Should I see Improvement with Custom Arrows?

[Caddo]

Bad Arrow - Just a suggestion you may want to check. Even though your shafts are correctly spined, make sure that the grain is horizontal to the bow when on the string. If the shaft grain is vetical it will lead to inconsistant arrow flight.

LD

[Encino Man]

If you want to determine if it's you or the arrows, number the arrows and track which arrows miss the plate. If it's the same arrows every time, cull them out. make flu-flu's out of them or something and then build more arrows to fill the void. I find that 90% of my issues have to do with me. On occasion I find bad arrows buy the majority of the time they are already suspect during the arrow building process.

There is also the option of carbon. Generally speaking, if they are all built the same and you have the same results it's pretty much a guarantee that it's you.

[Rob DiStefano]

archery is a free form aiming game, and consistency is the key word.  

imo, the overall most consistent arrow material uses some form of carbon/graphite shaft material.  

imo, the inherent problem with all wood shafting (and to some lesser degree, aluminum shafting) are both the stress and durability factors.  it's way too easy for woodies to lose any semblance of straightness during the process of shooting, and pulling from targets.  not to mention the extreme difficulty in matching a set of six woodies for weight, spine and straightness.  

and, no matter how well you think you've sealed wood shafting, it will be affected by temperature and humidity way far more than carbon or aluminum.
 
don't get me wrong - i *love* woodies and make them up by the dozens.  but for the right application and in the right manner.  

now, when working on form, and honing yer accuracy, you want to make sure those misses are due to *you* and not bum arrows.  it's a crap shoot of sorts if ya use woodies for that kinda shooting.

[bad arrow]

Hey Bruce, I'm in Ohio Co.(20 miles south of Owensboro) Thanks all for the great advice. I'm trying to take it all in.....Phil

[Blackwidow36]

I found out when buying cedar shafts by the dozen,your lucky if you can match 6 of them with the grain scale. I try if possible getting them within 10 grains, that improved my shooting a lot. When I get them they are raw cedar, release and form is also big to.

[Blackwidow36]

I found out when buying cedar shafts by the dozen,your lucky if you can match 6 of them with the grain scale. I try if possible getting them within 10 grains, that improved my shooting a lot. When I get them they are raw cedar, release and form is also big to.

[RkyMtn Joe]

If you think you need "custom" arrows and are already making your own cedars, why not make your own "custom" arrows?  The principles are pretty much the same---although the shaft material may be different.

I make my own "custom" arrows---and although I see some arrowmakers who are better at painting than I happen to be---none of them can make a better arrow for me than I can make for myself when it comes to performance.   Of course, they all could make one "as good"---and on the other side of the coin I haven't the expertise or interest in making custom arrows for anyone else the way they do.  Those custom arrowmakers are very good, but if you already have the tools etc.--why not give it a try?

[seabass]

i am with jarhead.sitka spruce tapered shafts from hildebrand worked for me.very high quality and straight.i can't say that about alot of the cedars i have bought,steve

[SuperK]

I have noticed that I am more consistent with broadheads when I shoot aluminum rather than the wooden arrows I make.  Don't really know why, but it is there.  I have checked and rechecked my tuning, arrow construction, shaft straightness, etc,etc,etc but it is what it is.  So, I use aluminum for deer and turkey hunting and I use wood for everything else. I would suggest you try some aluminum or carbon arrows and see for yourself.

[Bjorn]

It is not the material it is the technique that counts-you can make crap out of any material. I only shoot wood now; but have tried the rest enough to know that when I miss it is me.

[Fletcher]

BA, when it comes to shooting well, arrows are way more important than the bow, altho good arrows will not make up for poor or inconsistent form.  The shaft is the heart and soul of the arrow.  There is nothing you can do to a crappy shaft to make a good arrow out of it.  It is great to make your own arrow, but be sure you start out with good matched shafts.  There are a few suppliers on here who can provide them; I'm one and there are others, too.  

Having the correct spine is important.  Weight is too, but not nearly so much.  Work with your supplier to get the right spine.  The formulas usually work well, but test arrows will tell you for sure what spine you need.  A five pound spine range, ie 55-59, is the standard.  55-60 is six pounds.  With paper tuning, I can get a 3 pound range that will shoot bullet holes, beyond that I can start to see some tear.  Fletching will make up for the pound or two, tho.  If you want to talk about arrows, give me a call.

[steve schrank]

my thinking is that most shafts are sold by spine but not by weight some places sell by spine and +-10 grains of weight you might try that

[overbo]

Call the gentleman at ELITE ARROWS (Jon Paul I think).He has a SPONSOR page.This man has forgotten more about arrosmithing than most of us know.He builds increditbly accrurate arrows.

[d from phx]

Contact Derek Herring at Bounty Hunter Traditional Arrows.He makes some great arrows both POC and the new Ironwoods carbons. Your scores  will jump.

[Bowwild]

Bad Arrow,
I sent you a PM regarding the bow arm and follow-through -- keeping the bow arm active throughout the shot is important but very difficult to do.

[Robert Honaker]

The only arrow that will help you is the correct arrow. Custom or from walmart, doesn't matterwhich.