The Importance of
a Straight Arrow Flight!
Straight arrow flight is
critical to good penetration and good accuracy. Poor arrow
flight will result in poor penetration and poor accuracy.
Poor arrow flight is seen when your arrow leaves the bow
fishtailing, porpoising or corkscrewing. This poor arrow
flight is a result of improper bow tuning, or incorrect
arrow spine, or poor shooting form, in most cases,
it is a combination of all three.
When your arrow does not leave the bow straight, it creates
drag on your fletchings, this results in a decrease in
arrow velocity and stored energy in your arrow the further
away from the bow the arrow travels. This is a
very critical factor especially if you shoot mechanical
broadheads, because if your arrow does not hit the animal
flying in a straight flight line and it is tail right or
left or tail high or low, the weight of your arrow and the
stored energy in your arrow does not stay directly behind
your broadhead. Because mechanical broadheads usually have
a wider cutting diameter, it takes more energy for them to
open and more energy to push them through the animal. With
conventional broadheads, poor arrow flight will result in
your broadheads planing and hitting all over the
place, which is usually the reason why a lot of
hunters will switch to a mechanical broadhead. Mechanical
broadheads are basically a band aid cure for a
poorly set up bow.
When you shoot a properly
setup bow with the correct spined arrow and correct
shooting form, mechanical broadheads and conventional
broadheads will work very efficiently with great accuracy
and penetration.
Paper tuning your setup is basically how you get your arrow
flying straight. Paper tuning tells you if you are working
with the correct spined arrow and also tells you where you
need to make your fine tune adjustments to your arrow rest,
nock point and cam timing or synchronization.
Remember a properly set up bow equals a happy hunter!
Good Shooting!
Tom DiRisio
Strictly Archery
Washington, New Jersey