How many of you...

[Curtis Haden]

...shoot a bare shaft -or- (insert favorite tuning method here) every once in a while, even after your set-up is "tuned"?

I just spent several weeks struggling with my shot.  All due to something very simple, and yet very hard for me to see.

I changed strings and silencers a while back, and my shooting just went in the crapper.  I went from a skinny 450+ string and rubber cat whiskers (1/2 cat whisker on each end of the string) to a 16 strand DF97 with Hush Puppies.  I draw 28" and was shooting 29.5" 2016's with 125 grain points, out of a 52@28 hybrid longbow.  These arrows flew great before, but I just couldn't hit consistently, and could see the arrows kicking around after the string change.  I really didn't think it would make that much difference. I was convinced it had to be me.  "I must be torquing the string, torquing the bow, plucking the string...something!"

After changing my anchor point, hook, grip style, and even listing my favorite bow for trade a few days ago, I finally saw the light.  I stripped the feathers off an arrow and you can guess the results... Over-spined.  Ended up having to go to a 30" arrow with 150 grains up front to fix things.  Once I got the arrows right, everything else fell back into place.

Now many of you are probably sitting there, nodding your heads sagaciously, saying, "He should have figured this out long ago."  Well, you'd be right, but I'm stubborn and short-sighted, especially when I'm wrong...        

I recall hearing Ken Beck say he carries a bare shaft in his quiver when target shooting.  The reason he gave was that if he begins to doubt his form or release, he shoots the bare shaft, which will obviously magnify any errors.  Seems like a pretty dang good idea.

[SHOOTO8S]

My practice quiver most always carries 5 fletched and 1 bareshaft. Once tuned the bow won't all of a sudden decide it s not tuned, so either something has changed with my setup.....or my shot has changed. The bareshaft gives instant feedback on what I'm doing and if there's any changes.

[Dsturgisjr]

I usually have a bare shaft laying around too. They are fun to shoot.

Rod told me how to make a paper rack before he came up to get videoed a couple years ago and it is a great check also for fletched arrows.

It is amazing what can change the tune of a bow. I've been shooting a long time and still learn a lot from Rod.

[BLACK WOLF]

I use one or 2 everyday during my practice sessions.

It's a huge indicator of inconsistant or consistant form.

Bareshafts are a great training tool and an indicator of something that may have changed with your set-up.

Ray  

[Friends call me Pac]

I shot a bare shaft for the first time last week.  I just knew that no matter what I had read on this site an arrow without feathers couldn't possably fly straight.  So with doubt I shot from a modest 5 yards.  I actually hit close to where I was aiming at so decided to move back to 10.  Still hit the target but was constantly nock low.  Adjusted my nocking point and let her fly.  Now that I'm use to the idea of shooting an arrow without feathers I have backed up to 25 yards and even if I miss my spot it usually isn't by much.  

That bare shaft was a great tool to help me make adjustments and give me confidence in my bow and myself.

[buckeye_hunter]

Curtis,
I'm not thinking; Why didn't you think of that before?

I thinking; Why have I never thought of that at all?

-Charlie

[Widowbender]

I carry a bare shaft in my practice quiver...I shoot it, along with my other arrows, every time I go out to practice... it helps me stay on form...

David

[timthefuelman]

I'm fairly new to trad and found my previously tuned arrows flying poorly out of my Widow. After shooting with a couple of friends they pointed out how short my arrows looked. No they didn't shrink, my draw has increased by an inch and a half. Glad that was pointed out prior to putting the BHs' on for the season!

[John3]

Good points.. I have shot alot of years and still learn "stuff" here at the gang..


John III

[oh-bowhunter]

New to trad  by shooting a bare arrow can somone explain what i am looking for. thanks

[BLACK WOLF]

Once you have tuned your bow and arrow combo the bareshaft should group with your fletched arrows or fly like a dart without any porpusing or fishtailing.

Once you have done that you can use that bareshaft to make sure your equipment is tuned and you form is consistant.

Bareshaft tuning for beginners can be a lesson in frustration trying to get a bareshaft to fly straight.

It's important that an archer develop good consistant form. If not...a bareshaft may give inconsistant readings.

Bareshaft tuning using the Planing Method or the one described by OL is generally a less frustrating tuning method for beginners.

Ray  

[oh-bowhunter]

Thanks Black Wolf I will work on my form. From what I've been watching and reading I have a little work to do.

[DaveBriner]

Black Wolf, I'll search for the planing method, but could define/expand on the "one described by OL"?
Thanks Dave

[BLACK WOLF]

Here's a link that goes into good detail about tuning and more specifically the planning bareshaft tuning method.

 http://bowmaker.net/index2.htm

Ray  

[DaveBriner]

Thanks Black Wolf, I actually have printed that page out already, just didn't know what you're referring to.
Shoot em straight,
Dave