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String Twist for RH Recurve

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#6 ·
I generally stick with CW when viewed from the top.
 
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#8 ·
String twist

Here is why I don't think twist direction matters for either the string or center serving. Here is a string set up to show a CW twist looking L to R as top to bottom. As I twist the center serving CW as it is presumed happens with a RH archer, you will notice that the top half of the string tightens but...the bottom half loosens. No matter what direction you twist your string or CS, one half of your string is twisting in the opposite direction.


 
#9 ·
When you are shooting BB and down near the bottom of the serving it absolutely matters.
 
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#10 ·
Oh, come on. What are you doing with your fingers so the string twists enough to make the serving come loose?

And why should it matter if you are at the top or bottom of the serving? Should you twist the string in the opposite way when stringwalking depending on if the range is close or far?

No, the direction of string twist does not matter in the least for RH or LH shooters. All that matters is that (as stated before) the string is well built and the serving is properly installed.

We need to stop confusing newbies with irrelevant details.
 
#11 ·
Only thing to be aware of is the construction of the string. twisting to shorten the string should be tightening up all the servings. Otherwise if you have already gone so far as to reverse the direction of the serving, shortening the string (making brace height higher) you will loosen the serving and can cause it to unwind.

If you are making your own strings, make sure they are all served in the same direction. Then twist the string accordingly to make them round...
 
#12 ·
Hate to continue the “argument”, but it is perfectly acceptable to have a string with a clockwise twist, but have the serving applied counterclockwise. In this case, when you UNTWIST the string to lengthen it (lower the BH), the serving will tighten.

Granted, usually it’s done clockwise/clockwise or counterclockwise/counterclockwise, but that’s only because people usually tend to do the end servings prior to putting any twists into the string.
 
#13 ·
Unfortunately many string makers do not make their servings tight enough to be "untightened" by twisting the wrong way. Especially if the "natural" twist applied to the string and end servings goes too far.. MANY of the students in our college classes here, have found out very quickly that if they do not pay attention and after just a few ends of shooting, their servings have started to unravel. Usually it's the center serving first. then the end servings. This is generally caused when a person is left handed and when they start "twisting" to raise the brace height, they don't realize that they first went "against" the direction of the serving, untwisting the string first, then kept going that same direction so now they are truly taking tension off the serving.

I found best to just inform them to start their twists the direction of the serving. Less likely to have them go too far.

I have seen where one person started a string, and a second person finished the center serving (opposite direction), or a noobe build a string and do the same. This case is a problem of construction but it does happen.

I
 
#14 ·
Stash said:
Hate to continue the “argument”, but it is perfectly acceptable to have a string with a clockwise twist, but have the serving applied counterclockwise. In this case, when you UNTWIST the string to lengthen it (lower the BH), the serving will tighten.

Granted, usually it’s done clockwise/clockwise or counterclockwise/counterclockwise, but that’s only because people usually tend to do the end servings prior to putting any twists into the string.
Click to expand...
my preference is to serve with the twist because I find that modern string materials tend to need more twisting up than untwisting. once twisted to the right length, they don't relax nearly as much off the bow as older, more elastic materials.

whether the whole string is constructed clockwise or anticlockwise borders on a religious war. I've had extended arguments with people who insist the way the string "rolls off the fingers" means one method is preferable to the other. if you can get them to challenge their beliefs long enough to consider that any "roll" put into the middle of the string will always tighten one end of the string, but unavoidably loosen the other, it's usually a lightbulb moment.

I make all of mine clockwise because it seems natural to me, but it doesn't matter one jot if the opposite is used.
 
#15 ·
My argument is not about clockwise or anticlockwise but all about when you twist a string against the direction of the serving, you will loosen the serving.. if you don’t serve the ends and the center serving all the same direction, one of the servings will suffer a loosening when the others are tightening. If you take this too far, the serving will unravel. (Seen it too many times)

So build your strings twisted or not, but when you twist them twist them the direction of the serving and you should be good. If you are not the builder of the string, just double check the serving before you start twisting.

LH shooter, RH Shooter, not going to make a difference for either construction if done well.
 
#16 ·
And just to throw another variable into the equation, it’s common for strings for compounds to be made with the serving in the opposite direction of the string twist. This helps prevent peep rotation.
 
#19 ·
Here's that string again, with added twists in the string for emphasis. Those who think it makes a difference, can you tell from the photo which direction the CS was laid? Did I start from the left (top) and go CW down or did I start at the bottom and go CCW up? Or was it the opposite of that? The problem with that hyperbolic drawing everyone uses as evidence for alarm is that it shows the CS with the threads at a great angle to the string which as you can in the real world is nonsense.

Another question is why do some people think there is a greater amount of torque at end of the CS than anywhere else on the string? The resistance to any twisting from the fingers is spread all the way to the limbs, either all the way to the bottom limb or all the way to the top. Why would there be an inordinate increase in torque right at end of the CS? For that to happen someone or something would have to be pinching the string just below/above the CS as you hooked or release-twisted the string. Gremlins!
 
#20 ·
I agree with dchan. I do everything CW. Point taken about string walking down near the bottom of the center serving, which is primarily why I go CW as a RH string walker.

Having said that, a well-built string should probably hold up regardless and we might be getting into somewhat superstitious territory here. So... CW in the northern hemisphere and CCW in the southern hemisphere. ;-)
 
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