String question

[Matthew Bolton]

For the past season I have been using the stock string on my zipper and it has worked flawlessly but is showing its age. In terms of a new string I have no idea what to look for. Where is a good place to start? How many strands are good for hunting? I'm shooting the bow at around 57 or 58lb at my draw and the bow is 62 inches long if if helps.

[Grey Taylor]

Personally, I'd start with asking Chad at Champion Custom Bowstrings what he would recommend.
He's made so many strings for so many different specs that he'll be able to give you information on what works best with your bow.
And you coudn't find a nicer guy to work with:
 http://www.recurves.com/bowstrings.html

Guy

[Reaper TN]

I have been curious about the newer "skinny" strings, but have not tried one yet. I just hate to change what has worked so well for me the last few years.  I have been using 12 and 14 strands of D-97 with various size Halo serving for the right nock fit.  My last few strings have been made with D-10 material, same type as D-97 but with less creep. I like it better than the D-97 for that reason. 14 strands of D-10 with .024 Halo serving fits my Gold Tip and Carbon Express nocks great and would be plenty string for your Zipper.   Josh Sowerby (Oliverstacey) in the classifieds, builds all my strings, and I highly recommend him and his strings.

[LBR]

"Where is a good place to start?"

If you are happy with the old string, find out what material and strand count it is and get a duplicate.

Strand count depends on draw weight and string material.  With many of the "fast flight" materials, you can go ridiculously low...some folks say there's an advantage to these tiny diameter strings, I haven't seen any real benefits myself (I've made/shot them).  You loose durability and gain stretch/creep with a low strand count.

I like Dynaflight '97 and 8125.  I've had good results with the new 8190--very low stretch, very low creep, very durable.  Strand count...my suggesstion would be (with your bow weight):

Dynaflight '97  12 strands
8125  12 strands
8190  16 strands
450+  10 strands

Fewer strands will be strong enough, but you won't normally gain much if anything.

Chad