It is natural for bowstrings to stretch over time. However, once they wear out too much or get too stretchy, it won’t be easy to tune them properly. Bowstrings aren’t just the strings you pull in archery to shoot your arrow. They also play a big part in your arrow’s trajectory and energy transfer to reach the target bullseye. If you are new to archery and trying to figure out the equipment, you may be wondering if it is normal or expected for bowstrings to stretch. It is natural for all bowstrings to stretch over time. Bowstrings will slightly stretch whenever you load the bow or rebound, regardless if they are new or used. A slight stretch is acceptable and beneficial since it allows the bowstring to absorb excess kinetic energy and softens the vibration caused by loading and reloading the bow. Be sure to monitor your bowstring. Too many stretches might be harmful rather than beneficial because strings consume energy with every stretch, and longer strings consume more power. Stretching the strings too long may result in either issue: “string stretch” or “creep.” Of the two cases, creep is the worst one to encounter. It is a non-recoverable elongation that requires you to replace your bowstring as soon as possible. Below are the two most important factors that affect string stretch: String material Among the bowstring materials available in the market, Dacron is the worst. You may have noticed that Dacron is typical in the majority of the off-the-shelf bows. Dacron string materials are cheap but highly elastic and heavy, which is not an excellent choice for a bowstring. A highly flexible string material gets easily torn or worn out, resulting in creeping, which is dangerous. Instead, you can opt for other bowstring brands like Vapor Trail, Winners Choice, and Trad Gear. Production issue Another to look out for is the production of the bowstring. There are two methods for making it: the endless loop method or the flemish splice method. The flemish splice method twists two or more string materials and then splices them to generate end loops. In contrast, the endless loop method repeatedly wraps the string material around pegs, ties the ends, and uses serving threads to create end loops. Thus, the endless loop method is marginally better than the flemish splice method. However, the flemish splice method is ideal for bows made of wood, horn, and sinew materials. Before choosing your bowstring, these factors help decide the best string for you to use.