Here's a couple of tips concerning D-loops and center serving. Sluggun ran into an issue during his last couple of rounds at the Buckmasters Top Bow World Championship this past weekend where his center serving came loose causing his bottom knot of his loop to pinch his nocks.

Normally on a customer bow I set it up so the top D-loop knot serves as the nock point. This works perfect for most all shooters and will normally last the life of the string. Something that I do that most don't is tie a nock set between the arrow nock and bottom loop knot. This prevents the bottom loop knot from pinching the nock. If you've ever used the old TM Hunter style rest (long before drop aways) and had the arrow lift up off the rest as you were drawing, this is why. It also allows the top knot to push down on the arrow nock as you're drawing. This pushes the arrow down onto the rest. A bow will tune easier and shoot better with down pressure on the rest, even with drop aways.








Now if your looking for a sure fire bullet proof set up, you place an upper and lower nock set on the string before adding the D-loop. This serves a couple of purposes. One, if you ever have to change the loop if it becomes frayed or damaged, you can do so without changing your point of impact. Two, if your center serving separates or becomes loose under the loop knots, it most likely won't impact your nock point. If your serving breaks under the lower loop knot, you will most likely be ok until it's repaired. If it breaks under the top loop knot you're SOL, your nock point will most likely move up causing you to shoot low.

A lot of people will tie the top nock set on with serving like I did in the previous pics. I don't like using serving on the top set because over time it will flatten out, which in turn moves your nock point up enough to cost you several inches at 40 to 50 yards. I use 100# marlin braid Dacron fishing line. It won't flatten and will out last the life of the bowstring. You can still use serving for the bottom set, or if you want it absolutely bullet proof, use the Dacron on the bottom also.





Now for center serving, this is the most critical part of the string. Most all factory and mass produced string's center servings are pure junk. If you don't believe me, tie on a D-loop like you normally would, tighten it down then cut it off. You'll find that the serving separated under the loop knots. A lot of them use good material, but their serving tension/method leads to this. I use .021" BCY 62X. It's about the best there is. What size you use depends on the finished string diameter. I use 24 strands of BCY 452X and the .021" with the tag end served under the whole length produces the perfect nock fit. If the nock fit is too loose, the arrow will fall off, too thick and it leads to tuning issues. Serving the tag end under the whole length will help prevent the serving from separating. Watch this video for another trick that will lock the serving it place even better.



Those are a few of my tricks I've learned over time. I can honestly say in all years of bowhunting and tournament shooting, I've never had an issue with my nock loop or center serving causing me any problems.

I use to do the tying a knot on the bottom loop trick but haven't in the past few years. It jumped up and bit me in the azz this weekend. I had strings and cables on both my bows reserved today and new loops put on and tied the bottom loop knot as well. Shame on it the first time. Shame on me the second time. Guys this is a great tip especially if you shoot a lot.

Good advice shaw

Shaw is that an old Buckmaster hit pad and last chance target that I see in the background in those pictures?

Good tip, I do the double on my prodigy. I have a single nock serving on my icon

I'll have to start doing this. Never thought of doing it. But then again I don't do alot of shooting.

Yep

I've been doing this for many years.
I still shoot a TM hunter style rest as I've seen several drop aways fail and I like reliability.
Single under nock for me.

Good job breaking it down "Barney Style" Shaw.

Great shooting this weekend Sluggun. You'll get'em next year.

I've had more stuff go wrong with my equipment at Buckmasters than I've had go right. Peep turning, light quit working, arrow skip off the back of the short runner and pin wheeling the owl...well that one was the loose nut pulling the string.

The way Shaw has shown is the best way to go.

Would a smaller test Dacron work? I have a buddy who has some in the 50 - 80lb range. I have never done this for my loops, just because I sometimes move my loop instead of moving my rest while tuning. BUT...I have had one string with this and I liked it a lot, though they used serving. I want to start doing this once I finalize my nocking point.

Yes, a little smaller will work. You just have to make sure it's big enough so the nock won't slip over it.

You know, I've never shot Buckmasters with a string loop. I've always hooked directly to the string. I used the marlon braid Dacron for my nock point. My lower nock set was actually tied out of D-loop material. It was big enough to keep my release from sliding over it and contacting the arrow nock. If I shoot it again, I'll be using a loop.

I also use the heavy braid now for my under nock knot.
Not sure of the weight but I want to say it's 200#. I use it for my d loop also. Works great. Haven't had any issues.
I started out tying serving thread knots but if you shoot a lot it tends to wear out a lot quicker than the braid.

Using a loop was easier and faster than shooting off the string for me.