STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I just purchased a chronograph not to long ago and have been recording velocities of my bow with various setups.

Right after I purchased my Vapor Trail Strings I chronographed my arrows at 293 fps consistently and my STS in the location it was all last hunting season. The arrow used is the one in my Sig and weighs 433 grains.

Last week I decided to move my STS as far up the string as possible under the assumption that it would help release the arrow sooner and there bye increase speed. Well, I was really wrong on that assumption.Today I went to the range and at first thought something was wrong with my chrony. However, my buddy shot his bow a few times and the numbers were correct for his bow. My velocity dropped to 280 fps. I also removed my STS and had the same results as the STS up the string 280 fps.

So, I rotated my STS to as far down the string as possible and my velocity went back up to 293 fps. I am picking up 13 fps with the STS!!! I shot about 30 arrows with STS is various locations and without it to make sure what I was seeing is true.

I'm wondering how many of you adjust the vertical location of your STS or do you just put it on as high as possible?

Furthermore, have companies like Bowtech and Hoyt tested the location of the STS when deciding the best location or have they just assumed that is the perfect spot since it is as close to center as possible?

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

That is really interesting. I have mine higher up on my string thinking that it would quite the bow more which still may be true. I've tried it both ways and didn't see that much of a difference but I haven't chronoed them either. Very interesting.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

That was my thought process when I moved mine up. I just didn't expect that much of a difference. Even comparing with and without the STS.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I think Mathews is onto something by having the string dampeners just above and below the cams!.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

Let me get this straight - STS in the middle of the string was 280.

STS moved down toward the bottom of the string was 293?

Was this the same setup, same day, same chrono?

That's amazing and really suprising to me.

Did you chrono it WITHOUT the STS?

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

yes, same day
yes, same setup, day & chrono
Without STS speed was 280 fps.
Believe me, I thought something was wrong with my chrono. I was getting frustrated big time. Two weeks before I got 293 consistently with the same chrono and the STS half way between highest up and down position. I even asked my friend to shoot my bow I was so confused and he got the same speeds I did. He shot his bow through it a bunch of times and got consistent speeds. So, I knew it was not the chrono.

So, I moved the STS to the bottom and the speed went up to what I had 2 weeks ago. Took the STS off and was back to 280 fps. Moved to top and got 280. Moved to bottom and got 293 again.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I'm stumped.

Maybe there is a "sweet spot" for string suppressors. I'll have to mess around with mine to see if it makes a difference for me. Interesting.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

Makes you wonder how slow the Bear Truth 2 and the Bear Done Deal would be without the 2 suppressors located far from center......? How much speed did the Bear engineers gain? Maybe this has something in common with how/why speedballs work....?

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I think that can be said for more than there dampeners

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

Another factor to consider and measure out is how faryour sts is sticking out into the brace height of the string. Does the bow string at rest touch the sts, does it press against the string tightly or even push it out a little. Sounds like it acting like the bridge of aguitar shortening the string and increasing the speed/ vibration of the of the string. Sort of likea temporary shortening of your axle to axle length right before the arrow is released. Just something else to consider. Interesting. take care..

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

The STS is right against the string. I think it works better because the arrow does not come off the string until the string is in it's most forward position with maximum energy transfer. Think of it like someone hitting a QB's arm before the follow through. If the arm is hit right at the middle of his throwing motion the ball comes out slower than it would at a typical release point. However, that does not explain why it is slower without the STS. Unless there is a sweet spot like qzq38b stated.

I'm going to run some more tests this weekend and will post the results with chrony pictures.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I've watched Len at MacRotech prove to people how these STS type surpressors can screw up your bow tune. Not only is location a factor but also how hard the string hits. I believe in the past he made his thoughts on these things known on the board but it wasn't well received so now he just stays out of it and lets everyone figure it out for themselves if they're not one of his customers. It's throwing your bow out of tune, just like your quarterbacks arm. After watching Len play with these things I've never felt the urge to have one. They're an expensive gimmick that can only cause trouble. My Darton and Guardian are quiet enough without it.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I used to be one of the people that thought that a STS was a gimmick and a waste of money until I tried one. Part of that was probably from talking to Len.

Like a rest you have to adjust it properly to function correctly.

Furthermore, youcan take any piece of equipment and mount it improperly on a bow and make people believe that it is not a good product.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I found putting an sts on my bow to be one of the most postive peices of equipment I have ever spent money on I found no speed loss.Just qweited the bow down and lost all hand shock in turn I shoot better.But maybe this is not the case with all bows but a bow is a bow and are all basicly the same.I guess for me any bow I buy from now on will get an sts I can t see how it could cause any negative effects since the arrow should have left the string by the time it starts to do its job.Would be nice to see some high speed film of one must be somwhere out there. thanks David

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I have some video from my bow as well as a friend's. You can see what the string does and the impact on the STS. Unfortunately, unless you go frame by frame everything is still happening fast. There must be a trick to it with a slow motion camcorder like I have. I've seen video on there of a person firing a glock and you can see the slide moving slowly as well as the bullet. I need to figure out how people slow stuff down that much with the same camcorder I own. If i figure it out I'll post a link to it.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

I believe what Len said was that he didn't like them as the average Joe just throws them on and thinks it's going to work some miracle when in fact, if he doesn't know what he's doing he screws up his tune. He didn't intentionally mess them up to discredit, but to show how a small adjustment in the wrong directions will hurt. I think you proved what he said.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

My tests proved that STS position may impact speed, not tuning. Nothing was hurtregarding tuningand tuning was never an issue.

My bowbecomes more efficient with the STS either in a neutral position or the lowest position. This fascinated me so I created this thread to discuss if anyone else has encountered similar results.

For the average Joe the tuning will not be affected if the STS is placed either slightly touching or slightly off the string no matter what the vertical position. The only way you could truly impact tuning would be if you had the STS pushing out on the string with the string at rest whichmight not allow the cam/wheel to rotate back to the rest position properly.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

Sorrt guys I read it wrong went back and looked.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

All this being said why doesn't someone post the proper way to install an STS

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

LOL!!, that's funny bud

I agree, if it's such a finicky device, why isn't there more posted on the proper installation. All I've ever seen discussed was the horizontal adjustment, some say touch the string and some say leave a knat's ass between the stopper and string but I can't recall the verticalpositioning ever being brought up.

RE: STS VERTICAL LOCATION
 

It hasn't been brought up on any thread I've seen on here. I'm sure that most people do not even consider additional benefits of the STS beyond hand shock and such. However, you hear people state that you can gain velocity by using an STS and that's as far as the explanation goes. I think most people assume that as close to center as possible is the perfect spot. I was one of those people.

Here's what I did:

Chronobow with the STS off. My bow was at 280 fps

Then, install theSTS at the highest vertical location with the STS lightly touching: 280 fps
With the STS off about a credit card width: 280 fps
If speed stayed the same or went down from stock move the STS down about 1" center and test touching and credit card width: 293 fps

Move the STS the whole way down and test touching and off by credit card: 293 fps.

I kept it the whole way down because I got tired of the bracket sticking out to the side.

Now, what I didonly applies to my bow. My friend with the Matthews tried the same thing and his velocity did not change.I'd assume this is because the Matthews already has string dampeners on both ends.