Shield cut vrs Banana

[The Hawk]

I usually shoot 5" Shields.  I fletched up 3 arrows with 5 1/2" bananas and it seems to have improved my accuracy (bow tuned and thought I was getting great flight with the shields).  Is it the feather (I realize the banana feather is 1/2" longer) or just the brain? (Of course if it is only mental, I'll stick with it.)(Does it become superstition at that point?)

[Bjorn]

Often a new and different anything will bring on an improvement-makes us focus more-IMO most stuff is mental.

[Ragnarok Forge]

5,5 inch banana has less surface area than 5 inch shiels so it shouldn't be the feathers.

[Jeremy]

5.5" bananas have more surface area than 5" shields.  They could be masking more shooter errors, but I'm with Bjorn on this one - it's all in your head!  

[D. Key]

So which is it??? Does a 5/5" banana cut have more or less surface area than a 5" shield.  We have conflicting opinions here.  I've wondered this myself...

I have always been concerned with the noise of a 5/5" banana cut and had a custom 5" chopper made.  It really is a neat cut and not noisy at all...

[Rob DiStefano]

my banana is bigger than your shield.    

this sounds more like a 'cabin fever' thread.  there ain't any significant performance difference in the surface areas of the fletches mentioned.  of more importance is how quiet they are in flight and how they're applied to the shaft (drag).

[HATCHCHASER]

Thanks Rob.  Now I have to get more coffee.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Rob is right that the surface areas are very close in total area and neither one should impact your arrow flight all that much.

Just for reference I measured and calculated the surface areas for both fletches before i posted.  Geometry can be such fun.  It is the enginerd in me that makes me do it.  Perhaps we can look into the airfoil affect of each fletch too.

Just kidding!  

I doubt either one has enough of a difference in surface area or flight characteristics to make that much difference in arrow flight.

[Rob DiStefano]

as i just typed in a pm reply ...

"seriously, each of us needs to play with fletch shape, size (length and height), number (3 or 4), and orientation (helical, offset, straight), in order to find what functionally and aesthetically works best. anything else is conjecture and hearsay. happy fletch hunting!"

[Pops]

Go with 5&1/2 Shield they work the best
for me with woodies.

[amicus]

In my experience, the shield cut fletching is louder than the bannana cut. I would go with the quitest fletch. m2c

Gilbert

[Jim Wright]

Assuming you are shooting "Cock feather out" is it possible that your shields at the leading edge of your down hen feather are contacting the shelf hard and "hopping" a tiny bit and your Banana fletches have the same leading edge going through at the juncture of your rest and the side plate coming off smoother? And my experience is like the last post, Shields and especially high backed ones are noisy, Bananas and Parabolics are quiet.

[bentpole]

The more feathers on an arrow the better I like it. However that being said= MY FAVORITE is 4-4".  Just do the simple math. number  of feathers x's inches of feathers. 3 feathers x  5 1/2 = 16 1/2"'s of feather. 3x's 5 = 15"'s etc etc

[Mint Hill Mule]

I'm with amicus, the shield cut produces more noise. My local shop owner thinks so also. He has been in the business since the early 70's.

[Don Stokes]

My cutter makes a 5" shield that is noisy, so I trim them down from the short end, leaving the high end full size. When trimmed the have an even taper, they're very quiet and still work fine. I just don't like the look of bananas.

[myshootinstinks]

I use the 'nanners amost exclusively.  Quiet and I like the looks. Accuracy benefit? Don't think so.
   They are a little harder to come buy. I used to get them from Kelly Peterson when he was in business.  Lancaster Archery has them.

[Rob DiStefano]

it's cheaper and way too easy to chop yer own 'naner fletches from full length feathers ... or far better yet, from free natural turkey and goose feathers.