school me on raised rests

[snowplow]

Guys, what do I need to know about running a raised rest? Just curious if there are any rules of thumb or what? Is there a set height above shelf (or top of hand) that works better? Or is it like as low as possible with feather clearance?

Also what about material? On one hand there are sticky flipper rests. Not sure if they actually flip out of the way really but they are flexible to the hand. Then there are the wengerd style fishing line rests. They are semi ridgid I'd say but definitely dont flip out of the way. Then there are more rigid options like just raising your shelf with leather. Or a wood dowel. Is there any real difference to any of these? I kind of doubt any actually move out of the way for your feathers or vanes. I think I'm going to run a raised rest (reluctantly) but would much prefer a sturdy bomb proof option like just a raised shelf. But I dont know anything about raised rests. So help me out guys!

[GlennKY]

I have 4 Quinn bows (haven’t been made in a few years) that have metal risers, they shoot GREAT.  They are drilled for plungers, but I use the simple, Bear weather rest.  They just stick on and I set my nocks accordingly, with no issues at all, and I shoot four fletch arrows.  My other bows I shoot are Black Widows and shoot them off the shelf.

[elkken]

I have used the old Bear Weather rest for years in wet western Washington State .... I set mine about 3/8 above the shelf and then set my knock like I always do for my split release. I believe an elevated rest gives better broadhead flight and is much easier to tune. I do still shoot some bow off the shelf but prefer a raised rest. It brings my arrow up closer to my line of sight much like I was shooting three fingers under.

I have not had any hunting spoiling moments with the Bear rest but i have with the flipper rests and a few of the other more rigid but thinner rests. In really cold weather i have had the flipper make noise when drawing an arrow across it, not so with the Bear.

To quickly get an arrow knocked, perhaps for that second shot, I like the shelf 

[Wheels2]

A piece of furniture pad will give you about 1/4".  I use a razor blade and taper front and back to make a trapezoid.
To raise it higher, use a couple of layers of double sided tape.

[BAK]

I guess the question is what are you trying to achieve by having a higher rest?  On my 3d bow I have a magnetic flipper and plunger.   Makes perfect tuning quite easy.  I tried using a plunger while hunting maybe 50 years ago.  Moisture got in it and froze it up sending my arrow far left.  Many bows have such radiused shelves a raised side plate rest is almost mandatory.  What is your goal?   

[McDave]

The upside of a raised rest is better arrow clearance, and they seem easier to tune than shooting off the shelf.  The downside of a raised rest is that it puts your hand further away from the arrow, which makes canting the bow problematic.  I see no advantage in using a raised rest unless it has an effective flipper, like a magnetic flipper, because you’ve done away with the upside, and still have the downside.

Some few bows are impossible to tune off the shelf, because they were evidently designed to use an elevated rest, period.  If you have one of those bows, then end of discussion.

[M60gunner]

I have a couple bows setup with raised rests. My Bear Mag riser I use a brush rest that I cut off most of the bottom so it sits about 1/4 above the shelf. Learned that from one of the Wensel brothers. My other is a springy rest on my Rambo Warf riser. It is higher from the shelf. There are as many rests out there as bows to choose from. I like the simplest ones like the Bear or brush rest. I do raise my nock point. I also replace the factory stick on tape with Gorilla indoor/outdoor or 3M indoor/outdoor tape. It’s a little thicker but doesn’t move in our high temps. Oh yes, IMO it is easier to tune my bow with a raised rest.

[algstick]

I use the bear weather rest on all my recurves. no problems, place it with the pressure point in line with the deepest point of grip and high enough to clear vanes of fletching. Cant of bow makes no difference. Put a piece of moleskin over it if you want, it will keep the pressure point from wearing down.
the best thing for me is that i get a better sight picture.

[durp]

All good info above. I'll just add one reason not to use a flipper rest...back in the 80's my cousin used one he had to hold at full draw on a big 6x6 bull. He let down then drew when the shot was there but missed a 20 yd shot by 10 feet cuz the flipper broke off...just sayin !