In general, it is best to follow the bow manufacturer's guide lines for setting up a bow, sights, rest and plunger. Frequently for a novice archer, the equipment supplier will undertake the initial setup based on their experience and the manufacturer's guide. However, it is still best to understand the issues.
The starting point for bow setup is to confirm the bow is set for the highest comfortable draw weight and longest comfortable draw length. High and long is good - for good launch speed - but comfort is essential for everything else. Comfort trumps macho, always!
The setup procedure for recurve, compound and traditional bows is different due to their different mechanical alignments, however the principals are the same. Below is a brief description of the setup requirements without delving into practical details that are left for others to cover.
There are many things to consider when setting up a bow for peak performance:
Determine the bow's center-line - some bows may require limb adjustment. Offset or twisted limbs are likely to cause unusual nock travel making it difficult or impossible to achieve a satisfactory tune. The undrawn string line should be seen to align with the center along the length of the limbs.
Brace height set to manufacturer's recommendation. Among other things the brace height determines when the arrow separates from the bow. This point is particularly important for finger releases and non-center-shot bows where the phase of the separation point in the arrow's resonance cycle is vital for riser clearance and center line path.
Tiller is matched within a millimetre - adjust limb weight bolts if necessary. An out of tune tiller will cause vertical nock movement during release. Sometimes an unbalances tiller may be necessary to compensate for a limb strength or mass miss-match, or an off center nocking point.
Wind the plunger to maximum stiffness. For center-shot bows set the plunger depth such that the arrow is aligned with the center-line
Locate the arrow rest - the vertical location should be such that the arrow is centered on the plunger if present.
Locate nocking point 2 or 3 mm above the 90° off string to rest point. For compound bows we aim not change this again, but for recurve bows a change may be required due to restriction on rest adjustment.
Nock-set - the nock locating device on the bow string. Preferred solution for finger release is a two tied nock-set for minimum mass and reduced likelihood of the arrow's nock sliding down the string during release.
With release aids, use a single nock-set combined with a D-loop. The nock-set will locate the top of the D-loop while the bottom of the D-loop will tend to self-adjust to the nock.
If using a peep, use the "shut eye" method for the most natural and comfortable position - it should be 110 -130 mm above arrow center line at full draw. Higher the better from a geometry perspective as it allows a greater maximum sighting range before the sight obstructs the arrow.
Setup sights on center-line.
It is possible the bow's draw weight and breach height may need some tweaking to adjust the bow energy. The rest position or nocking point will almost certainly need adjustment.
Plungers are used on recurve bows to locate, control and limit arrow movement towards the riser. Kooi and others have shown that in a well matched system, the arrow will contact the plunger one or more times during the first half of the arrow's travel before leaving the bow. This deliberate contact plays a vital part in matching arrow and bow.