3 fletch or 4 fletch?

[buxntoms]

I wondered what was the best fletch set-up you all have come up with over the years.  I have always made my arrows with 5.5" left wing high back shield cut feathers done in 3 fletch.  I recently shot some arrows that were done in 3 fletch banana cut and they flew great.  I have never tried a four fletch arrow, but was told a four fletch parabolic feather set up was the most stable.  What's your thoughts or experience and does it really matter or is it all just personal preference?  

Mike

[TaylorJohn]

As far as I understand, the more fletching the more rear drag it creates on the arrow. While that extra drag is great for stabilizing the arrow quicker, it tends to rob the arrow of speed and power down range.

So I'd say it's more of a preference thing. Four fletch would certainly make more sense on a flu-flu arrow though!

[Whitetail Chaser]

I have been shooting 4 fletch with 4 inch feathers for 14 years.  Never really noticed it slowing my arrows any.  I think it stabilizes them quickly out of the bow, and any slowing would occur far down range.

4 x 4 inch is less feather than 3 x 5.5 inch
16 inches of feather is less than 16.5.

Brett

[bm22]

i shoot 3- 3.5 in a&a feathers and i don't have ANY fligh problems at all. i also tuned my arrows to my bow. unless you are shooting wood arrows that might not be perfectly straight or choose not to tune your arrows i don't see ANY reason to shoot 4 fletch or ANY reason to shoot 5 in or bigger feathers. that is unless you like the look of more feathers.

however if you are worried about down range performance like maybe shooting 40-50 yards in a 3d tourney or are worried about noise i suggest you shoot the smallest feathers you can get to fly perfectly out of your bow. i also shoot off the shelf so don't think i can get away with this because i have a rest.

[Molson]

I shoot three 5.5" Raptor or Shield cut feathers on wood for the traditional look.  On carbons I use 4x5 parabolics in the Rothaar configuration. The 4x4 low profile bananas offer the best mix of everything, but I've come to prefer the extra visibility in flight under various lighting conditions that you get from the 4x5 parabolics.  

In the real world, virtually any reasonable feather configuration you want to use will work.

[Allegan Archer]

I used to shoot 4 fletch...  then got cheap and went to 3 to save that few cents per arrow.

For me I never noticed a difference.

[JRY309]

I feel having your arrows well tuned is the most important,then fletching just becomes a personal preference.I have shot both 3 and 4 fletch and if the arrows are well tuned I can see no difference.

[Bill Carlsen]

I shot 5.5 inch 3 fletch for so many years I couldn't tell you how long. About 3 or 4 years ago I just started to play around with four fletch.....4" long. I have to say that four fletch seems to make for a more stable arrow. I did a couple for my wife to try and she like them so much I had to refletch all her arrows. Rather than slow the arrow down I think I actually gained a bit of speed. In any event my arrows go thru animals just the same and I believe they shoot better.

[VAFarmer]

I am by no means an authority on the trad stuff, but have been shooting bows for awhile.  

4 fletch is almost certain to give the best possibe stability-properly matched of course.  I would speculate that if you try 4, you should also shoot a 4 blade head.

If the arrow is properly tuned though, as others have already mentioned, fletching really shouldn't make a huge difference.

Look at the wheelies-the rage for the past 4-5 yrs. has been 3 blazer vanes fletched straight, with no helical whatsoever.. of course the speeds they are pushing with a well tuned arrow, you probably wouldnt even NEED fletching.

Again- this is where you get to into an area where returns may diminish slightly for an improvement or more importantly a percieved improvement.

I would experiment with different height/length/shape before I would consider going to an extra fletch on the shaft.  Personally.

God bless,

Farmer

[buxntoms]

Thanks for the responses guys.  Has anyone tried the Hammerhead Lites versus the Trad Lites?  What's the advantages or disadvantages of one over the other?  I don't shoot 3-D so what I shoot is always for deer and elk hunting!  What I'm asking is would I be better suited to use the Hammerhead Trad Lites or just the Trad Lites for big game hunting?  Also what length and style feathers are you guys using with the Trad Lites?

[snag]

I went to 4 4" and they are much quieter and stabilize fine in flight. They are cheaper too. I buy the full length feathers and can chop 2 out of one feather.  As far as stabilizing, if your arrow is tuned properly they will fly great. If they aren't then any change in fletching might show up in the arrow's flight.

[Zach Mikita]

I agree with Brett.  I have been changing back and forth thinking that 3 fletchings is better and less expensive, but 4 fletch arrows are the best arrows I have.

[Dave Bowers]

I have just started experimenting with 4, 3 inch feathers and they seem to doing great so far.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

As far as I understand it's just personal preference.  Unless you're shooting Easton Axis or some of the other 1/4 inch arrows then you have to shoot three fletch because the shaft diamater is too small for four.

[JAG]

 
  Shoot great for 3-D, also.  By the way I shoot off the knuckle.  

[Michael Arnette]

I have shot 3 fletch 5 or 5.5 for years but recently got some four fletch 5" here on tradgang, I think I will be shooting four fletch from now on especially since I shoot the big snuffers and hunt in thick cover where close shots through brush are the norm. I have also found that I can get away with little to no helical using the four fletch, this has made my arrows fly alot quieter.

[tradtusker]

Iv tried a bunch to see what works best for me, there can be some advantages to curtain fletch set-ups but a lot is personal preference,

i have found low cut feathers to be the quietest .5" at highest point

im shooting 4X4" feathers now, just find that configuration works best for me. But im wanting to try some 4x3" and see how they go.

[joe ashton]

I like 4 x  4, don't particularly know why.
joe

[joe ashton]

I like 4 x 4 but no particular reason.
Joe

[DoubleJ1929]

Alert!!!  Hijacker here...  I am a newbie trad guy and have a ??  How do you set the nock on a 4 fletch??