is dead on. I had dramatic right arrow flight with the Ultra-cam,but with the D-97 it shot the arrows perfect. What's wierd,is the 62" has the 10 strand Ultra-cam string and I never had an issue with that bow. So needless to say,it took a while for me to finally try a string swap. rat'

[Bjorn]

Been there too.  

[Biathlonman]

Yep, I shoot SBD strings exclusively and my bows all shoot shafts dramatically stiffer then you would think for the poundage.

[mmisciag]

I have had the same experience with strings. I recently purchased a new set of strings from A.S. and it was very different from the original string on my bow. I had to buy all new arrows from a different manufacture to figure out what the bow and string liked. This was the second time that I was tuning arrows for the bow with Tim Golder. In the process we discovered how the bow quiver I had was changing things as well.

There are so many factors involved in how an arrow flies off a bow. No matter what you do to the bow, you will need to re-tune.

I'm still learning. (:

Martin

[KSdan]

I did not mention, but in this process I spoke with a very knowledgable guy on strings, noise etc.  He suggested to me that his research revealed that the reason that running 4 rubber catwhiskers made my bow quieter was that I was simply slowing down the string!

That made sense, so on the new string I went to wool puffs and wraps.  I was able to get it quiet- but as stated here in my post, I am realizing that the bow now shoots harder- changing the arrow spine dynamics.

I keep learning too. .

[huntsmanlance]

Im glad i saw this thread....because i was just about to order a dz new carbon shafts! I was going to also order a string from SBD because they sound great!

So would you guys recommend ordering the stiffer shaft?

Thanks!
Lance

[katman]

Lance, order string first check tune and decide. String and silencer type as well as placement changes tune.

[huntsmanlance]

Of course your right Katman and ill do just that....new arrows are not cheap!    

[Bladepeek]

I'd also recommend getting the new string first. I put 8-strand SBD strings on my bows. I was shooting 2117's with 175gr tips and fairly heavy inserts on my 50# recurve. I found that I could drop down to 160gr BH's and a standard insert and it bareshafted beautifully again.

On my lighter, mid-40# bows, I was already shooting lighter field tips, so had to go to a stiffer spine.

Definitely moves things along faster!

[Danny J]

Had the same problem here. I had my bow bare shaft tuned right on with original string by bow maker. After some time felt my arrows were not flying as good any more nor was my bareshaft. Ordered a new string from the same bow maker and was surprised to find any previous tuning was out the window and had to go to stiffer shafts. I keep a bareshaft in my quiver all the time now.
Happy Holidays All

[mrjsl]

Silencers will change it also. Even the location of the silencers.

[LongbowArchitect]

I switched from a FastFlight string to a D-10 string from SBD on my 58# longbow using the same wool puff silencers. I found that my bare shafts showed slightly stiff with the FastFlight string and slightly weak with the D-10 string. String material definately makes a difference.

[bbold]

Been there done that!!!

[KSdan]

Agree to everyone here. . .Been playing with it this afternoon.  Even went back to my old string just to see the difference.  Went back to 4 silencers just to try it- and sure enough- changed the dynamic once again.  Really surprises me.  Still seems foggy as to how I could have been so far off with the bare-shafting when I was sure it was THE perfect set up just a couple years ago.  Every little thing counts I guess.  Maybe I shoot a little different too now.

Wondering now about if I have enough arrow.  Short as they can be at 30.25".  52# Widow @ 30".  Now shooting 470gr with 17% foc.  Broadhead touching is now a built in draw check!  Sure is flat shooting- though my range finder (eye-hand-brain) has to recalculate now.

[JamesKerr]

A new string if it is a different material or has more or less strands in it can make a huge difference in your tuning.

[Green]

Your tune will also be effected if you change the style of tab or glove you use, change rest/strike plate material, etc.  Anytime I build arrows....whether wood or carbon, I fletch all but two of them....gotta keep some bare shafts handy.    

[olddogrib]

Not to disagree with anything here, as I've experienced the same to a lesser degree, but don't forget to periodically recheck your draw length.  I discovered the hard way that my draw length can "grow" significantly from minimal winter practice through the spring and summer as I start practicing much more frequently.  And before everybody blames "floating anchors", "creeping", etc., it can be due to merely getting the back muscles more engaged as you get stronger and subconsciously "expand" the shot.  I'll drop about 50-75 grains of point weight between the dead of winter and fall.

[daniel boon]

YES,different string, silencers, position of silencers, etc, it  all has an affect