Striker length

[Gitzit69]

It seems over the last year my strikers keep getting longer. These three are all around 8 1/4 to 8 1/2. I like a little longer striker myself but I'd like to get your opinion on length. Thanks
Dave

[Bulldogmikey]

Dave, most we have are between 7 1/4 and 8 inches. We settled on 7 5/8 and are trying to stick to it.

Mike

[callmaker60]

All of mine are 7.5"

[hunter22]

I like my strikers around 7 3/4 inches in length.

[jim-n-em]

We are trying to keep ours around 7 1/2.  Brent Stoner makes some on his own that are about the length of the leg on a bar stool.  Just kidding Brent.  He makes one piece strikers that are a little longer than our production ones.  His one piece strikers sound really good.

[B-Ready]

What's good about my long strikers are when your not hunting it doubles as a walking stick and they hold my sign !!!!

[ronmexico]

all but one of my strikers are in the 7+ range, but i have a little one that i got from mose (with a copper pot) and that little thing is sweet.

[Bulldogmikey]

Dave, Adam does have a thinner 6 inch Persimmon striker that is a killer on slate. No other striker even comes close on the same call. Even a larger persimmon. Go figure.

Mike

[Porter]

To me it's more about the balance.  I have some that are 8 1/2 and some that are in the 6" range.  I used to prefer a smaller diameter, but now I like about anything!

If they sound good, that's all that matters to me 

[Ghost Maker Calls]

I make mine between 7 1/4 and 7 1/2" but have made some upwards of 8 1/4".   

[turkey stew]

Dave, Those are some sweet looking strikers! As long as they play that sweet hen music they are fine with me!

[strutnrut]

I have made strikers from 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 some people like longer some shorter.  I always let the call decide what striker and which wood sounds the best.  Some woods you can go shorter with other you can't.  Balance is the key, but a shorter well balanced striker wil keekee beter IMO.  I've watched different people over the past few years at the nationals and have come to the ideal that you can and probably should vary your strikers some so the customer has some what of a choice.

[Bulldogmikey]

I have made strikers from 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 some people like longer some shorter.  I always let the call decide what striker and which wood sounds the best.  Some woods you can go shorter with other you can't.  Balance is the key, but a shorter well balanced striker wil keekee beter IMO.  I've watched different people over the past few years at the nationals and have come to the ideal that you can and probably should vary your strikers some so the customer has some what of a choice.

While I agree with everything you said, Adam and I decided to use one length and let the various woods determine the best sound. Balance is a key. But we would make anything someone wanted. It seems easier for us to let the wood varieties determine the sound. The current striker he makes is well balanced with most species.

Mike

[jim-n-em]

I agree, the different wood has a lot to do with it.  We have walnut, curly maple, hickory, cherry, and our old growth maple.  They are all the same length and have different sounds.  The Old Growth screams.  It is very raspy with certain calls, and has a higher pitch with others (great for long range or windy days).  The weight has a lot to do with it as well.  We have done a lot of research on weights between 16-22 grams.  They all have different tones with certain pots.