3 feathers vs. 4 feathers???

[graybarkhunter]

im sure this has been posted numerous times but i gotta get some info. right now i shoot 3 LW 5" shields on my gt 5575.. is there any advantage/disadvantage in shooting 4 feathers vs 3 feathers in stabilization, effect of speed of the arrow in flight, more feathers hitting the rest,  or is it more for personal preference. i really may try 4 feathers if its not difficult to do. is it the 120 setting on my bitz??  any input would be nice and greatly appreciated,pics are welcome to of 4 feather setups!  thanks alot   seth

[Terry Green]

If you really want info 'right now'....doing a search is the best way to get it 'right now'.

[Jeff Mundy]

No it's not difficult but if 3 works for you why go to 4? Especially with the cost of feathers these days & the extra time invested in making arrows. But to each their own.

[xtrema312]

I don't see any advantage in 4-5" shields.  All you will do is spend more money, give up clearance, add noise, and slow the arrow down more.  If 3 of those feathers don't fly there is something seriously wrong, and you would be better off tuning more or working on form.

I shoot 4-4" parabolic AMG feathers.  The AMG are a little lower profile than some.  I don’t think the 4 AMG’s give much more feather area, and stabilization than 3-4” Trueflight.  The AMG are also a lower cost option.  It is probably cheaper or real close to the same for me to shoot 4-4” AMG than your 3-5” shields.  I like that I don't care what way my arrow goes on the string and with the 75/105 my bitz does and set with the 105 horizontal, I get great feather clearance.

[Ragnarok Forge]

4 - 4 inch fletch have roughly the same surface area as 3 - 5 inch fletch.   Once your nocks are set you don't have to worry about fletch orientation.   If you cut your own fletching you can get 2 - 4 inch fletch out of a full length feather.  And 1 - 5 inch fletch out of the same feather.

[tradshooter]

I use Surewood Douglas Fir shafts and fletch with (3) 5 1/2" high back shield cut feathers. Also use 160 grain Snuffers. Seems to stabalize the arrow quick. Works well for me. Try several different fletching/arrow combinations and see which shoots best for your style and bow set-up. Best of luck, Bob

[JimB]

I doubt if you will see one fly better than the other.Generally,when one switches from 3 to 4,as Clay says,you are going to 4 smaller feathers which means app. the same surface area and cost.

I used 5" and 5.5" 3 fletch for decades and finally switched to 4 fletch a few months ago.Nocks for carbon arrows have little or no tab to help you orient the nock on the string(by feel) so that your cock feather is out or at least whichever direction you like it to go.I wanted to simplify things and use one color feather and just got tired of having to look down and line things up.

Now with the 4 fletch,any direction I put the nock on the string is correct.I've really been enjoying the 4 fletch and wished I'd done it sooner.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I am shooting 4 - 3 inch fletch and have great flight.  They have the exact same surface area as 3 - 4 inch fletching.   I  will not be switching back to 3 fletch for any reason.

[b.glass]

I tried 4 fletch for a while so I wouldn't have to worry about the cock feather postion. Since I found out it doesn't matter anyway, I went back to 3 fletch. 3, 4" to be exact.

[JRY309]

I used to shoot 3-5" or 3-5.5",but really like shooting 4-4" these days.They fly great for me,but as long as your arrow is tuned well it is a matter of personal preference.

[sticbow]

4- 4"

[rastaman]

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Here are a few older threads on the subject..  

[Mudd]

I got started on my 1st 4 fletch with Snag's arrows this last year.

I will never go back to 3 fletch.

God bless,Mudd

[graybarkhunter]

thanks men, im gonna try my hand at 4x4". would i need 90 deg  or 75/105 deg setting on my bitz?? thanks again         seth

[mikebiz]

I shoot 4x4" shields and lower profile bananas.  I burn my own.  Yes you can get two 4" out of a full length feather.  They fly really well out of my low brace height Hill bows.  A 5" feather wouldn't even fit with brace heights I shoot.  Good luck.

[PaddyMac]

I shoot 4x4" shields and shot one off a couple of weeks ago. I shot it with the bare spot down and it seems to fly smoother.

So I don't know any more.

I'm going to try three 5" this winter.

The one thing I like is that you don't have to take your eyes off whatever you're watching to nock the arrow. But I admit that is a small thing.

[Friend]

65% of the total arrow wt. up front
Big Jim Big 3...300 gn

Consistantly tacks the mark at 20 yards w/o fletch with a moderate breeze

Don't personally, feel the need for more than 3x3" fletching.

Note: Did quite more than a nominal amount of tuning to get there. It was more of a challenge for personal entertainment.