Speed nocking

[msoulier]

I'm very curious how anyone would recommend speed nocking an arrow blind, having just pulled it from the quiver, likely with a shooting glove on the arrow hand. How do you find the index fletch? How do you get the nock onto the string quickly, without any special equipment or gimmicks?

Personally, I have to look down, and I'm not loading quickly.

[moebow]

I use an index nock that has the ridge on it that has been lined up with the index fletch.  One of many reasons I don't like gloves.  Bare finger tips with a tab allow you to feel the index.  Then I nock over the nock locator so you NEVER have to look.

Arne

[McDave]

Fred Asbell taught us this in a class many years ago, and since then I've nocked just about every arrow I've shot the way he taught us.

You hold the arrow with your thumb on one side of the nock and your forefinger on the other. You swing the shaft over against the riser and then lower it onto the shelf.  You lightly hold it in place with the forefinger of your bow hand as you slide the arrow forward.  You move the nock end of the arrow over against the string, higher than the string nock, and as you're sliding the arrow forward you're also sliding it down the string.  When the arrow nock reaches the string, you slide it down the string until you feel the bump as it slides over the string nock.  At this point, you slide the arrow forward and let your thumb and the arrow nock go on one side of the string and your forefinger on the other, so that you end up still holding the arrow nock with your thumb and forefinger in front of the string.  Then you pull the arrow nock back onto the string and up against the string nock.

Fred didn't care which way the cock feather ended up, as he said it didn't make enough difference to matter at the hunting ranges he uses.  You could use indicators on your arrow nocks, if you wanted to, or just glance down before you seat the nock and give it a twist unless it really has to be a blind shot.

I just really like this way of nocking an arrow.  I always tell my students that people will already think they're a good shot if they nock an arrow this way.  They don't actually have to shoot the bow; they can just nock an arrow and then walk off and get a soda or something.

This is a lot easier to show and do than it is to describe.

[Bladepeek]

Personally, if speed were that important, I'd nock it and shoot it without worrying about it. I just really don't see that much difference in arrow flight regardless of which way I nock it.

Sure, I have a preference (cock feather at 1:00 for left hand shooting), but if I shoot 3 or 4 with cock feather in and the same number with cock feather out, they all seem to land in the same group at 20yds. Beyond 20 yards, it needs to be a foam animal for me to shoot and then speed doesn't seem to matter much.

[hickstick]

many folks actually prefer cock feather in now anyway.   better clearance.

I four fletch (four feathers, 90 degrees apart, and have shot them on the 45s (think X) and on the 90s (think +) and see no difference in flight.  but mostly keep them at the 45s so the feathers don't touch my face.  

but with four fletch I don't need to worry about indexing, just nock and go.  I don't really speed shoot, but its incredibly helpful when you don't want to get busted by an animal moving your head to look down at the nock.

[reddogge]

Really nocking an arrow is a snap using your thumb and index finger on the nock to position it. Anyone should be able to do it blindfolded by tactical feel. The harder part when rushing is to not cut your string with the broadhead.

[Green]