🎯 Bow String Length Reference Chart

A quick reference for typical string length relative to a bow's AMO (bow) length. Always verify against your specific bow's manual.

How the chart reads

STRING_LENGTH_TABLE is a fixed five-row lookup, not a calculation. It expresses string length as an offset from the bow's marked AMO length:

recurve      = bow length − 3 to 4 in
longbow      = bow length − 3 in, or equal, by style
flatbow      = bow length − 3 to 5 in
short/youth  = bow length − 2 to 3 in
compound     = no offset; the maker specifies it

So a 62 in recurve lands near 58-59 in. The AMO figure stamped on the limb is a nominal length that already assumes this convention, which is why the offset works at all, and why an unmarked or home-made bow must be measured.

Working with the number

Measure the string you have. AMO string length is taken loop to loop under 100 lb of tension, so a slack string on a tape reads short. Matching your current string beats any chart.
Twists are the fine adjustment. Adding twists shortens the string and raises brace height; removing them lowers it. Set brace height to the range in the bow's manual, then leave it.
Compounds are absent for a reason. String and cable lengths are specified to a sixteenth of an inch and set axle-to-axle, brace height and cam timing together. Replace them in a press or at a shop.

A string well outside the correct length puts the bow outside its designed brace height, which strains limbs and tips. Check the manual for both the length and the material your limbs are rated for.

Frequently asked questions

What string length do I need for a 62 inch recurve?

The chart's offset gives 58 to 59 in, and 59 in is usual for a modern 62 in recurve. Confirm against the bow manual and measure your old string before ordering.

Does twisting a bowstring change the brace height?

Yes. Every twist takes length out of the string and lifts the brace height; untwisting drops it. That is the intended way to tune brace, but only inside the window the bow maker publishes.

Can I fit a Fast Flight string to an old recurve?

Only if the limbs are rated for it. Low-stretch materials transmit far more shock than Dacron B-50, and older or wooden-tipped limbs can be damaged by them. The bow's manual decides this one, not the length chart.