We are going to take a look at recurve

equipment, some tuning, and some other

items we can use as training aids. There
are lot of us who know how to do this, and
some are better at tuning than others. How
many of you here feel very confident in
tuning equipment? How many of you
don’t? This presentation isn’t intended to
teach you specifically how to tune but will
add additional education towards that goal.
I believe that tuning in general is something
that is basic enough that most of us can do
and should become easier over time.
However, for this camp session, I really
wanted to present this education to you and
have all of us on the same track. I’ve
personally seen archers over the years that
had no idea how to tune, set up their
equipment, or even know the terminology.
I’ve also seen a lot of coaches not even look
at their archer’s equipment or try to tune a
bow without even checking the center shot
first. So, hopefully this presentation will
increase your awareness as students of
archery to what is really important.
When we look at producing high level
archers, what is really important? What
does it take to produce a 1320 FITA
shooter? The truth of the matter is that
while tuning is not critically important, basic
setup and tuning should be achieved. In
addition, Coach Lee and Coach Guy
Krueger have stated that they don’t over
focus on the actual tuning, rather the main
focus is NTS form (mental and physical)
and the result is the equipment performing
better. Again, there are probably some of
you here that are better at tuning that I am
So these are the things we are going to
look at:

Set up - What is the best way to go about

this? Where does this information come
from?
Tuning issues - Have any of you ever
experienced tuning issues, false
indications, arrows drifting off course at
longer distances, etc.?
Training Aids - This will be more along the
lines of technological training aids.
Competition tools - How many of you travel
with a tool box to competitions? How many
travel with spare equipment?
Setting the bow up in a systematic
approach will decrease the time to set it up
and prevent you from overlooking details in
the process. Here is the basic route
recommended when setting up a bow. As
an archer and a coach, any time I set up
new equipment, new arrows, etc., I started
with a new string and went through this
process.
How many of you make strings? How often
do you make new ones? Do you carry
spares that have been set up and tested?
What are your preferences for string
material? What do you feel is the benefit to
using that material?

Typically, we use 8125, 452X, or 8190 while

some have used D97. 8125 is .8125 the
diameter of D97 (a smaller version), other
than that they are the same material.
Overall, I think just about any type of string
material has the same grouping capabilities,
however, some are more consistent over
time, and each string material has a different
tone or sound. Be watchful for string creep
as they are different for each type of string
material (i.e. - Dynaflight).

Different bows may require a different length

string. Even within Hoyt’s there are a big
difference. For example, a GMX (ILF type)
requires a much shorter string, say a 64 5/8
string for a 68 inch bow, where an
RX/HPX/IONX/Prodigy will require a 65 1/4
inch string.

Its been typical, for high performance

archers to shoot with 20 strands of 8125 or
8190, or 26 strands of 452x. Refer to the
guidelines for strand count regarding
poundage.
A few tips on string building/design:
- End loops: Although the end loops will
appear to be more secure and are more
attractive, do not serve over the
beginning of the loop. This can cause
the string to twist as it impact the limb
and it may be loud and cause more
flyers. This is something Coach Guy
learned from a few different Korean
archers.
- Tension: A lot of people will try to put too
much tension on the strands as they are
 wrapping them around the jig. It is
recommend to start with a firm tension,
but you don’t have to over do it. After you
have made the string, put it on the bow,
let it stretch for an hour or so, and then
put the twist in it and get it slightly about
the brace height you think you will use
before serving it. Make sure you always
go towards the face of the riser when
serving.
- Center Serving: If your shooting form is
such that you do not hit your arm with the
bow string upon release then it is
recommended to leave off 2 inches of
center serving on the lower limb side.
This will increase the speed of the string
and should add 2-3 FPS to the bow.
Brace Height
- Measure from the string to the plunger
edge (string side of plunger)
- This is the most consistent
unchanging location

Nock Point height

- Start with at least 1/4“ above zero using
a bow square (7/16” has been a sweet
spot for recurve bows I have tuned)
- This is where the bottom of the
upper nock point will be set at
 - Use a Sharpie marker (i.e. – silver
color) to mark that location on the
Center Serving and tie in a nock point
at that mark
- Be prepared to change as needed
during tuning process

Tiller is something a lot of people don’t pay

much attention too.
- It is something that a lot of people don’t
understand
- It is best to stick within recommendations
(1/8” to 1/4”) using “positive tiller”
- Do note that moving tiller will move the
nock point
- Also note that having the tiller set
incorrectly can cause a lot of limb flutter
when the archer releases
- It is very important to reduce the
flutter in the limbs as much as
possible by adjusting the tiller
- Tiller will also have an effect on grip
pressure.
How many of you have spent time and gotten
frustrated trying to align a bow? How many
have never even heard of this? We are going
to review how to align Hoyts. What is important
is that whichever process you utilize or decide
on that you keep to it as a process, like NTS is,
and not something random and different each
time.

The main goal here is to get the string lined up

in the middle of the Beiter blocks on each limb
while aligning it in the middle of the stabilizer
(granted the stabilizer is straight). It is
recommended to do so with a solid stabilizer and
not a multi rod stabilizer. As you will see, by
moving the string to the left it will make the string
line up in the center of the blocks but it also
changes the position of the string on the
stabilizer.
These are the basic steps that we will follow to
get the limbs lined up correctly. This handout
will help you when you are home in lining up
bows.
When we set center shot we typically want to
cover up 1/4 of the shaft and have the
remaining 3/4 or so visible. Even though this is
an aluminum arrow this is where we would have
it for a barreled shaft like an ACE or X10. We
have found from our experience that this is the
best place. The dotted orange line highlights
this.
Have any of you ever experienced any
false indications? Examples? What was
the reason?

A lot of false indications come from

improper equipment set up or from String
contact/clearance. You can even get false
indications if someone is torqueing the bow.

This Hoyt Super Rest is the best rest you

can get. It has shot more world records
than any other rest. It is especially handy
in windy conditions.
Do many of you use any training aids such
as cameras, video, delayed video? These
are all tools that can help the athlete
understand better and can help with
detecting tuning issues.
Here’s one that Coach Guy likes. The Go
Pro Hero2 camera. This is not a typical
camera. It has a wide view lens so you get
some distortion on the edge, but the picture
is really clear. They’re easy to use. You
can attach them to anything. And you don’t
need someone else to help you get the
shots you need.
Delayed video
- Easy to carry and can record form 30 FPS (frames per second) to 1,000 FPS.
This is what Coach Guy typically takes with
him to tournaments, especially World Cup,
World Championships, selection events.
For example, at the World Championships,
the field was set up almost facing east.
The sun was right in the eyes of most of the
competitors. Since I bring the black
paper/binder clips, I was able to put
business cards on the guys hats so they
weren’t blinded by the sun. You as the
athlete should always be prepared, but part
of coach’s role is helping you be prepared
for the unexpected.
This presentations information was primarily derived from Coach Guy Krueger’s
2012 Coach Symposium speech. Additional information added by Coach Mike
Perrego and from information gathered from Coach Mel Nichols, Coach Rich
Cockrell, Hoyt, and Easton Archery’s Tuning Guide.