About the Author: Austin Murphy is a skilled hunter with a passion for archery. With 17+ years of experience, he possesses extensive knowledge of various archery equipment, including compound bow, recurve bow, and crossbow. His expertise in these accessories allows him to pursue his love for archery while honing his hunting skills with precision and finesse. As participant in NFAA and ASA competitions, Austin own around 8 Recurve Bows, 6 Compound Bows, and 2 Crossbows.
Asking yourself; “Why do compound bows have 3 strings”?
To answer this tricky question, I have collected all the main points about the cables, strings, and bowstrings of a compound bow, and have explained the reasons behind them having 3 strings, how many twists they have when to change the bowstrings, and have answered some FAQS that would not only boost your knowledge but would also increase your archer mastery.
Compound bows are marked with complex structures, equipping different elements like Cams, strings, cables, libs, risers, and sights. These types of bows are used globally for different purposes like hunting, target shooting, and practicing. Below I have Enlisted the Factors about Why do compound bows have 3 strings.
You might be interested in: Gain insights into the mechanics and workings of a compound bow in our article on How a Compound Bow Works.
Why Do Compound Bows Have 3 Strings?
Compound bows have one string like any other type of bow but the other two are cables that are attached to the bow to increase its performance. Having one string and two cables provides many benefits and improvements in the function of the compound bow. This feature of 3 strings gives the arrows more speed and power when it is released, providing more energy and travel speed.
Below I have explained the main points about Why do compound bows have 3 strings.
Read More: How to Tune a Compound Bow
You might be interested in: Understand the role of a string stop on a compound bow in our article on String Stops on Compound Bows.
Provides more power and faster speed
Compound bows have more speed and power than any other type of bow because of their pulley or cam system. The pulleys or cams are attached offset to the riser so that the arrows speed up when traveling towards the target. Moreover, it stores more energy when fully drawn, and when the arrow is released it transfers all the energy into the arrow providing more power and faster speed.
Provides ease to full draw when shooting
The 3 strings system of compound bows helps to hold the bow at full draw easily. When we fully draw a compound bow and stretch one string the pressure on this string will be more than the other two strings, producing stress and disbalance in the bow. With 3 strings the load is distributed on all 3 strings..
Read More: How Much Does It Cost to Tune a Compound Bow?
Do 3 Strings Make Compound Bow Faster?
The compound bows compared to other types of bows like longbows or recurve bows are gradually faster. This type of bow is equipped with a mechanism of pulleys and cams, making the bowstring more stretched and storing more energy in the arrow which allows them to shoot faster than any traditional bow.
The compound bows are also marked with 3 strings, providing a great amount of power, force, and speed. These bowstrings are combined with the Cams and other bow structures that store energy when stretched and shoot the arrow much faster when released than other types of bows.
Read More: How to Adjust the Draw Weight on a Compound Bow
How Many Twists Should A Compound Bow String Have?
There are many things that are to be considered to determine how many twists are needed in a compound bow like, draw weight, cam-system, string material, and draw length. Furthermore, the basic rule to estimate how many twists on the string should be is that a lower draw weight has a higher number of twists and a higher draw weight has less number of twists.
Generally, compound bow strings have 18 to 30 twists or 1/2.5 to 3/4 twists per inch. A bowstring that has few twists can make the arrow fly erratically, oppositely too many twists cause more challenging to draw on a bow.
Read More: How Long Does a Compound Bow Last?
How to Know When to Change the Bow Strings
Many hunters and archers use the bowstring for too long to get all the time they can use this bowstring, while on the other hand, many hunters and archers replace the bowstring every year especially to improve the looks of the bow.
However, if the bowstring has its serving separated and the strands of the bowstring look frayed then you might need a new string. Moreover, if the bow has performance issues or problems with tuning then it is time to change the strings.
String Fraying and Wear
After a long time of using a string or if something is rubbing on it the string starts fraying and it starts to look fuzzy. Minor types of fuzz can be solved by regular waxing but if the string starts fraying further and further then it should be replaced.
Reduced Performance
If the bowstring gets very old and is frequently used for a long time it highly affects the performance of the bow. It can result in accuracy issues and reduce stability and power.
Recommended Lifespan
The recommended lifespan of a compound bow string is around 2-3 years of frequent use, but this lifespan can be reached by proper care and regular waxing of the string.
Safety Considerations
If the string is too frayed and fuzzy, but you still use it can result in serious damage to the bow and its parts. Furthermore, the string can snap and may cause serious injuries to you, so it is better to change the string for your safety.
Regular Maintenance
The bowstring dries up after some time and it starts to get fuzzy. To prevent this we should take care of the string daily by regularly waxing it and preventing it from drying. Regular care can increase the lifespan of string and prevent any safety issues.
Read More: Decoding the Types: The Variety of Compound Bows Explained
COMMON QUESTIONS THAT WE HEAR AS COMPOUND BOW OWNERS
How often should you replace cables on a compound bow?
Compound bows are types of bows that require proper caring, tuning, and maintenance. The cables and strings of a compound bow can last from two years up to three years based on the maintenance, regular waxing, and routine tuning of your compound bow.
Why are bow strings twisted?
If you twist the strings of the compound bow, this makes the strings effectively shorter, increasing the draw length, and draw weight of your bow. You can tune and adjust your bowstrings by twisting them, which will affect the brace height of your compound bow.
Why are there 3 strings in a bow?
The compound bow is a type of bow that is different from any traditional bow and has a complex structure. This bow is equipped with 3 strings, one is the main bowstring that is used to shoot an arrow, and the other two are cables to support the body or structure of the compound bow.
Do all bows need a stabilizer?
All bows are not equipped with stabilizers and do not need them, but in situations like hunting where accurate shooting is required, stabilizers are used to increase the accuracy of a bow. If you are shooting from a treestand and the weight is not in consideration then using a stabilizer can increase your accuracy.
What is a bow string made of?
The different types of bows are marked with a variety of different strings made of different traditional materials like hemp, vegetable fibers, linen, hair, silk, sinew, and rawhide. However, bowstrings can be manufactured with almost any fiber, in the case of emergency.
How thick is the bow string?
The bowstrings equipped in any compound bow may differ, as they are manufactured by different manufacturing companies. The modern and latest bowstrings are composed of strands measuring 0.018 to 0.022 inches in diameter.
Read More: Aiming for Success: Compound Bow 101 – How to Shoot Like a Pro
End Note
In the above article, we have gained all the information about compound bows, why do compound bows have 3 strings, do 3 strings make them faster, how long can bowstrings last, when to change the strings of a bow, and have guided you about some FAQS.
Due to their complex structures, not every user is aware of the parts and their uses of a compound bow, but due to their high-end performance, great quality, vibrant design, amazing specs, and easy-to-use features, compound bows are used globally and are marked as one of the best bows for hunting.
To conclude this, I would suggest and recommend that compound bow owners go through the above information to properly understand the reasons behind the 3 strings of a compound bow. The above guide will rocket-boost your archery knowledge and will enhance your bow-shooting experience.
