by Brad Harris March 7, 2021

Learn All You Need About Compound Bow Restringing

Experts say that you should restring your bow at least every three years, although this time may be altered depending on certain factors. Furthermore, when restringing your compound bow, you will need to think about the type and quality of string you will use as well as the cost of restringing.

In this article, we will be looking at everything you need to know to have your compound bow restrung successfully.

Read more:

Why Do I Need To Restring My Compound Bow?

One of the main reasons that you will need to restring your compound bow regularly is down accuracy. Have you ever noticed that when your strings have had their day that you bow is not as easy to shoot as it was when the strings were new?

This is because as you use the bow, over time, the strings will expand and become looser. This will take away some of the poundage of the draw, and as a result, your shots might not be as accurate as you know you can make them.

And it won’t just be your accuracy that is thrown off. A bowhunter using a bow whose bowstring is not up to scratch will notice that the speed of the arrow is drastically affected.

But perhaps the most important thing to consider when looking at whether or not you should restring your bow is safety. There is a very real risk that leaving a bow with a substandard string will result in the string snapping unexpectedly. If this happens, particularly when the bow is at full draw, there is a threat to your safety and potentially your life. Not to mention that should the string snap, fly off and hit an innocent bystander, their safety will also be compromised. Archery is not a sport that should be taken with a blase attitude, and it is essential to observe safety at all times; this includes maintaining your equipment, thus replacing your bowstring regularly is of the utmost importance.

How Much Does It Cost To Restring A Compound Bow?

One of the most common questions from newbie archers is how much it is going to cost to restring their compound bow; in short, it isn’t as much as you might first think.

There is no secret that some of the most top-quality bows come in at quite the cost; therefore, it would be easy to assume that maintaining them would cost just as much, but the good news is that, on average, you can expect to pay only $70-$200 to restring your compound bow.

However, it is essential to keep in mind that this is an average, and there are several factors that might affect how much you must fork out to restring your bow.

First of all, the quality of the strings you choose will vary dramatically and accordingly, so will the cost. There are some budget-friendly strings that offer a half-decent quality, and if you don’t use your bow very often, this might be a viable option. However, if you are a regular shooter, you will want something a little more durable. This will save you having to replace the strings more frequently.

There are some bowstrings that are extremely expensive, but this might often be associated with the brand name, so be sure to look at the quality as opposed to the company name that is printed on the packaging.

In addition to the cost of the string, you will need to think about how much it will cost to have the string fitted. Now, it is vital to keep in mind that there is no obligation for you to take your bow to a professional shop to be restringed; it is perfectly possible to do this yourself, at home. However, if you are not entirely confident, it is always wise to hand the job to someone who knows what they are doing; rather this than risk damaging your bow. But for those who do feel comfortable doing a DIY restringing, we will offer you some handy tips a little later on.

Some shops charge as little as $20 for a string replacement, so you can see that this isn’t something that is going to put a massive dent into your bank balance. However, if you are looking for an excellent quality of service and someone who has a great deal of experience, you might need to pay a little extra for the privilege.

How Often Should I Restring My Compound Bow?

As a general rule, most manufacturers and archery experts would recommend that you restring a compound bow at least once every three years. However, this is quite the point of contention among archers with some suggesting that it should be done far more frequently. There are those who restring their bow annually and whilst this is a lot more often than previously suggested, it is also worth keeping in mind that due to the relatively low cost of restringing a compound bow, doing it once a year won’t break the bank.

There are other people who would go even further and suggest that you should replace your bowstring every few months, and this might be the case if you are getting some exceptionally heavy use out of your equipment. Still, unless you are using it on a commercial hunting scale or are a professional competitive archer, it is unlikely that you would need to do it this often.

When we talk about the frequency of restringing your bow, it is vital that these timescales are a general guideline; there are several factors that will determine how often, or not, you will need to have your compound bow restrung.

To begin with, you will need to consider how often you use the bow; for someone who is using their equipment multiple times per day, it stands to reason that you would need to replace the strings far more frequently than someone who uses the bow a few times a month.

Furthermore, you will need to think about the quality of the strings. Of course, it goes without saying that if you have previously installed a good quality string, this will last longer than a budget one that has not been designed with longevity and quality in mind. It is far wiser to spend that little bit extra on your bowstring so that it will last longer and perform better.

What Are The Signs That My Bow Needs Restringing?

One of the most obvious signs to look out for when checking whether your bow needs restringing or not is how it is functioning. If it simply doesn’t ‘feel right’ then it might be time to check the string over.

In the main, if there are any signs of wear and tear such as fraying or obvious breaks, then you should aim to get the bow restrung as quickly as possible. Furthermore, if you have noticed that the maximum draw length has become elongated, this could be a key giveaway that it is time to replace the bowstring.

Your compound bowstring might wear in specific places more quickly than it would in others. For example, where it crosses the cams may be a point that becomes worn more easily as well as at the nock point.

For these reasons, it is important that you inspect the bow from time to time to ensure that it is in good working order.

Are There Any Ways To Make My Compound Bowstring Last Longer?

The truth of the matter is that if you use your bow frequently enough, the string is going to wear, fray and need replacing more quickly than it would if you are only an occasional shooter.

However, there are a few things that you can do to get the maximum life out of your bowstring. The most commonly used trick is to wax the string regularly as this can prevent it from fraying as quickly as it would otherwise. You will need to give the bowstrings a good clean and then apply the wax.

One of the main things that can cause a bowstring to fracture before it should is when too much pressure is applied to the bowstring. Therefore, avoiding adding too much pressure is one of the prime ways that you can make sure that your bowstring lasts as long as possible.

Many people are not familiar with the fact that exposing the bow to extreme heat could serve as a way to damage the string, or at least make its lifespan significantly shorter. For this reason, you should be sure to avoid placing the bow next to extreme sources of heat such as an open fire.

How To Restring A Compound Bow By Hand

If you do not want to take your bow to a professional to be restrung then it is entirely viable to do this by yourself, even without the aid of a bow press; but you must be prepared for a little bit of work. Whilst this is a simple technique, it is essential to remember that if you have not done it before, there is a risk of it going wrong. If you want to get it right, it might be worth practising on an old bow before moving on to your current one.

To begin with, you will need to take some of the pressure off the limbs, and this can be achieved by inserting an Allen wrench into the limb bolts and making three full turns.
Now take your feet and step onto the bowstring while using the hands to bring it to a full draw position.
Keeping one hand on the riser, you will now need to use the other hand to attach the teardrop fittings of the replacement string to the loops on the bow.
You must now slowly lower the bow until you notice that the limbs return to the default position.
Take the time to inspect the string loops and be sure that they are correctly fitted into the grooves on the bow.
Next, take both feet and stand on the replacement strings at the same time, use the riser to bring the bow to a full draw. You will now be able to remove the old string and slowly lower the bow back to default.
Remember to tighten the limb bolts back with your Allen wrench at the end of the process.

Conclusion

Keeping your bow in good condition is a sure-fire way to ensure that it always shoots accurately, but many archers are unfamiliar with the importance of replacing the strings on their compound bow.

This is a simple task that can be done cheaply by a professional; you will find that the true cost of restringing comes from the strings themselves.

It is important to regularly look over your bowstring to make sure that it is not frayed or damaged, but as a rule of thumb, you can get away with replacing the bowstring every three years.

About Brad Harris