An “over-spined” arrow can lose energy and velocity as it veers off-target. An under-spined one is less tense, or weaker, and may wobble and stray off-course. Knowing more about arrow spine will go a long way in correcting the problem.

Is it better to be over or under-spined?

Registered. Over spined for sure. Definitely tunes better with fixed blade heads as well.

What happens if arrows are too lightly or heavily spined?

If your arrows are too lightly or heavily spined for your bow, the “archer's paradox” movements will be extreme, resulting in poor arrow flight and loss of accuracy. (It's better to err on the stiff, or too heavily spined, side.) Arrow manufacturers publish selection charts that match bow weights to proper arrow spine.

Is higher arrow spine stiffer?

Arrow manufacturers offer a spine chart that details their arrows' stiffness. Typically, the higher the number, the weaker the spine. Common spine ratings are 300, 400, 500 and 600, with 300-spine arrows being the stiffest.

Does adding weight to back of arrow weaken spine?

Registered. It does not change the spine. Adding weight to the back of the arrow has the exact same effect as adding weight in the middle of the string. This slows the arrow and that is all.

How-to tune an over-spined arrow

Are stiffer arrows more forgiving?

Why? Weak arrows flex much more and take longer to recover in flight, which causes instability and finicky shooting. Slightly stiffer arrows will perform much better.

Is a 400 grain arrow good for hunting?

400 grain arrows running 305ish fps (which is probably a bit faster than your set-up) have worked fine for me on deer. Blows right through them if placement is good.

Are 400 spine arrows good?

400 would be good with less than a 27.5 inch draw (27.5 inch arrow) any more i would bump it up to a 350 or 340. It also depends on what bow you are shooting, if your shooting a really hard cam: monster, omen, or vector turbo, alpha burner i would go with a 340.

Why do my arrows wobble in flight?

Mechanical release aids remove the left-right waggle, but the pressure comes in the vertical plane (from the string), and the rest only contacts the arrow from the bottom – meaning the arrow wobbles up and down.

How long should my arrows be for a 27.5 inch draw?

It really depends on you, some like them flush with the front of the riser, some like them just past the rest and as short as possible. I have a 27.5-28" draw and my arrows are typically 27.75". I wouldn't want that long of an arrow personally. If you decide you want a heavier tip you will want a stiffer arrow.

How do I know if my arrows are too stiff?

Shooting an arrow that is not stiff enough, or a group of arrows that vary in stiffness, will cause you to be less accurate. An under-spined arrow will veer right, while an arrow that is too stiff will favor slightly left.

What happens if you shoot the wrong spine arrow?

If an arrow of the wrong spine is shot, the fletchings, nock or arrow shaft will hit the bow. Indeed, consistently damaged fletchings/vanes are always an indication of poor arrow clearance. Thus, the archer, bow and arrows must be matched with each other.

Are 3 or 4 Fletch arrows better?

There is not much difference when comparing a three-fletch vs four-fletch arrow regarding performance. The only significant difference lies in the number of sketches. It is better to use an extra feather or a vane per arrow.

What causes arrows to fishtail?

Registered. If by fishtailing you mean moving left and right and not up and down, then it could very well be arrow spine. Either too stiff or too weak. Try putting a heavier tip on your arrows or lengthening them.

What happens if your arrows are too long?

It can't hurt if it's too long if it's shoots well for you. Too long and you have to have more spine which adds arrow weight, more fletching, and heavier tips for proper FOC (arrow balance).

Are arrow spine charts accurate?

As for the arrow charts, I have found them to be vastly inaccurate. Not really even a good starting point. In my experience, the Gold Tip chart would have over-spined my long bow by one, and in some cases, two spine classes.

How often should you tune a bow?

A well-tuned bow also helps the archer feel confident their arrow will hit where they're aiming. Bennett said a bow should be tuned (i.e., inspected and maintained) regularly, which he defines as every three to six months.

Do arrows rotate in flight?

Do arrows really spin while in flight? Absolutely! The arrow's fletchings – feathers, plastic vanes or curled plastic wings – steer the arrow in flight, helping it catch the air and spin for a straight flight pattern.

How fast do arrows travel?

Recurve bow arrows can travel up to 225 feet per second (fps) or 150mph while compound bow arrows can travel up to 300fps (200mph). Longbow arrows travel slower due to the weight of the arrows. Even at 300fps, it takes around a second to reach a 90 metre target.

What spine arrow should I shoot at 70 lbs?

You can shoot every spine at 70# if your arrow weight at least 350 grains. It will be safe, but if the spine is not the correct, it will not fly as it should...

What arrows should I use for 70lb bow?

For our purposes, a lightweight arrow will be one that has a finished weight of between 5 and 6 ½ grains per pound of your bow's maximum draw force. For example, a lightweight arrow for a 70-pound bow would have a finished weight (including broadhead) between 350 and 455 grains.

Is a 350 grain arrow too light for hunting?

fwiw, anything under 400 is too light for hunting. Your chances of losing an animal increase, at 270fps your chances for failure increase, your bow is louder and less forgiving and your arrows will have a very slim chance of penetration thru bone if your shot is marginal.

Is a 500 grain arrow too heavy?

For reference, light arrows weigh about 350 grains, a typical arrow weighs 420 to 500 grains, and a heavy arrow weighs over 600 grains. Bentcik said few Americans use arrows weighing 700 grains or more unless they're shooting traditional equipment.

Do heavier arrows fly better?

Arrows come in three weight categories: light, midweight and heavy. Lighter arrows fly faster and can group more tightly, but they're often harder to tune. Heavier arrows fly slower but resist wind better and penetrate deeper. Shooting the wrong arrow weight for a bow can damage equipment and harm the archer.

Is 500 grains enough arrow weight for elk?

For elk hunting, my optimal total weight of an arrow is somewhere between 450-500 grains but this will certainly depend on your setup. I can achieve this weight by choosing an arrow that weight approx. 8.8 grains per inch cut at 27.5”.