How to Unstring a Recurve Bow
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By James Holbert · Explained Archery
To unstring a recurve bow, fit a bow stringer over both limb tips, step on the cord, lift the riser until the string goes slack, slide the top loop out of its groove and down the upper limb, then lower the bow and take the stringer off. If you are trying to put the string on, that is the reverse job and it has its own guide on how to string a recurve bow with or without a stringer. This page covers taking the string off, whether you should unstring after every session, and how to store a recurve unstrung or strung.
Quick answer
Unstringing is the stringer method run backwards. The stringer takes the limb load so your hands only have to lift the top loop out of its groove. It takes under a minute and it is the only method that does not risk twisting a limb.
- Stringer pocket over the lower tip, saddle or second pocket on the upper limb.
- Step on the cord, lift the riser, slide the large top loop out of the groove and down the limb.
- Lower the bow, remove the stringer, and leave the small loop in the bottom groove so the string keeps its twists.
Looking for stringing instead? Read how to string a recurve bow. It walks through the stringer method with a diagram, explains which loop goes on which limb, covers the step-through and push-pull methods honestly, and has a brace height table by bow length.
How to unstring a recurve bow with a stringer
These steps use a pocket and saddle stringer, the type most takedown bows ship with. With a double pocket stringer, the second pocket goes over the top tip on top of the string loop.
Leaving the string on the bow, small loop seated at the bottom and large loop hanging on the upper limb, is the normal way to store a recurve unstrung. The string keeps its twists, and you cannot put it on the wrong limb next time.
Can you unstring a recurve bow without a stringer?
You can, using the same step-through or push-pull moves people use to string by hand, with the same risks. The limb is loaded through one edge, which can twist it. Your face is near a tip under load, and once the top loop comes free the limb snaps straight. Push-pull is worse for unstringing than stringing, because the loop comes out with a jolt and your hand is right at the tip.
Hand unstringing is a reasonable emergency move for a bow of roughly 30 pounds or less, or a cheap fiberglass youth bow. For laminated or carbon limbs, or any bow with a warranty you want to keep, use a stringer. If you must step through, hook the lower limb across your ankle, rest the riser behind your thigh, bend the upper limb with a pull that runs straight along the limb, lift the loop out, and let the limb back gently. Then sight down the limb from the tip to check for twist. A stringer costs less than a dozen arrows, so replace a lost one before the next session.
Should you unstring a recurve bow after shooting?
It depends on what the limbs are made of and how long the bow will sit.
- Wood limbs, one-piece wood bows, and self bows: yes, after every session. Wood under constant tension takes a set. The bow loses draw weight and cast, and the limbs can follow the string.
- Laminated limbs with fiberglass or carbon faces (nearly every modern takedown): no measurable harm from staying strung for days or a few weeks. Most makers say unstring for longer storage, travel, and heat.
- Any bow: unstring before it goes in a hot car, an attic, or a case that will sit for a month or more.
There is also a reason not to unstring more than you need to. Every stringing cycle is a chance to nick a loop, slip a stringer pocket, or twist a limb by pulling sideways. If you shoot a laminated recurve three times a week, leaving it strung on a rack between sessions is the lower-risk option. If the maker's manual says otherwise, the manual wins.
Strung vs unstrung storage: when to do which
| Situation | Fiberglass or carbon laminated limbs | Wood limbs, one-piece wood, self bows |
|---|---|---|
| Shooting again within a few days | Leave strung on a rack or hung by the riser. | Unstring after each session. |
| One to three weeks between sessions | Either. Unstring if the bow lives in a case. | Unstrung. |
| A month or longer | Unstrung, in a case, limbs off the riser if it is a takedown. | Unstrung, flat or hung, away from heat. |
| Car, plane, or shipping | Unstrung, in a padded or hard case. | Unstrung, in a case, never in a hot trunk. |
| Hot car, attic, summer garage | Unstrung, and ideally not stored there at all. Heat softens limb glue. | Unstrung. Heat plus tension is how wood takes a permanent set. |
| Bow got wet | Wipe dry, let it dry at room temperature, then store. | Unstring, dry at room temperature, wax the string, then store. |
Typical guidance for modern and traditional limbs. If your maker's manual gives a different rule, follow the manual.
How to store a recurve bow unstrung
An unstrung recurve bow should rest without a side load, at room temperature, away from sun and damp.
- Case or rack. A soft case with a stiff back or a hard case protects the tips. On a rack, hang the bow by the riser or lay it flat on two padded supports. Do not stand it on a limb tip in a corner for weeks; the limb can take a slight set.
- Takedown limbs. For long storage take the limbs off the riser and keep them paired in a limb sleeve. Note which is upper and lower if the marks are faint.
- Climate. A dry room that people live in. Avoid attics, damp basements, and garages that swing between freezing and hot.
- Keep the string with the bow. Leave the small loop in the bottom groove and the large loop on the limb, or coil the string in the case pocket.
The compound bow storage guide covers cases, racks, and climate in more depth, and nearly all of it applies to a recurve. For picking a bow length that suits you, see the recurve bow size chart, and browse the bows hub for the other recurve guides.
String care after you unstring the bow
Wax it
Rub bowstring wax along the exposed strands, not the servings, and work it in with your fingers until the strands look glossy rather than fuzzy. Do this every few weeks of regular shooting and before long storage. If the string stays hairy after waxing or a strand is cut, replace it. The recurve string measuring guide shows how to size a replacement from the old string or the bow.
Keep the twists
The twists in the string set your brace height. If both loops come off the bow, the string can untwist in the case and brace height changes next time. Leave the small loop seated, or hook one loop through the other before coiling and count the twists so you can put them back. The brace height table in the stringing guide shows the range to aim for when you restring.
Check the servings
Look at the center serving where you nock and the end servings inside the loops. Serving that has slid, separated, or worn through means the string is due for re-serving or replacement.
Common unstringing mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dropping the riser once the loop is off | The limbs snap straight and the tip can hit the floor or your leg. | Lower the riser slowly until the cord is slack. |
| Stringer pocket not fully on the tip | The pocket slips under load and the limb springs back toward your face. | Seat each pocket fully and center the saddle before you lift. |
| Taking the bottom loop off too | The string untwists in the case and brace height changes. | Leave the small loop seated between sessions. |
| Pulling sideways in a step-through | The limb twists and arrows go left or right after restringing. | Use a stringer. Have a shop check any twisted limb. |
| Storing on a limb tip in a corner | The loaded limb takes a set and the bow shoots differently. | Hang by the riser, lay flat, or use a case. |
| Leaving a strung bow in a hot car | Limb glue softens under tension and laminations can lift. | Unstring before travel and keep the bow out of the trunk. |
Most of these are avoided by one habit: use the stringer, and lower the bow slowly every time.
Before you unstring a recurve, every time
- Inspect limb tips, grooves, and string loops for cracks or fraying before you load the stringer.
- Seat both stringer ends fully and keep your face out of line with the limb tips.
- Lift in one smooth motion and lower slowly. Never let the riser drop.
- Never draw and release a strung bow without an arrow. The dry fire guide explains why that cracks limbs on any bow.
- If a limb looks twisted or the string sat off center, ask a shop before you shoot again.
A stringer protects the limbs and your face. Use it in both directions.
Related guides
These guides cover putting the string back on, sizing a replacement, and looking after the rest of your gear.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions people ask most about unstringing and storing a recurve.
Should I unstring my recurve bow after shooting?
Yes if the limbs are wood or the bow is a one-piece wood bow. Modern laminated limbs can stay strung between sessions for days or a few weeks. Unstring any bow for travel, heat, or storage of a month or more.
Is it bad to leave a recurve bow strung?
For laminated limbs, a few weeks strung causes no measurable loss. Months strung, or heat plus tension, can cause a set. For wood limbs, any long period strung costs draw weight. When in doubt, unstring it.
How do you store an unstrung recurve bow?
In a case or on a rack, hung by the riser or laid flat on padded supports, in a dry room at normal house temperature. Keep the string on the lower limb or coiled in the case, and take takedown limbs off the riser for long storage.
How do I put the string back on a recurve bow?
Seat the small loop in the bottom groove, hang the large loop on the upper limb, fit the stringer, step on the cord, lift the riser, and slide the large loop into the top groove. The full walkthrough with a diagram and brace height table is in the guide on how to string a recurve bow.
Can I unstring a recurve bow without a stringer?
You can use the step-through method, but it can twist a limb, puts your face near a loaded tip, and may void a limb warranty. Keep it for light bows in an emergency and use a stringer the rest of the time.
Does unstringing a bow change the brace height?
Not by itself. Brace height changes if the string loses twists, which happens when both loops come off and the string untwists in the case. Leave the bottom loop seated, or count the twists before you remove the string.
References
These sources support the guidance on this page.