zebra-twist strings
 

I am waiting for my new outback and I have seen some posts here that say the zebra-twist strings are “junk, trash “ and so on. I did a search and found very little info. What is the problem with these strings? Should they be replaced right away or will they be ok until the usual the time for replacement?

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I have the zebra, and also have seen the posts.I thought that they were supposed to be top of the line strings. Hopefully someone will answer your question because I am also very interested.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I just put a Zebra on my ancient Martin bow, and so far, I have no complaints - it's a big upgrade from what on the bow when I bought it. If anyone has had real problems with this string, I, for one, would really like to hear about them.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

They are not really junk compared to other factory strings. In my experience they really seem to strecth alot. Most factory strings are about the same which is a shame considering how much we pay for a top of the line bows. I found that a replacement Winners Choice string and cable is necessary. They are expensive but I have never had one stretch or have any serving seperate yet.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I have had two zebra strings, one on an sq2 and one on an outback. They are definatly an upgrade from other factory strings, at least on lower end bows (Thats all i had b4 the sq2). Im sure the wc strings and other custom strings are great but ive never used these. I dont know when they start to strech but i put many shots through the sq2 without any noticeable strech( i marked the cams and measured ata). I waxed them reguarly i dont know if that made a difference.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I have a SQ2 and it is going into it's third season next year. I replaced the original string after about 6 months. It had considerable stretch. I shoot quite a bit but nothing outrageous. I replaced it with another Zebra and it strecthed as well. I have replaced this one but not with a Zebra. I am checking out a WC to see how it holds up. I just got tired of all the stretch and chasing the peep around.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I used to shoot a Zebra String but I gave up on them after the last Zebra String Streched an inch and a Half.....[:'(]
I then went on to try a Stone Mountain Bow String and nothing else will do for me now.....
[link]http://www.stonemountainbowstrings.com/[/link]
I shoot he Dakota Pre Streched String and have never had one strech over 1/8th of an inch in over a years time.
Now it was rumored to me that the Zebra Strings have undergone a vast improvement..... but I have no hands on proof of this yet.... but will see.... hopefully the rumor is true.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I am using Zebra strings for 6years now and had no problem what so ever. The peepsight is never turning away and i have no stretch problems for the time i use the string. Still there is also a little minus. The servings come loose to fast on the cams square corners and i allways take of the mid serving because this is to loose for me to. Eventho i keep using them because i found them a very trustworthy product.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I thought the zebra twist was a very poor string when I switched it out on my Parker. Not only the stretch but I thought the serving was absolute junk. I shoot quite a bit and had to reserve my zebra twist. My money goes to winners choice now for strings hardly any stretch and you pick up a little speed over the zebra as well. More $$ but worth it.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I had some stretching problems with Zebra's in the past. Now I use Tiger Twist strings with no problems. They are made of 452.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I have Zebra strings on my High Country, (I needed a new string right away and that is all the shop had) And I will second and third and fourth what others have said. They are Junk, Mine stretched atleast 1" actually I shot it quite a bit to get all the stretch out of it and then when I thought it was set, it stretched some more. I will never put one of those on my bow again. I would suggest Berry strings, Wolfden Bowstrings, Stone Mountain, or Winners Choice, with the last being the most expensive.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Z strings are alright, but they stretch like crazy.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

I've never had one of the Mathews Zebra Twist strings stretch. The probably stretch a fraction on the wear in period, but Im taking like 45 degrees of peep rotation, and then it's fine. If you meet someone who says they do get them to email customer service. Mostly it's WC and Bowtech propaganda on this site.

You have to understand that this is a high performance complex string, if it's not hadled properly at the dealer end you will have problems. If it's done properly you won't.

The maximum stretch in these high tech fibers is minimal. It's specked in certain applications to be equivalent to wire rope. The idea that it's stretching out 5% at minimal percentages of the maximum working loads, is hugely improbable.

WC does not make it's raw materials, they buy string from the exact same people Mathews and everyone else does.

The Zebra Twist string is fine, but it's the option more for hunters and so forth. If your ordering a target bow, you might prefer the Tiger Twist. I've always shot the Zebra myself in 3D. Measure your axel to axel, and twist up from both ends if you experience stretch. Stretchi just a sign the string is settling in, and by no means an idication you need to replace it.

Here is what I heard from a tech

"It is about 50/50. Some shoot Zebra and some shoot the Tiger. But for 3d I would recommend the Tiger. That is our no stretch string. But it is a about 2-3 fps slower than the Zebra and a little less durable. I don't know when the pro shooters change their strings. But i would assume when they show wear. We use BCY materials. But we can make strings out of Brownell material also. We stock BCY strings but we can make brownell strings if ordered. "

If you have further questions try [email protected]. It worked last year.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

You are lucky then.;)

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Define stretch like crazy?

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Ossage, I bought an LX last year with the Zebra strings and I own a Bowtech mighty mite 2002 with Winners choice. I shot the LX for about 300 shots and the string stretched about 1/2", so I twisted it back to specs and after another 300 shots, it stretched another 1/2". I twisted again and 500 shots later, it was stretched another 1/2". I was now getting a pretty stiff string and cable due to all the twist in the string and cable. I gave up and got a set of Winners Choice, shot the bow about 2000 shots and no stretch. The Bowtech has about 4000 shots and no stretch. I just got rid of the LX due to the brace heigth and got an Outback. The string and cable seem to be better than the ones on the LX but time will tell. I am not afflicated with Winners Choice, Bowtech or any other company. I am simply giving my experience with the Zebra string and cable. I realize the Winners Choice is expensive but they are made better than any string I've ever seen. Don

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Don in VA. Did you experience any serving problems with the LX after putting on the winners choice string. I shoot ALOT and found that the servings on the string were wearing under the roller cable, even with the bow set to specs. I went with the zebra again and have found no wear problem. I have written both mathews and winners choice and have received no response. I have heard of this problem from alot of other people. The Zebra seemed to cure the problem as it rides better in the roller wheel. Just curious.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Elkcrazy8, I found no problems with the Winners Choice. I noticed the serving at the roller guard kind of flattened a little but no wear or seperation. The Zebra string on the Outback looks a lot different from the Zebra on the LX I had so I'm hoping they heard all the grumbling and fixed the problem. Don

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Shot Zebra string on two different bows. They do streatch, but are a pretty good string if you don't mind retuning alot. I just purchased a Berry String and cable and am waiting for them to arrive. I heard good things about Wayne Newberry's custom strings and they are about half the cost of Winners Choice. He makes them out of Ultracam in many different configurations. No streatch after they settle in(50 or so shots). Check his web site out. I believe it is berrystrings.com. Mr Newberry is also a pleasure to deal with on orders.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

Zebra and tiger Servings are a huge step down from Winners Choice.

You just IMO cannot even compare the two.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

prolly up to 8 or 10 times more than a WC string.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

And the 6061 aluminum in the riser is probably bending like crazy right? Just kiding.

They don't make the fiber in their strings you are talking about massive stretch that just can't happen as I read the material specs. Are we talking 1.5 or 3 inches total given the fact the string is double ? I never got 1.5-3 inches in dacron!

Servings are another mater. Mathews stuck with mono for quite a while, and I used to reserve them in Spectra. Basicaly any archer can reserve a string so it doesn't fall apart, so I am having trouble seeing this as a mojor issue unless one is all thumbs. I'm also having trouble imagining how a company that is a leader in the industry is having problems with a proceedure that has always worked just fine for me from the first time I did it, still it's hard to get good help.

I have had the servings on cams loosen, but it never came undone, and I never had to replace it. I haven't anything newer than a C2, so I don't know squat about their wheel guards. I haven't had any of their servings come apart since they went braided. There are a lot of release and nock options out there, so I can't vouch for every one of them. It's somewhat up to the archer to know what they are doing.

The only technical point I can figure from the BCY site is that the creep problem is worse with heat. I live in Canada, where it rarely gets above th 90s, and we don't get much of that. Typical summer weather is in the 70s, with maybe a month of 80s. If you're shooting or storing in much hoter climates, that could be it. But then specify a Tiger Stripe string when you order a new bow, so at least you get some use out of it before you need to swtich to something else.

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

The string on my BT stopped stretching after about a 1/16".

My buddy shoots 80# and he cut two strands on his string 1 week after purchase. 1 and a half years later it hasn't stretched more than 1/8"

RE: zebra-twist strings
 

He shoots BT also.;)