Arrow Forgiveness?

[ChristopherO]

What I mean by the title is do heavier arrows clean up the small foyibles in release and form better than lighter weight arrows?
I currently shoot carbons 8 grain per pound of pull out of my Martin Pioneer 50#@28" longbow.  When I am in my zone they fly very prettty.  Then there are those times frustration sets in as they want to fishtail on the way to the target.  Would a 500 grain arrow really make any difference over the 400 grain arrows and if so where should the weight be added:  over all with a tube or up front with an insert weight?

[Golden Hawk]

A 500 grain arrow might help with that. Sometimes extra speed will make those slight imperfections show up more. I would add a 100 grain insert to your arrows.

[Charlie Lamb]

Chris... in theory the most forgiving arrow is gonna be the most well tuned arrow. Weight shouldn't make a difference.

A perfectly tuned arrow/bow combo should give you consistent good flight, but that really only applies to the relationship between the two AFTER the arrow is in motion.

A lot can happen at the moment of release that the arrow has to recover from before it can go through "normal" paradox. Torquing the bow, torquing the arrow, torquing the string all affect the way the arrow comes away from the arrow rest.

For that reason I'm an advocate of a very soft rest. It helps absorb some of the bad stuff we do at the moment of release and makes the bow more forgiving.

As an example, a plain piece of leather for a rest is not very forgiving. Putting a piece of match stick under the leather where it contacts the arrow makes it more forgiving.

A piece of Bear Hair type rest or fuzzy velcro is even softer and even more forgiving.

The most forgiving of all would be an elevated rest with some type of adjustable cushion plunger as the arrow plate.

Lots of choices in this sport.  

[R H Clark]

IMO every arrow regardless of weight needs to be tuned to the bow to be forgiving.The most forgiving shaft would be in the middle of the tune.In other words not border line stiff or weak.I have watched a lot of archers and very few have a consistent draw or release.Any variation on a border line arrow will cause bad flight.A chronograph is best used to test consistent draw and release instead of max speed.

[R H Clark]

Charlie,you got it said as I was typing.Good point about a plunger and rest.I would sure use one if the Trad shoots I go to allowed it.Try a piece of peep tubing sometime in place of the match and see if you like it.

[Charlie Lamb]

Randy... I put a 1/4" piece of the fuzzy velcro under a larger piece for the rest and use a Berger button for the arrow plate. Very forgiving set up.

[Molson]

Yarn works very well under the rest or side plate too.  You can adjust the size and tension by twisting or untwisting, removing strands, doubling it, or the material it's made of.

[ChristopherO]

Thank you, Gentlemen, for the helpful suggestions.