Longtime Fast Flight Fan

[Ladams]

I have been a big fan of fast flight strings since my compound days way back when.
All this talk of skinny strings and all the new types of string material got me to thinking mabe im behind the times,So what better wat to become educated than to ask Tradgangers what they like and why,so lets have it what is your favored string and why,
by the way I shoot a mohawk 64" 56# @ 28 with about 550 grains of arrow, if that makes a difference.

Larry

[Night Wing]

Since I shoot low poundage bows, I get more "oomph" from a fast flight string than I get with a dacron string.

I have no string twang noise either.

[Wheels2]

Fastflite is a good string material and I shot several bows made for such strings.  The only downside was that I noticed a bit of stretch, particularly in the heat.  Not hard to correct though,a couple of twists and you were back in shape

[ishoot4thrills]

Okay, I like the "new" D10 string material. It's the lowest stretch material I have used thus far. I mean this stuff doesn't seem to stretch at all! I noticed a substantial difference between D10 and D97 as far as how much creep I get. The D10 creeps less by far.

[frank bullitt]

Larry, if you like fast flight, you will love the new High performance materials.

Been using Asto Flight, from Brownell. D-10's counter. Try either, I'm sure you will enjoy the shot!  They're all goooood!    

Good shootin,
Steve

[jackdaw]

shot today for the first time across a chronograph...one bow , an Ed Holcomb 59' Kodiak 47# with a D97 skinny string, the other bow was an Ed Holcomb 59' Kodiak 51# bow with a brand new "fastflight" 12 strand string...the verdict???? 180-181 fps for the 51# bow....179 180 fps for the 47# bow.....a dead heat in my book. I suspect the skinny string made up the difference in poundage between the two bows.Anybody else out there had a similar experience??? hope this helps...john

[Ladams]

I have read alot of good things about the D10 skinny strings, How much trouble is it to build the padded ends,
I havent done a search yet but is there a how too on this site?

[Ladams]

also what are bowyers saying about standing behind their bows if a skinny string is used?

[Soilarch]

I don't know about the bowyers....


I'm new, and make my own strings.  I've made them out of B-50, TS+ or TS-1 (whatever it's called), D97, and Astroflight.

In order of preference are

Astroflight

D97 & B50 tied (depends on bow)


TS+


I'm usually at 10 strands on D97 or Astro.  My bows are around 65# at my draw.  10 strands is still big enough you don't have to double serve the center to keep your fingers from screaming.

I prefer astroflight because *somehow* it seems "soft" like B-50 but without any creep once settled.

[Reaper TN]

I have been wanting to try a skinny string but have not done it yet, just can't pull the trigger on one.  I have been using 12 and 14 strand D-97 strings with Halo serving for about a year and a half now and have been very satisfied with their performance.  I kinda feel like "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[LostNation_Larry]

I'm still trying to make up my mind on this.  I use DF97 primarily because it is about the same diameter as B50 so if I keep the strand count the same then the nocks fit the same. I hate loose nocks.

BTW, BCY makes Spectra which is a copy of the old Fast Flight so if you prefer the old Fast Flight you can go back.

[BowMIke]

You should try an 8 strand SBD d10 string on your 56 lb bow. That will make you a believer!

[Night Wing]

I'm like most people. When something has been working very well, I tend to stick with it. Both of my Blacktail recurves came with factory D97 bowstrings. They work great. Just replaced my factory string on my 37# bow with another 12 strand D97 bowstring from Chad Weaver.

Maybe sometime in the future, I'll try a 12 strand D10 bowstring.

I have been using D97 exclusively since about 1999. Started making my own strings not long after that first "boughten" string. I was making 14-16 strand strings for my 45-46# bows. Recently I made a 10-strand string, not technically a "skinny" string I guess but it shoots great on my Bob Lee TD longbow--quieter and faster. I'm changing over on the rest of my bows as the strings need replacing.

[Swamp Yankee]

The problem as I see it, is when we shifted from dacron to the newer much stronger material, we never redesigned how we build the strings and essentially just used the same number of strands.  The result is we've all been shooting strings that are much stronger than necessary; therefore heavier than necessary.  The "new" "skinney" strings are nothing more than string design catching up with the new material.  The result is a lighter (faster) and quieter string that actually puts LESS stress on the bow because it has more "give" (less overbuilt).  I'd predict that in a couple of years, 6 and 8 strand bowstrings will become the norm.

[Ladams]

I have never used anything but a 16 strand fast flight string ...
that should tell you how behind the times I am,
but as said above If it works why change, but im beginning to think I can improve preformance a little with a new string design and material.

[frank bullitt]

Larry, still have some ole Fast Flight on bows, too. Even use B-50!

If you want to try some new Stuff, put it on that Krewson osage  bow of yours! I think you be happy with feeling    

If you want to try some, give me a holler, I can send you enough to build one up.

[Ladams]

Dont meen to sound stupid but when people talk about the creep in a string is that the same thing as stretch??

[Ladams]

Frank
now that you mention it my krewson bow does have a string that is not fast flight I will have to look at the paper that came with it because I dont remember what Eric told me it was.

[Sal]

Swamp Yankee has hit it in the nail, old methods with new materials.  

Skinny strings work best with selfbows.