tendons

The bowstring provides the initial tension when the bow is drawn (attached). During the draw, the limbs bend and store deformation energy. This energy is transferred via the bowstring into the kinetic energy of the projectile when the bow is released . When the bowstring reaches its resting position, the accelerated projectile separates from the string and leaves the bow.

The taut bowstring vibrates ( string bounce ) and causes the limbs to vibrate as well, as the bow and string together form a closed oscillating circuit. String stops help the string settle more quickly and dampen the sound of the shot.

The material of the string, especially its elasticity and weight, play a role in the energy transfer from the bow to the arrow. Thin strings create less drag. On average, it can be assumed that a 20-grain reduction in weight of a light string will increase the arrow's flight speed by one foot per second. This roughly corresponds to a 1 lb increase in draw weight. This makes the string an important component for improving performance.

Modern artificial bowstrings are usually made of multiple wraps of Dacron. This wrapping creates loops at the ends, which are then bundled together to form two loops through which the string is attached to the ends of the bow. These are the "ears."

Fastflight is a very lightweight and extremely tear-resistant fiber. This makes the strings thinner than Dacron, and FastFlight also stretches less. As a result, the string can absorb less energy from the bow. The bow is faster, but the stress is also significantly higher than with Dacron.