On the straight and arrow

Understanding how an arrow reacts after it leaves the string is key to shooting consistently. Many folks are surprised to learn that once shot, an arrow bends around the bow and fishtails from side to side until it eventually straightens out and hits its mark. Success in archery means understanding and controlling this movement.

When released, the stored energy in the bow limbs, through the string, exerts a force on the arrow nock. The nock starts to move before the tip, causing the arrow to bend until the tip catches up. The amount of arrow flex depends on the strength of its spine. The weaker the spine, the more it will flex. The arrow’s spine needs to match the weight of the bow shooting.

Arrow paradox

Then there is the archer’s paradox, where the shelf (or window) of a traditional bow is not typically cut past centre. For a right-handed shooter, an arrow sitting on the shelf/rest will naturally point off to the left of the intended target before it is drawn. The arrow has to bend around the bow to hit the bullseye. The arrow pointing in the wrong direction creates the paradox, and it is the bending of the arrow from the force of the bow which corrects it.

Traditional archers use their fingers to shoot, not a mechanical release. Even with an experienced archer practicing the best form, the resistance against the archer’s fingers as they relax their hold on the string will cause some side movement, adding to the arrow’s side-to-side motion.

Buy the right arrow shafts

Whether wood, aluminum, or carbon, buy arrows that suit the weight of your bow, and your draw length. All arrows are given a spine rating as a number. Companies provide charts to reference what arrow spine will suit what bow. These charts can be very confusing because there is not one industry standard different manufacturers follow for their number coding, and sometimes it can be best to speak to your local pro shop where they can help you pick the right arrow for your needs. Once you’ve chosen the right spine, you should be aware of three factors: the feathers, point weight, and length.

Feathers

Feathers create drag on the arrow, which helps stabilize flight. The larger the feathers, the more drag and the quicker an arrow will straighten out after release. Feathers can significantly slow an arrow down and greatly affect its trajectory and range. I use large flu-flu feathers when shooting aerial targets because they will only stay airborne for about 60 yards and are easier to find.

Consequently, an Olympic archer standing on a 70-metre line will want as small a feather as possible to limit the trajectory. A faster and flatter shooting arrow is more accurate over longer distances. It’s about finding a balance: stabilization versus speed and trajectory.

Point weight

You can fine-tune your arrow’s flex by changing points. If you find the shaft too stiff, increase the point weight. It will weaken the spine by placing more energy into the shaft before the tip starts moving. Even going from a 100-grain point to a 125-grain point will make a difference.

To stiffen the spine, decrease the point weight.

Length

If you have two arrows of the same spine stiffness, but one is two inches longer, that longer arrow will have the weaker spine.

It’s like taking a full-length pencil and being able to break it easily between your fingers. A short pencil will have more resistance to bending and will be much harder to break, therefore having a stiffer spine. Shooting a well-balanced and tuned bow and arrow set-up is a joy. As you progress in archery, you’ll learn it doesn’t stop with just matching your arrows to your bow. Also, there are many ways to tune a bow to match an arrow.

Understanding the flight of an arrow is just the beginning of putting it all together in a long and exciting journey.

Go nekkid

The best way to see how an arrow behaves in the air is by shooting a bare shaft, with no feathers. I wouldn’t recommend it to a novice — it only works if your shooting form is excellent.

A bare shaft will exaggerate any shooting faults. It’ll also tell you whether your arrow has incorrect spine. An ultimate goal for experienced archers is getting a bare shaft to shoot as well as a fletched shaft. That’s how we know everything is in balance.

If I purchase a dozen new arrows, I will sacrifice one or two for bare shaft practice.

Originally published in the August 2023 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS