What are Strand Counts?

Strand count matters.

The more strands there are in the string the heavier the string and the more resistance it has to creep under loads.  When deciding what you should use for strand count there are some things you need to take into consideration.

Material

The first being what material are you going to use?  Different material has a different strand diameter. For example, BCY 8125 has a thicker strand than BCY Mercury. So, 8125 has a lower strand count 18/20 compound and 16/20 on recurve. While Mercury 32/34 for compounds and recurves are used at 28/34.

Nock Fit

The next item you should look at when trying to determine strand count is nock fit. A proper nock fit should click on the string and not slide up and down the string on its own. On the other hand, it should not be so tight that it takes an extreme force to slide it on the string. You should still be able to glide it up and down the string without a lot of resistance.

Center Serving Size

Center serving size can be adjusted to get a nice nock fit to strand count. The two main center serving sizes are .019 to .021.

I have made strings for customers that want a lower strand count and thicker center serving and other customers that want a higher strand count with a thinner center serving. Both have worked and customers were happy with the build.