Edited: Upper limb? So does the bow shoot better unstrung???

Ssamac · May 12, 2010, 09:27:00 PM

My son asked me why we always string the bow from the upper limb. I actually have no idea, other than maybe the tiller on the lower limb is stiffer.

I'm sure the Trad Gangers know, however. So why do we always string from the top limb?

thanks
sam

vermonster13 · May 12, 2010, 09:29:00 PM

Probably started that way with longbows thousands of years before stringers were ever thought of. A lot easier to step through and string from the top than do it from the bottom and have to flip it over before you can shoot it.

Old York · May 12, 2010, 10:30:00 PM

Well, best I can tell is because our feet have no opposable thumbs.

robtattoo · May 12, 2010, 11:07:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Old York:
Well, best I can tell is because our feet have no opposable thumbs.

Y'all need t' come on down here, meet some of mah cousins....

sagebrush · May 12, 2010, 11:10:00 PM

Hahahahaha, good one Rob

daveycrockett · May 12, 2010, 11:16:00 PM

Cause the top loop is bigger than the bottom on most strings???

Whip · May 12, 2010, 11:30:00 PM

Davey wins! A well made string will have a tighter fitting loop on the bottom that won't slide up the limb easily. The top loop is sized to fit fairly snuggly about 4" down on the limb.

crotch horn · May 13, 2010, 01:06:00 AM

Like stated I was told the big loop goes on the top.

vermonster13 · May 13, 2010, 06:20:00 AM

The top loop is bigger for the reason I mentioned above.

Earl E. Nov...mber · May 13, 2010, 07:11:00 AM

Wrong,, we put a big loop on one end to Fit the top limb..That is that affect not the cause.. I suspect Vermonster has the right answer.

Or basically "We ben doin it dat way forever and we ain't changin now."

Uncle Buck · May 13, 2010, 07:22:00 AM

I did it accidentally backwards on a new bow once, didnt notice it until I had served on a nocking point. Didnt want to do it over so I just left it that way, never had any problems and oddly enough no one else ever noticed that my string was "upside down". I do use a stinger, always

SveinD · May 13, 2010, 07:49:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Uncle Buck:
I did it accidentally backwards on a new bow once, didnt notice it until I had served on a nocking point. Didnt want to do it over so I just left it that way, never had any problems and oddly enough no one else ever noticed that my string was "upside down". I do use a stinger, always

Then maybe it was you who made the 60" recurve string I got that was served upside down?

Dick in Seattle · May 13, 2010, 01:32:00 PM

Because if you only strung it from the bottom limb, the string would hang loose?

Encino Man · May 13, 2010, 01:38:00 PM

One less step. Why string it from the bottom and then have to flip it over?

Need to add that I always have a limb protector on the bottom also.

Chris Shelton · May 13, 2010, 01:40:00 PM

ha ha, we are suppose to string a bow from the top limb, lol???

Daniel G. Banting · May 13, 2010, 02:27:00 PM

I have two thoughts regarding this. I think on a longbow it is a matter of utilizing the push pull method of stringing. After having pushed the string onto the nock it was not necessary to turn the bow over to have it in a shooting position. On a recurve where we mostly utilize a stringer I think it evolved from the fact that we would normally use our strong arm to pull up on the bow against the stringer. If we were to attempt to put the string on the bottom limb the shape of the grip does not really fit the thumb and fore finger of the pulling hand as well as if we were stringing the top limb.

I hope that makes sense!

Regards to all,
Dan

May 13, 2010, 02:31:00 PM

Because bowyers always make the top tip larger. Because it is uncomfortable to hold the grip upside down. Because up is always up and you have to start somewhere. Because if someone does it backwards and gets in wrestling match with the bow, it will be brought to me in pieces with the question " can you fix this?" this answer is, yes, and after many shots and two years that bow is still shooting, but it would have been easier to build it from scratch. Kids do ask fun questions, that is part of the fun in teaching them.

May 13, 2010, 02:32:00 PM

Because bowyers always make the top tip larger. Because it is uncomfortable to hold the grip upside down. Because up is always up and you have to start somewhere. Because if someone does it backwards and gets in wrestling match with the bow, it will be brought to me in pieces with the question "can you fix this?" this answer is, yes, and after many shots and two years that bow is still shooting, but it would have been easier to build it from scratch. Kids do ask fun questions, that is part of the fun in teaching them.

Zbearclaw · May 13, 2010, 02:41:00 PM

Why unstring a bow?

Eugene Slagle · May 13, 2010, 02:48:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Zbearclaw:
Why unstring a bow?

Because a bow is a weapon when strung.
A bow is just a stick with some string when it is unstrung.