Helical fletch vs straight fletch which is better?

[Bowwild]

3, 4" shield, helical fletched for me. I turn them as tight as my Bitz will allow and still maintain quill contact on the shaft.

I shoot 2-3" offset out of other equipment.

No problems with either one.

[Roy from Pa]

They both have the same basic effect, but helical does a better job, especially with a broadhead on the front end. I doubt any of us could tell much difference in arrow speed. Accurate arrow  placement out weighs speed.

[Josh H]

I just took 4 inch straight fletching off my arrows. I went back with 5 inch right helical parabolic feathers. I saw a difference in my groups. The larger fletching tightened them up.

I haven't shot with broadheads yet.

I'm still fairly new to traditional so take it for what it's worth.

Josh

[forestdweller]

Fletching slows down your arrows but in typical hunting distance within 25 yards you will be VERY hard pressed to notice the difference in trajectory.

I can promise you 5.5" feathers would group with your 4" feathers within 25 yards as long as your bow is not a complete slug.

Also the heavier the arrow the less the fletching itself will slow it down.

If you put 5.5" feathers on a 200 grain arrow those arrows would behave like flu flu's. Put the same 5.5" feathers on a 600 grain arrow and they will still shoot pretty flat (as long as your bow is not a slug!) even beyond 25 yards.

That being said unless you are target shooting the more helical and the more fletching the merrier in my book.

With a little bit of practice it has been my experience you learn the elevation differences even at the further distances even if your arrows do drop off hard after the 35 to 30 yard mark with a little bit of longer distance practice.

Also keep in mind the Japanese Yumi Archers use what appears to be 5" to 6" feathers and they are hitting a target around 60m away.

The English Longbow Clout shooters typically use 5 to 6" feathers as well and they are shooting out to 400 yards.......

A nice long feather that put's a lot of spin on the arrow will be more forgiving and send it on it's true path much faster. I know I'd give up 5-6" less drop at 50 or 60 yards for that......

[Terry Green]

I wouldn't shoot straight fetched arrows ever....either helical or off sett.

[Chris Iversen]

I have a Bitzenberger jig with the straight clamp that came with it. I adjust my jig to give me as much offset as I can with the straight clamp, all the while keeping the best contact with my arrow shaft. I find that my arrows fly just fine. My eyes suck and I can't really tell if my arrow is spinning fast. I just assume it is. I have never tried a helical clamp because my Bitz came with the straight, and the Bitz helical clamp is EXPENSIVE! One day I might splurge and buy one, but for now, straight clamp with an offset works just fine for field tips. I will likely buy a helical clamp come hunting season.

Just remember to not make the same mistake I did the first time I fletched with an offset. For right wing feathers the offset should be front of the feather to the right if looking down the shaft from the nock. I did it backwards on my first attempt. Check this link:

   Trueflight Fletching Guide

Also, I will choose stability over speed any day.

[Roy from Pa]

Neat site, Chris.

[Michael Arnette]

If your shooting a single bevel I'd shoot helical to help with the rotation...not sure if there is science behind that though

When I made some of my super spinners with the thread fletch method, I used the original right wing Grizzlies and made the right wing spinners to match the head.   I shot one fairly close range deer with one of them.  I was hoping to bore a hole through it.   The reality was that maybe the entrance hole was slightly more torqued, the arrow seemed to do one rotation going through the deer.   No difference than even when cross spinning them with left wing.   Of course, we are talking deer, not dried water buffalo bones bolted to a bridge beam.

[Fun4all]

The best part of a helical fletching at my age is the arrow looks like a tennis ball going toward the target!!  In other words I can see it better in flight and where it strikes the target/critter!!

[stujay]

Helical fletched.

[Captain*Kirk]

Just my opinion; helical or offset is better due to the increased rotation (think gyroscope) imparted to the arrow. Of the two I prefer helical over offset.

[Pat B]

Too much helical can be a problem too.

[Alexander Traditional]

I like helical. I did some offset straight the first time I did four fletch,and liked them. I did my first batch of four fletch helical the other day,but haven't shot them. Probably my favorite is three fletch helical. I've gotten arrows off the classifieds,and they managed to get way more helical on them than I had,and to tell you the truth I thought they looked weird flying. Mine just fly nice and straight,but I could really see the others turning. It may be a good thing,but mine flew just as straight,and seemed quieter.