It's all about the brace, bout the brace, no creep!

[J. Holden]

So I have been practicing daily as I am booked for an antelope hunt in August.  The last thing I wanted was to get there, be sitting in a blind, and think to myself "I should have practiced more".  So I have been practicing daily even if it's 15 yards at home.

Yesterday I went to an outdoor range nearby.  And I shot like crap!  The last time I was at the range I didn't do so hot either.  I thought maybe it was because I was just practicing out to 30 yards.  But usually I'm fairly consistent at 20 yards.  No so much yesterday.

Then it dawned on me.  I bought two new strings for the trip and I had one of them on.  I thought the stretch was all gone.  I got home, checked the brace height, and BAM!  I was 1/2" off where it should be.

All my arrows are now marked with a small dot that matches the front of my rest.  A quick easy step to check the brace height that would have saved me aggravation.

It's all about the brace, 'bout the brace, no creep!

-Jeremy  

[ed cowden]

Good thinking, and rest assured in the blind.

I keep a square with nearly everywhere I go, and check often.

I was at a big shoot about a month ago and we were about to begin a head to head shootdown. I pulled my square out and the BH was off just a tad. I put one half twist in the string and strung it back up. The guy standing next to me looked at me and says "One half twist????? Come on, man!".

I like things where they are suppose to be, and make sure they are there often!

Bisch

[LBR]

That's where materials like BCY-X have an advantage--much more stable in higher temps.

[Boomerang]

Ya and make sure you "Have all the right junk in all the right place." LOL  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yup.... once you find that sweet spot in your brace, it can make a big difference if it moves....

Life is too short to put up with string creep. With the string materials we have today. you don't have to deal with it at all.

Use decent string material, and have a pro string builder build your strings. That's half the battle.

[Doc Nock]

I've had good strings made by great people...that had creep... consistency in the building and settling of strands into one another are important... many twist them up watching TV and things "vary".

On a hot day, I kept dropping low...checked brace and it was off well over 1/2--more like 3/4"...twisted it up and back on!

And that string had been shot in well and was stable---for a while, but the heat got to it.

Like the poster before me, I now get them from someone who builds UNDER tension and uses harmonics to settle the strands...different colors have different diameter from the color so some combos take more to settle in tight and NOT creep.

To each his own...

[LBR]

The best made string will still creep with some materials, even pre-stretched.  Going low in strand count exaggerates this problem.  My former favorite, Dynaflight '97, was/is a great material...but in the heat, it will creep some, especially with a lower strand count/heavier draw weight.

It's not rocket science, even though it seems some makers try to make it sound like it is.  That drives me crazy...    

Materials with Vectran will be more stable.  High percentages of Vectran will not be as durable.  

Couple the highest quality Dyneema with a low percentage of Vectran, IMO you have the best material to work with.

Make the string correctly, with the right material, and pre-stretch.  Shoot it in, tune it, and you will be good to go.  

[Jack Hoyt 75]

Interesting! Gotta watch out for the creep!

I have mainly used the strings from the bowyer on my bows and to be honest don't even know what most are made of (assume Dynaflight 97).  They are what the bowyer used and seem just fine to me.  Some creep a little and others not so much, never a 1/2 or anything. Only custom string I have had made is a SBD (I liked it) but sold that bow. I always check my brace height after I string it up and again after shooting a while to see if it moved.

Not to hijack the thread but...Thread posters above, I am very curious?  What string maker and materials to you prefer? BCY-D10, DynaFlight 97, Fast Flight Rhino, something else?  Would love to know why you chose the string maker you chose?  I want to avoid the CREEP!

I have only heard good things about SBD, Rick Ba**ee, and Champion.

Just curious...

[M60gunner]

Another old trick is cresting a line on your arrows that match your brace height. I know a few guys that run some cap wrap on there arrows there.
As for strings I use SBD on most of my bows. I also have a one of 10 ring strings and so far no stretch.

[J. Holden]

I've had a few custom strings but I had them made for the bows I've made myself.  They were odd lengths because they were self bows.  These last two I just picked up from 3 Rivers, B-50 because they were out of B-55.  Besides B-50 and B-55 are there any other materials that work on a non fast flight approved bow?

I didn't know heat could affect the brace height.  I guess that makes sense, heat makes everything expand.  I'll have to keep an eye on it when I'm baking in the blind.  Thanks for the heads up!

-Jeremy  

[LBR]

I have mainly used the strings from the bowyer on my bows and to be honest don't even know what most are made of. They are what the bowyer used and seem just fine to me.

My guess is you are like 80-90+% of archers.  From what I've seen, a lot of bowyers are in the same boat--they may know bows inside and out, but strings?  Not so much.  They often fall for the same type of hype that others fall for.

I don't claim to be anything special, I just love making strings and I've been making them, along with studying materials, for two decades.  I quit counting how many I've made at 10,000 years ago.  And I find myself learning more all the time.

Like I said, trying to portray string making as something magic and mystical drives me nuts.  It's a fairly simple process that just requires knowledge and practice.  No pixie dust, no equipment stolen from the Department of Defense.  

That's one of the reasons I've been involved with two string making videos (Doin' the Twist and How to Build a Great Bowstring).  When I was getting started (pre-internet)it was hard to get good information.  When the internet came along, holy smokes!  Lots of information, some of it off the wall!  So we did the videos to try and help folks out and clear the smoke and put away the mirrors.

My favorite material, to date, is BCY-X.  The reason being is it's 83% SK90 Dyneema (the highest quality HMPE/UHMWPE available from DSM--not a Chinese knock-off) mixed with 17% Vectran (for stability, especially in higher temps).

To me, this is the best combo currently available for the type shooting and hunting I do, in the situations I shoot in.  Very consistent, very durable, quiet, great performance.

Obviously I like my own strings.  I'm fortunate to know some excellent shooters who have helped me figure some things out.  I've picked the brains of beginners and experts alike over the years, along with the great folks at BCY.  Rod Jenkins has been a great help over the years--along with being a professional archer and coach, Rod was also a professional string maker.  

Knowing what is in a specific material and knowing it's characteristics helps me make a better string, and BCY has always been great about telling me anything I want to know about their materials, what is in them and why.

Not to promote my videos, but if you watch one it's basically the same as sitting down with me at my shop and watching me (which I invite people to do if they are in the area).  No secrets, no bull.  That's what got me hooked on BCY early on, and why I've used them exclusively for almost all of my string making career...no secrets, no bull.

Anyhow...sorry if I come across a little strong here.  I am a bit passionate about making strings.

[LBR]

Besides B-50 and B-55 are there any other materials that work on a non fast flight approved bow?

Afraid not, at least not yet.  Some folks get away with using high performance strings on bows not built for them...but I won't even try it.  I don't have a bow I'm willing to risk, and there are tons of variables to consider that could make the difference in why one guy gets away with it and the next three won't.

[old_goat2]

I doubt anybody else that replied besides me got the gist of the thread title;-)

[LBR]

Oh yeah...that dang song...I've heard it maybe 3 or 4 times and it gets stuck in my head...arrgghhh!!!

[ChuckC]

? ? ?
ChuckC

[sou-pawbowhunter]

Meghan Trainor must be very proud.   :rolleyes:

[J. Holden]

So, when you have teenage children, yes, you hear all the annoying songs.  I simply used the title as a catchy way to get some attention.  Please, all I wanted to do was share my discovery and fix for brace height in the event someone else is struggling.  Just trying to help out.

-Jeremy  

[Elkchaser]

quote:Originally posted by J. Holden:
Please, all I wanted to do was share my discovery and fix for brace height in the event someone else is struggling.  Just trying to help out.

-Jeremy    

[LBR]

I sure appreciate it.  I try to keep it more low-key, because words can be misinterpreted on a computer screen.