Spine tuning

[snowplow]

So you guys got me thinking. You all told me that when you have a proper spined arrow you wont notice a difference in bow cant.

I have to cant my bow to the right to not shoot left. (No cut out shelf btw) Never noticed too much because it is pretty comfortable. But now I am wondering about it. I run arrow dynamics trad lite. And I have checked three times and it says that is right for a 52# bow at around 29". However evidence suggests it is far too stiff.

Is this typical? Do you guys have to monkey around with your arrows a lot to achieve the right spine? Or do I just order different shafts?

I am trying to gauge how forgiving spine ranges are. It's looking like they might be more finicky than I previously thought.

Not sure what kind of bow you are shooting, but if it is a bow with no shelf, you will need a considerably weaker shaft than you would for a bow with a shelf cut in it!

Bisch

[snowplow]

Yep no shelf.

[2bird]

I have a samick slb 40#@28 and I draw 28 this bow requires 700 spine arrows to bare shaft straight. so like Bisch said a bow with no shelf will really need a lot weaker spine then you may think. Lancaster archery will sell you 1 arrow at a time, get a few different spines. Remeber a carbon arrow will stiffen up pretty quick when you cut them down a little so dont be afraid to try a pretty weak spine. Also if you truely want good arrow flight i highly suggest bare shaft tuneing...

[JimB]

The fact that it has no shelf means your arrow is far from center.This means you need an arrow,way weaker than most and no chart can get you close.The only way to figure it out is to bare shaft tune but you need to start experimenting with way weaker than the chart suggests.

[snowplow]

Hmmm. Looks like I'll order a test kit with 4 arrows.

When I find my proper spine will I just be able to record that number and then order any arrow I want?

[2bird]

Yep, make sure you use the point weight you want to shoot all the time and remember that cutting a arrow down should be a last resort (longer arrows = shorter gaps and if you want to build up arrow weight you got more arrow length to play with)

[Wheels2]

Definitely try different spine shafts.  Not all shafts of the same spine react the same.  Variations in diameter (in relation to center shot) and weight affect flight as well.  However, you can get real close with the Stu Miller Dynamic Spine calculator.  3Rivers has converted it to a more user friendly format as compared to Miller's original spread sheet.
  https://www.3riversarchery.com/SpineCalculator.asp?pass=2

[snowplow]

So I read the ACS tuning tutorial (which was great), and some other stuff. I'm wondering when you get this test kit with just one arrow of each spine, do you guys try to immediately cut them 1-2" longer than drawlength? (long but not too long) And do you fletch them or just start with bare shaft tuning?

[snowplow]

That spine calculator says I need about a 250 (Im assuming the number on the arrows is the spine?)

I currently have arrow dynamics traditional lites which are 375 gr. Whoops.

If you are new to this, it would greatly help you out if you were to find some experienced trad guys in your area to help you with tuning.

It will really lessen the frustration and learning curve!

Bisch

[2bird]

Yes start with a bare shaft, fletching will correct errors so you don't want that for tuning. I wouldn't cut anything off yet until and if I couldn't find a correct shaft... Cutting even 1/4" will effect your spine so a 1" or 2"s is way to much to cut at one time anyway... Chances are if you have no shelf you will need a full length arrow anyway (shorter the arrow the stiffer the spine)

[2bird]

Bisch is right... When I first started I spent a ton of money on arrows trying to get them to fly straight just to find out my form was horrible... If you can't find anyone just remember to go slow and only make one small change at a time and thoroughly test each adjustment before you make another. Write everything down!!!

[snowplow]

Thanks guys. So is there any downside to a longer arrow? Weight is the only I can think of, but that may not always be considered a downside. Other than that I can only think of benefits.

I dont know any traditional guys. In fact my father in law thinks I must have lost my mind by putting down my compound. Are there any Wa guys around here?

[Bjorn]

An arrow can be too short but never too long just gotta' be tuned.