loop width

[QTompkins2005]

How wide should a loop be? Just long enough so that you can knock an arrow between the knots or what?

[Swamp Dawg]

I like a short loop to maximize draw length but it is simply a personal preference.

[QTompkins2005]

should the knocking point be against the top knot or the bottom knot? or in the middle?

[gibblet]

i like to tie a nocking pt out of serving thread just above the bottom knot. my arrow goes just above that, and then the top knot.

[BigJ71]

I like as short a loop as possible, so I tie/serve two nocking points on. One just above the arrow knoc and one just below. Then I tie on my string loop around the outside of the served on nocking points. It does two things, 1. It prevents the served on nocks from moving and 2. The served on nocking points keep the string loop from moving. Everything is nice and tight and because the upper and lower nocking points are tied/served on and not brass, it keeps things light.

It's a little tough getting the string tied especially if you have a shorter string loop, but once it's on and pulled tight you have enough room for any type of release and the arrow nock has a nice cradle to sit in. Just make sure you adjust your served on nocking points before you put your string loop on because it much tougher to move everything at once.

[Bob H in NH]

For width, you want the nock to fit without being pinched, no more. If you do more, you can get inconsistent nock points and the arrow might move during draw/shooting depending on the tightness of nock fit.

For length, longer is better for forgiveness, one of the things a loop does is reduce twist on the string as you draw, longer is better for this. However longer means you need to either move your anchor point (bad idea) or shorten the draw length of the bow.

--Bob

[gibblet]

or you can have a rotating caliper. or for my handheld, the talon head, you can rotate it and lock it in place so that when you anchor there is no twist applied to the string. i like that.