Controlling string stretch, peep sight rotation and serving separation are important goals when setting up a bow. You may choose to make your own strings some day, but short of that, if you want a string that doesn’t change throughout the season, you should take the following four steps to fine-tune the one that came with your bow. (Make sure your bowstring is made from a non-stretch material. There are a few good ones on the market. I have had great luck with BCY string material.)

First, shoot the bow 300 to 500 times until the string stretches and seats fully. Most of the total stretch over the string’s lifetime will occur in these first several hundred shots. You may even choose to let the bow sit out on a hot sunny day just to make sure that all the wax in the string cooks out and it reaches its full length.

Second, remove the serving and then take the string off the bow. To the best of your ability, try to separate the strands until you’ve identified the very center of the string. You will see this most clearly near the end serving. When the string was made it was a full loop that was served together at the ends to produce the string. Finding the center will help you place your peep sight in a way that reduces rotation. Place a twist tie in the middle of the string close to where you’d like your peep to serve as an indicator.

Third, twist the string. The top custom string makers recommend a full twist per inch of string length to produce the greatest stability. Twisting the string will also help keep your peep sight in position by preventing it from moving up and down the string.

Fourth, put the string back on the bow and apply new center serving. Use a very durable serving thread (I use BCY’s Halo). It’s important that you wrap the serving in the same direction as the twists in the string. That way you make the bundle tighter, minimize serving separation and reducing peep rotation.

Finally, apply the serving very tightly. This will assure that it doesn’t slip. I even use smaller diameter serving thread and double serve my strings to assure that the serving won’t separate, but that may be overkill for most archers.

Shoot the bow a few times to set everything and then install your peep sight right in the middle of the string. If the peep isn’t coming back properly, twist one end of the string a half-turn at a time until the peep is acting better.

Your string may well be the most important accessory on your bow. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.