Flemish Bow String: What It Is & Why It Matters

A flemish bow string is a traditional bowstring made by twisting together several bundles of natural fiber — typically linen, hemp, or cotton — into a single unified string. The number of strands typically ranges from 12 to 18, though the right count depends on your bow's draw weight.

History of the Flemish Bow String

The flemish bow string takes its name from the Flemish region of Belgium, where this construction style is documented from the 16th century. The underlying technique is far older: the earliest known twisted bowstring was recovered from a Neolithic hunter mummified in the Alps, dated to around 3,300 BC. Flemish twist strings remained the standard until machine-made endless-loop strings became common during the recurve production boom of the 1960s and 70s.

How a Flemish Twist String Is Built

The defining feature of any flemish twist bow string is its braided loop construction. Each end loop is formed by splicing the strand bundles back on themselves by hand — creating a loop that is thicker than the rest of the string. This is what sets it apart from an endless-loop string, whose loops are wrapped in serving material instead.

Strand count is scaled to draw weight. A commonly used guide runs from 8 strands for bows under 30 lb up to 16 strands for bows in the 55–80 lb range. Heavier bows need more strands to handle the load; lighter strand counts may require padding at the limb tips to protect the bow.

Advantages of a Flemish Bowstring

• Durability: Natural fibers resist wear well and hold up under repeated shooting, including in demanding conditions.
• Shock absorption: A flemish bow string stretches slightly on release, reducing hand shock — an important consideration for heavier draw-weight bows.
• Consistency: The uniform twisted construction produces a smooth, repeatable release, supporting more predictable arrow flight.
• Customization: Strand count, fiber material, and color can all be adjusted to suit individual shooting style and bow specs.

Flemish Strings and Traditional Archery

For archers drawn to traditional equipment, the flemish bowstring is a natural fit. Its hand-built construction connects modern shooting to centuries of archery history. If you're setting up a traditional recurve, pairing it with the right Dacron bowstring for recurve bows is a practical starting point. Archers looking to build out a full traditional setup can explore recurve bow accessories suited to this style of shooting, or browse traditional recurve bows to find a matched system from the ground up.