straight fletch with slight offset

[Mike Desadier]

i'm in the process of switching from compound to recurve.  i have always shot fingers with my compound and always had good arrow flight with straight fletching with a slight offset with feathers and vanes and was wondering if this set up will work with recurve or do you need to use r/l helical.

[Fletcher]

Helical isn't necessary, but most trad shooters find that it works the best for them, esp with broadheads.  If your fletching jig only has a straight clamp, use it.  When you get the chance or urge, try some helical and see whick you prefer.

[stickbowmaniac]

Welcome to the Gang Mike.I see you finaly want to loose those wheels.Good luck with the recurve.Like Flecter said straight offset will work fine.I shooot slight right helical.

[kodiakkid]

Welcome to the trad side. Straight offset will work just fine. I have always heard about right hand shooters having to shoot a different helical than a left hand shooter. I have shot left and right helical as well as straight offset. I find no noticable difference at all. Paul<><

[CaptJack]

Mike - I grew up as a target archer (NFAA freestyle limited) all my target arrows are fletched straight clamp - offset - I still do that on my 3" & 4" feathers - but on all my 5" feathered hunting arrows I use a helical clamp with no offset

I tried some helical with the offset and it's too hard to get them to seat correctly on the shaft and get a good glue line - and they just had too much un-needed drag with both the helical and the offset

I have some hunting arrows with 5" feathers that I fletched with my straight clamp - offset and they fly great with field points as target arrows - but like said above - you get more stable flight with broadheads with the helical fletchings

[J.Yates]

Mike
I have used both Straight offset and helical.As others have said I always got better flight with broadheads with the helical.With field points both work well.

Mitch

[acolobowhunter]

Go out in an open field and shoot some of your offset straight arrows up in the air, where you can watch the "crank" of the feathers.  You will be suprised how much the offset feathers spin.  

I am like everyone else, I use the helical on BH, but for many years just used the offset straight fletch and had no problems.  It is probably all in our heads.