Arrows kicking left badly, ??

[George Elkstalker]

Okay, I built my first bow.  Made of ash, narrow deep handle.  Shooting off a flat shelf.  I shoot 1 finger over.  Arrows are kicking badly.  What should I look for or try?  Thanks!!!

[McDave]

Do your arrows kick left on other bows, or just this bow?  When you say they are "kicking" left, do you mean a momentary nock left as the arrow leaves the bow, or do you mean the arrows tend to impact the target to the left?

[George Elkstalker]

It is more pronounced than the usual nock left leaving the bow.  It doesn't turn straight sideways but it sure looks like it is trying.  Seems to straighten out pretty well after 15 yards or so.

[McDave]

The general rule would be that if you're getting nock left, you need a stiffer arrow spine, assuming you're a right-handed shooter.

Since this is a home built bow, maybe somebody in the bowyer's section of the forum might have other suggestions as well.

[Col]

Paper tuning, beginning with a bare shaft, would be your ideal bet for determining what to do next.  If you're not set-up for paper tuning, you could start by experimenting with spine weights.

The question right now is whether it is the arrow or the bow.  As McDave says, the general rule points to arrow spine weight.  Better to have that answer before tinkering with the bow IMO.

[longbow1]

You said youre shooting off a flat shelf. I would try to crown the arrown shelf and sight window for better fletching clearance, then bare shaft tune.