arrow lenght beyond draw

[windwalker]

I understand "if it aint broke dont fix it". I have been shooting 30" with 125gr arrows (60-64 poc) and they group good and on target but I have been wanting to shorten my lenght. I tried some tapered 50-55 shafts (27.5") and they are ok but not quite as good. I,m shooting a 62" recurve 55#@28" and my draw is 26". MY question is do you try to keep your arrow lenght short as possible or do you think a 4" longer shaft isnt that big a deal? windwalker

[McDave]

I think it's somewhat of a matter of preference, although there are probably limits as to how much overhang will work for you.  I've seen pictures of primitive people shooting bows with what looks like 5' long arrows.  I think they do that because they don't use a weighted point on the end of the arrow, and they need that much length to get good arrow flight.

Howard Hill thought arrows should be cut to the exact length of your draw, so the broadhead would touch your finger at full draw.  Rick Welch thinks a little overhang is a good thing, because arrows that are too short are less forgiving to shoot.  My own preference is to tune arrows so they fly well if they are cut 1" longer than my draw length.  How did I decide on 1"?  I forget.

The only useful thing I can add to your decision is that the tip of the arrow is a part of your sight picture, whether you consciously use it to aim the arrow or whether you shoot instinctively and don't pay any attention to it.  Therefore, to shoot accurately, I think all your arrows should be the same length for a particular bow.  If you decide to change your arrow length, it will take a while for your mind to adjust, or if you gap shoot, you will have a new gap.