How to Install and Tie In a Peep Sight

To install a peep sight on a compound bow, the string is relaxed in a bow press, split into two equal bundles at your eye height, and the peep is pressed between them and served in above and below. Then you check it at full draw so the sight housing sits centred in the peep. Because of the press, a pro shop is the safe default for most archers.

Before you start: press, tools or pro shop

The makers are strict about presses. Hoyt warns that "STANDARD BOW PRESSES CANNOT BE USED and may result in bow failure and personal injury," and lists approved models. Mathews' FAQ says "only a limb tip press should be used on your Mathews bow" and "portable bow presses should not be used." Hoyt also recommends "that only a Genuine Hoyt Retailer setup and inspect your archery equipment." Our bowstring guide explains why compounds need a press at all.

We searched for step-by-step peep installation instructions from bow makers and peep makers and could not load any. The steps below are the general method widely described in archery how-to guides. Where your peep or bow manual differs, follow it.

What the job involves:

• A bow press approved by your bow's maker, or a shop that has one
• The peep, plus its tube and clip if it is a tube-style peep
• Serving thread to tie it in
• A helper to mark your eye height at full draw

Find the height at full draw

The peep goes wherever your eye naturally sits at full draw. Archery 360 describes the routine: "When you come to full draw and hit your anchor, you will look through your peep to find your sight housing." If you have to lift or drop your head to find it, the peep is in the wrong place.

The usual way to mark it is to draw to your normal anchor with your eyes closed, settle, then open your aiming eye while a helper marks the string level with it. Our form steps guide covers building a repeatable anchor first.

Split, seat and serve

With the bow in an approved press and the string relaxed:

1. Split the string into two equal bundles at the mark. Count strands if you can; an uneven split is a common reason a peep turns.
2. Seat the peep between the bundles, with the strands in the grooves on each side.
3. Let the press off slowly and check the height at full draw before you tie anything.
4. Serve it in. Tie serving thread tightly above and below the peep so it cannot slide.

Check alignment and fix rotation

A properly installed peep should come back to the same height and face your eye every time you draw. Archery 360 describes the target picture: "Your goal is to center the sight housing inside the peep. Essentially, you're trying to set up concentric circles, with the peep on the outside and the sight housing on the inside." If the peep is set well, it adds, "you won't even think about looking through it."

If the peep comes back tilted, the usual fixes are adjusting the string's twists or fitting a tube-style peep that pulls it straight. Both mean more press work. After any peep change, re-check your sight marks, and see our single-pin vs multi-pin comparison if you are still choosing the sight that goes with it.

You can browse compound bow peep sights or peep tubing and serving thread on Amazon. Treat any product as an example to consider and check that the peep fits your string's diameter.

Frequently asked questions

How do you tie in a peep sight?

With the string relaxed in a bow press, tie serving thread tightly above and below the peep so it cannot slide along the string. Methods vary, so follow your peep's instructions, and check the height at full draw before you tie it off.

Can you install a peep sight without a bow press?

On a compound, the string is under tension even at rest, and splitting its strands safely means relaxing it. Hoyt and Mathews both specify which presses can be used on their bows. Without the right press, the safe answer is a pro shop.

How do you set peep sight height?

Draw to your normal anchor with your eyes closed, then open your aiming eye and have a helper mark the string where you are looking. Set the peep there, then confirm the sight housing sits centred inside the peep without moving your head.