What Causes this? (Riser Wear)

[Mark Grice]

So, this is happening to my bow.
  (picture is showing it from the front)
Side:    
I can't figure out what is causing this wear and tear on the outside of the riser. I can understand almost anything causing the rug rest wearing out, but the wood is also starting to rub out. What can cause that?  Sure not the feathers, right? They must be softer than the wood, I would think... like trying to scratch class with a banana.

Anyway, what am I doing wrong here to cause this? Brace height too low? Knocking point too high? Horrible release...? What?

[McDave]

Quills are harder than feathers, and could cause that wear after a while.  I grew up on the west coast, where all the buildings were fairly new.  I remember being amazed as a boy on a trip to the east coast to find that people's footsteps could erode granite stair steps, given enough time.

Take one of your arrows and cut the feathers off down to the quill.  Put lipstick or something on the quill nearest the point that is being rubbed on your riser, so it will leave a mark if it is making contact.  Rotate your nock or raise your nock point until there is no contact.

First thoughts:  Arrows too stiff; nocking point too low.

[Mark Grice]

Thanks all. McDave, I did this in only a few weeks of shooting! Seems fast to see this kind of wear. The nocks came pre-installed (got 'em at Cabellas). Arrows are Easton Legacy XX75. Are you saying I should take the nocks off, and rotate where they are on the shaft so the feathers are in a different spot? How do I take a nock off... Heat it? Or what?

Jim: You are probably right on both...

[McDave]

Most modern nocks for aluminum or carbon arrows are adjustable, i,e., they twist into whatever position you want.  Some nocks for aluminum arrows are glued on and are not adjustable. Just give them a good twist with your fingers and see if they move.  If they are glued on and not adjustable, you are limited to nock height adjustments, as it would be too much hassle to break them loose and move them a little bit (if they will even break loose without heat), reglue, then test and repeat.

[BenBow]

If you heal your bow by putting a lot of pressure low on your grip it will drive the arrow into the riser like that.

[Matt Fowler]

My first thought would be a spine issue. You getting good flight? That looks pretty extreme to me.

[Orion]

I agree with Jim C.  Nocking point is probably too low and arrows may be too stiff.

[Trond]

Could be related to a string hand issue, as well. Like what we discussed in my thread about arrows hitting the edge of the shelf. Try to let off some of the pressure on your ring and middle fingers. Helped me...

[kenneth butler]

knocking point and or arrow spine issue. It should be making a lot of noise with that much contact. Knocking point is the easy fix. What height to you have it set? Then we can go from there.

[Mark Grice]

I've moved to a lighter spine arrow, increased brace height and raised knocking point.

...probably shouldn't have done that all at once, huh?

But I *think* its better now. Is there something I can put on the shelf area that won't affect the flight but let me know if this is still happening?

[dringge]

Grab a shooting buddy and head to the range with a GoPro and video the shelf area as you shoot. Do the same with your release. Also try to get some video of arrow flight.