Shelf cut and arrow diameter?

[jt85]

Is the shelf cut on your bow a factor in choosing what diameter arrow you shoot? If so what affect does it have?
For example what affect would you see shooting the same spine 5/16 arrow off a shelf cut 1/8 past center vs a shelf cut 3/16 past center?

[Orion]

It doesn't affect the diameter I choose, but it does affect the spine i choose. In your example, one is cut 1/16 inch more past center. That has the effect of requiring more spine, i.e., a stiffer arrow.  If the arrow was tuned to the bow at 1/8-inch past center, it would act weaker on the bow cut 3/16 past center.

[jt85]

Thanks Orion. I thought I might be over thinking again but never hurts to ask.

[AkDan]

If you have the choice and don't care about shoot/tournament rules (I don't).  You're better off getting a bow cut too or slightly past center and building it out for tuning purposes.   It's obviously easy to do on a recurve but can easily be done on longbows as well.    It makes the tuning process easier by a long shot getting arrows flying perfectly.  Though it does allow more room to tinker, which in some peoples minds means work, so take it with a grain of salt.   Being able to slip in different sized match sticks or like I use parts of a shaft convex out, you can adjust for thickness until you're whittled happy and get what works.

[hvyhitter]

The only time I consider it is when choosing wood shaft spine on less than center cut bows................