Should You Tune Your Own Bow?

Tuning your own bow requires some tools and knowledge, but for those up to the challenge, it can be both satisfying and incredibly convenient. Becca McDougal image

I shot one final arrow from 90 yards before packing the truck for a Colorado mule deer hunt. The shot broke cleanly, and the broadhead-tipped arrow struck my 3-D target’s center 12 ring. It was the perfect testament to diligent practice and some tuning know-how. Not that I would shoot that far at a mule deer, but it was a huge confidence-booster for 60-yard-and-closer shots.

The act of shooting a bow is fairly elementary: Draw, aim and shoot. Of course, using the proper muscles and form gets a little bit more complicated. Further, the equipment most of us use today is pretty complex.

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That raises a question: Should you tune your own bow, or should you rely on a professional bow technician at an archery pro shop to handle it for you? Here are some thoughts to consider.

RISKS

Before attempting at-home bow work, understand that there are potential risks. Safely making tweaks and adjustments to a bow requires some specialized know-how. Cranking on this or that without fully knowing what you’re doing can have adverse effects on your bow and personal safety — and that of any bystanders, too. And that’s why there are archery pro shops.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Bow work requires some special gear. Tools can be somewhat expensive and have some intricate ins and outs. Take a bow press, for example. With the market’s past-parallel bow-limb designs, even an industry-standard press from Last Chance Archery might require special limb legs for your bow make and model. Failure to understand such nuances could lead to a damaged, unsafe bow or injuries.

Bow-press-free tuning features are a dream for home bow mechanics. Darron McDougal image

In the past, we had to press the bow and twist or untwist the buss cable(s) or remove the axles and use spacers/shims to push the cams left or right on the axles. Today, most new bows have tuning features that can be utilized with nothing more than a hex wrench and a basic understanding of paper tuning. Still, some tasks — such as correcting peep alignment — require a bow press.

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TUNING 101

In this information age, there are more resources than ever before about bow tuning. Be careful, though, as there is some bad information out there. Rely on the expertise of longtime professionals, such as John Dudley/, Levi Morgan, and Travis Turner. Also, be sure to consume video content produced by the manufacturer of your bow.

BENEFITS

Buying tools to tune and work on your bow will cost some money up front, but it’s generally a one-time investment that essentially pays for itself by saving you money and trips to the local pro shop.

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The convenience is also astounding. Finding that your arrow is fishtailing or your groups are inexplicably increasing in size no longer requires a trip to the bow shop. With some know-how, you can diagnose issues and correct them on the spot.

THE FINAL ANSWER

Before you immerse yourself in tuning content and buy the needed tools for at-home bow work, ask yourself some questions: Do you have the time for bow work and the space for the tools? Do you have patience? Some tuning tasks can escalate from enjoyable to frustrating. Do you have a detailed eye? If you answer yes, perhaps you should consider the satisfaction and convenience of tuning your own bow. But if not, there’s nothing wrong with taking your bow to a trained professional at a pro shop.