I had the same thought. Perhaps the bound quarks are never far enough apart for the strong force to be constant? My understanding is that if you do manage to

I had the same thought. Perhaps the bound quarks are never far enough apart for the strong force to be constant? My understanding is that if you do manage to pull two quarks apart the energy of separation is eventually enough to form two new quarks, thus pairing them up again. My question is whether this pair production happens before or after the strong force reaches the region where it is constant?