Basic Bow Set-up and Alignment

The tiller of a bow is important as it and the nocking point on the string determine how much energy is fed into the arrow from the upper limb and the lower limb of the bow.

The tiller of a bow is the difference in the perpendicular distances between the string and the limb where the limbs joins the risers. Normal or positive tiller is when the distance between the top limb/riser join is greater then the distance between the string and the bottom limb riser join.

The correct tiller for your bow should be supplied by the manufacturer but in general it is normally around 6 - 7 mm (around 0.25 inches). The tiller can be adjusted by unscrewing the limb bolt locking screws, screwing the main limb bolt in or out, and re tightening the locking screws.

Do not assume new bows come with the tiller set-up correctly, always check the tiller by measuring the distances with a bow square.

Once the tiller is set you can check the alignment of the limbs to the riser. This can easily be done in the following manner:

1. Place masking tape on the inside of the limbs and marking a vertical line at the half-width point (or use clip-on plastic limb alignment pieces).
2. String the bow.
3. Screw in a long rod and hang the bow over the back of a chair (make sure the limbs do not touch anything)
4. Step back and look a the line the string makes from top to bottom, through the marks on the limbs, through the locking screws for the limbs (and if set-up for centre shot over the arrow). They should all be in line.
5. If they do not all line up, adjust the limb sockets according to the manufacturers recommendations, restring and test again as indicated in step 4.
6. If you cannot get everything in alignment then it may be that one or more of the limbs are twisted. If this is the case seek help from an experienced archer.