new osage bow

[arrowhead archer]

I can't get the arrows to come off the bow clean I've tried different spine arrows sanding the nocks changing the brace height moving the nocking point but the arrow still hits bow if I come to full draw but it won't if I short draw the bow the string is centered right down the center of handle I can't figure it out and it's driving me nuts any ideas

[fujimo]

not being judgmental, but could it be your release- have you got a video of yourself shooting.

[arrowhead archer]

No I don't have a video but I do have a lousy release I have to nock higher than anyone else I know but I don't have the contact problem with any of my other selfbows and none of them are even close to center shot either.

[fujimo]

how far up and down did you go with the spine- longer draw would require a stiffer arrow- than when you short draw.
are the limbs maybe twisting as you come to full draw-
just thinking here- where are all the pro's on this forum, when you need em  

[fujimo]

could the bow be torquing in your hand?
my shelves i like to build so that the arrow only has about  a 1/4" of contact both on the shelf and the strike plate, in other words, both the shelf and the strike plate are convex shapes with the apex of both surface being at the same point on the arrow. and as a side note, its best to have this contact point at the deepest part of the grip, and not forward of it- as so many bows are- this also relates to thetorquing issue.

[Pat B]

Generally, arrows for selfbows should be about 10# lighter than the bow. You can achieve this by making the arrows 30"(5# for each inch over 28") or adding 25gr to 50gr of tip weight over 125gr for a 28" arrow.   A poor release can also cause the problem.

[michaelschwister]

Try lowering your nock a little.  Had this problem with a few selfbows.

[arrowhead archer]

when I turn the bow so I have the bottom limb up and shoot off my hand I don't have the contact problem but then tiller is wrong with upper limb being stiffer maybe the one limb is torqueing and if I can't figure out were the bow will probably break I have one spot on original top limb were one side is thinner than other side but if I equal them out I will have a hinge there any suggestions