Do some bows prefer woodies?

[Starkman]

I know shooting carbons, aluminums and wood is a matter of personal preference.  I've been shooting both carbons and aluminums, and just made my first batch of wood arrows last week and I'm really impressed.  I probably don't shoot good enough to see some of the subtle differences.  However, they shoot really well.  They are close to 12.5 gr./lb.  I'm not that experienced so I'm sure they aren't perfect, but I'm getting excellent flight.  The bow is an original Dwyer...not that it should make any difference.  I'm hooked on wood!  Has anyone noticed if their bow seems to show a preference of wood over carbon or aluminum?
Bob

[eagle24]

You can get great arrow flight from Wood, Carbon, or Aluminum given the correct spine and tuning.  Wood arrows are less consistent than carbon or aluminum, so it takes carefull matching and selection of shafts to get a quiver of arrows that all fly great.  Some bows are more forgiving of spine differences than others, usually (IMO) due to a shelf cut closer to center.  If you are getting great arrow flight and you like the wood shafts then sounds like you have your setup.  Shoot straight and enjoy!

[BLACK WOLF]

Ditto to what eagle24 said.

Bows don't prefer wood or any other type of arrow...but a bow will require a specic dynamic spine that will be the best performing arrow for that archer and bow combination.

Ray  

[Starkman]

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I was just wondering if arrow material can be more forgiving than others.  I know spine is spine, but do certain materials recover quicker than others?  Are there any flight characteristics between the different materials?  When tuning carbons, I've often either had to have very long arrows, or had to use heavy inserts. I know this reduces spine, but does it really have the same effect as an arrow that has a shaft that has been constructed with a particular spine and not made to to perform as such.  I'm not sure if I'm getting my point across clearly.  Especially on bows that are not center cut, like more traditional "D" shaped longbows.

[BLACK WOLF]

From the tests I have studied...carbon arrows recover quicker.

There's nothing wrong with using any arrow with any bow.

I've shot carbon arrows out of my home made primitive bow...but it just doesn't seem right to do that  

Somethings seem to go better together like peanut butter and jelly as opposed to carbon arrows and primitive bows  

Ray  

[Starkman]

Perhaps you're right Ray.  Maybe I just like to think they work better and it just feels so right        .
Bob

[aromakr]

Bob:
The difference is wood is spine specific,i.e. a wood shaft will spine lets say 52#@28" a carbon shaft will spine anywhere from 45-60# and to get it to spine 52#@28" you will have to adjust the length and point weight, a great deal of variables.
Bob

[Greywolfy/U.P. of Mi]

Bob, what Bob(aromakr) said.  And he's the one that knows.

I made the decision a little while ago to go strictly wood.  I love the way they look, feel and shoot.  I love the way they smell when they break!   :D  

I'm including the remainder of my alums with the next shipment to our troops in the big sandbox as soon as Chessbum tells me where this time.

[BLACK WOLF]

When carbons are marked 45-60lbs. that is a generalization of what draw weight will most likely be able to use them.

The Easton Axis arrows I use have a deflection of .300 and I can adjust point weight and arrow length so they can shoot from a variety of draw weights which is part of the tuning process.

A wood arrow spined at 55lbs. doesn't necessarily mean that all 55lbs. bows will be able to bareshaft them accurately. I have a 69lbs. Black Widow that requires a wood arrow spined at 110lbs. for it to bareshaft correctly.

What's nice about wood is an archer can have an exact pre-determined point weight and arrow length and find a shaft that will spine properly with their bow without having to change arrow length ot point weight.

With carbon...you generally have to change point weight or change the arrow length when only adjusting the arrow to tune the them properly because they only come in limited spines or deflections.

Some of the ways you can tune your bow to your arrow is adjusting the brace height, cushion plunger or building out the side plate.

Ray  

[Bob Lord]

I have shot only one aluminum arrow out of a longbow,and never a carbon one. Started with wood 48 years ago and never saw any reason to change. Its natural, quiet, and above all, biodegradable. Wood arrows and longbows are made for each other. The English killed a hell of alot of Frenchmen with them at Agincourt.

[whitebuffalo]

I just switched and founf what you did,,I took some advise from my two great buddies in archery,,Steve,Tim, and started shooting wood and I love it,,Its got mass weight,,Like said above,,predetermined point weight and length,,pic out an arrows,, they make your bow real quite and are quite to draw back too,,Good luck with you introduction to wood arrows,,I was lucky to have the freinds that I do to help me get started,,JB

[zilla]

All I can add is that I have tried a ton of combinations, carbons, alum and wood.. The best shotting and flying arrow in MY bow is wood.. I'd use carbon if I could get it to fly as good as the wood..