Cocking your crossbow can be one of the most important steps in your shot sequence
. Making sure that the string is pulled backed evenly and consistently is the first step in achieving good arrow flight. When cocking your crossbow by hand, there is a tendency to not pull the string back evenly. If this happens, the bow cannot deliver an even amount of energy to the arrow. This usually results in inconstant groups down range.
If cocking your crossbow by hand is your chosen method, it is important to index your string. Indexing your string means marking the serving, usually with a permanent marker, on each side of the rail, while the crossbow is at rest. This makes it possible to see if you have pulled the string back evenly when the crossbow is cocked. Doing this simple step will save you lots of frustration when it comes time to sight in your new crossbow.
Another way to cock your crossbow is by using a rope style cocking aid. This is the probably most commonly used method of