The Best Dacron Strings for Recurve Bows

Do you still have a recurve bow for archery? You're not alone, as many people like to return to the days of old when it comes to the sport of archery --- at least as old as the 20th century. Recurves have been around since the times of the ancient Egyptians. They are easily identified by the way the tips bend away from the archer.

  1. Choosing Dacron String

    • The Greek God Apollo depicted with a recurve bow

      Today's recurve bows come in a variety of composite materials, from wood to fiberglass and beyond, but the one type of string that is most common among them is Dacron. It's strong, but less expensive than a high performance string like fast flight. Choosing the best string can be hard if you don't know the differences, and for all practical purposes, the differences between the two types of string are imperceptible. The two styles of Dacron bowstrings are the continuous loop and the Flemish twist.

    The Flemish Twist

    • The Flemish twist has been the standard for centuries and most archers are comfortable with it because of its reliable record. Also, the way it is constructed, an archer with an artistic streak can get a "3-lay" string with as many as three colors in the strands. A "lay" is what the bundle of string is called, and Flemish twists come in 2-lay or 3-lay. Most people choose 3-lay, mainly for its cosmetic appeal. If the archer takes the time to learn the technique, he can make his own bowstring and customize the color scheme. Or, just have a bowyer make custom strings.

    Continuous Loop

    • Okhee Yung of Korea competes in the 2010 Asian Games.

      Continuous loop string is made similarly to the Flemish twist, and at first glance the two may look alike. But when you look at the ends you'll see the difference. Most continuous loop strings are served at the ends, making them slightly stronger than the Flemish twists. It's actually the preferred string for professionals because each string, coming off the same jig setting, will be identical. This is important because in competition archers may need or want to change strings often, and with virtually identical strings, the professionals don't have to worry about adjusting their stance, release or other body mechanics to compensate for any change in strings.

    The Serving

    • The typical recurve bow with accessories

      Dacron string is susceptible to stretching, breakage and water, so it will need to be replaced more than high-performance strings. For the casual archer, this might not be an issue. Otherwise, Dacron is a great string. The "serving" on a bowstring is that part that comes in closest contact to the arrow and the archer, and where you will find the "nock." Most experienced archers will agree that the best serving to have on any string is Halo, and for "finger shooters," BCY Halo is the most recommended. It doesn't get fuzzy with use and will most likely outlast the string itself.

    Get Started

    • Find a range and begin.

      Pull out grandpa's old recurve bow, clean it up a little, take it to the nearest archery pro shop and tell them what you want. Then find the shooting range and get started.