Thumbs-up is what I use too--mine measures 7 1/4"--just right for my longbow. I generally leave my bows strung, except the selfbow--even Dynaflight will contract/stretch a tad with unstrung/strung.

Along with settling in the string, a selfbowyer friend of mine told me all wood bows have to be "warmed up"--the first few arrows will shoot differently than those shot after that. I believe him--maybe it's a mental thing, but it affects my shooting with the selfbow.

Chad