Feathers giveing me problems

[R H Clark]

I shoot a Fedora 560 60in. 54lb at 29in. I draw 30in.I am useing CX 350's cut 31in. with a 190 head. They weigh 605grns and bareshafts fly fine out to 20yds.The problem is when I put feathers on I get vertical movement with my arrow. It still hits the mark but I can see it straighten out just before it hits the target at 20yds. I can see a white mark about center of the shelf at the very edge where my white feather hits. I have moved the knock point and rotated the knock to all positions, still hitting. I tried a toothpick under the rest material and it worked for a while but I still see problems sometimes. Thanks for any suggestions and help.

[R H Clark]

Sorry about the spelling. I can't find a way edit.

[Robert Honaker]

You might try raising your NP so that your feathers claer the shelf.It sound like it would be to high,but thats what I had to do.My NP is at 13/16" and they fly beautifully.Paradox takes care of the feather clearance on the riser and NP moves them up out of the way from the shelf.Give it a try, I bet you'll like it as long as your arrows are the right spine.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Try 4 fletch, it worked for me.

[Chris Lantz]

I had a similar problem, shooting cock feather in fixed it for me. Either that or raising your nocking point like Robert said should do the trick.

[McDave]

Ken Beck of Black Widow Bows, who has spent a lot of time studying arrow flight, told me that the feathers flatten out against the arrow shaft when the arrow is released, and don't open up again until the arrow is clear of the bow.  This is why we can shoot arrows successfully off the shelf, but need a rest if we shoot vanes.

What causes a problem is if there is any contact between the quill (plus whatever thickness the feather is when it is flattened out) and the shelf or the riser.  He recommends setting the nock so that the bottom two feathers form an inverted V shape, where the inside one can slip between the shelf and the riser.  So far this has worked for me, and I haven't had to raise my nock point any higher than 1/2 - 5/8.

BTW, you can edit your post by clicking the paper and pencil icon above your post.

[R H Clark]

Thanks for the edit tip McDave. I think you are right about it being the quill. I have raised and lowered my nock a lot and rotated it so that the cock feather is in all positions still one out of ten shots, the the arrow qoes up and down.It still hits close but I can tell it doesn't penetrate as much. Then I look and see that white mark at the shelf edge on the far left outside. I am going to try some elevated rests next week. Thanks.

[McDave]

I would think that if your arrow porpoises one out of ten shots, probably you should be looking at form rather than equipment.  For example, if you shoot with a high elbow, sometimes you might press down on the nock with your forefinger and cause a slight bend in the arrow, which will cause a nock-high when it rebounds.  There are probably other reasons.

[R H Clark]

You are probaly right McDave. I suspect my arrow is borderline stiff so any slight variation in form causes it to hit the shelf. I might try some weight before I go to an elevated rest.