Fletching on Trad Arrows vs Compound Arrows

[Bob Moran]

I'm puzzled by the tiny vanes on most compound bow arrows and the relatively large vanes on trad bow arrows. Is it because compounds have the arrow rest at dead center and the arrow doesn't flex? Surely, the compound arrow must flex some. Inquiring minds want to know!

[23feetupandhappy]

You are correct, the riser on a compound is cut way past center.

The tiny vanes on a compound arrow are very stiff, and can be, because they don't, or shouldn't, come into contact with the bow at any point.
Also, you can adjust your rest, up and down plus side to side, to get your arrow coming out of your bow perfectly straight, eliminating the need for as much steering power on the back end.

When I first got into Trad I couldn't understand how you could tune your bow by tuning your arrow      

Im a better archer and have a better understanding of archery today because of switching to Traditional equipment.....

[AZ_Longbow]

The little vanes have minimal flex, they bounce off the riser and rest of most trad bows. They stil grab the air due to the stiffness though. Not sure how well a feather would stay up on a 345fps wheelbow.
A wheel bow arrow does still bend but once again the centershot of wheelbow makes that stuff alone work better.
I like feathers, how they look feel and sound. Just like I like wood bows.

[Jon Stewart]

Back in the day, a long long time ago they used to shoot 6 fletch with 2" feathers.

[damascusdave]

I am shooting 2 inch Blazer vanes quite nicely off the shelf with field points

DDave

[Bob Moran]

23,
Thanks - that makes sense.

[Orion]

Keep in mind that folks who shoot compounds shoot triggers.  The string doesn't roll off the fingers and do the large side to side oscillation that it does when shot with fingers.  That's the biggest reason they don't need as much fletching.

Folks with a good release and a bow cut past center, don't need much fletching on a trad set up either.

[moebow]

Also, don't forget the velocity difference.  With a 250 to 300+ speed out of a C bow, the area of the stabilizers (vanes or feathers) can be much less and still provide the stabilization.

A slower arrow out of a trad bow will need more area.

Arne

[JRY309]

I shoot 2" Blazer vanes out of one ILF I have,riser is cut well past center.I use an elevated rest with a plunger,gives me great adjustability.Just wanted to play around with this setupHard to watch the arrow fly with such small vanes on a skinny Easton ACC.

[NY Yankee]

If the compound guys shot big fat feathers on their skinny little carbon arrows, they would not be getting 345 fps but much less. Kind of like us shooting flu-flu's. The reason they are getting 345 fps is that they shoot skinny little carbon arrows with tiny little vanes and 95 grain broadheads and they CAN do that because there is so little flex in the shaft. What would happen if they shot MY 31 inch hickory shaft with 3 big 5.5 inch feathers and a 160 grain steel broadhead? Probably about 225fps is what.