3 or 4 fletch

[stabow]

If shooting a 3 blade BH which is better three 5’’ feather or four 4’’ feathers or does it matter as long as you’re getting good arrow flight......stabow

[Jim Jackson]

Charlie, Terry, and several others have some good stuff on this topic  here.

[Mike Vines]

I have used both, and had similar results from each one.  I prefer the 4 fletch, just for thesimple fact it looks different then most everyone else.

[PAPALAPIN]

4 fletch means you dont have to pay too much attention on how you nock it.

[TD2]

6 in one, half dozen in the other in my experience

[Ragnarok Forge]

Both work great.  4 fletch for me.  I can nock without having to feel the index point or look at the arrow.

[JRY309]

I shoot both and like both,it doesn't matter as long as your arrow is well tuned.

[Ric O'Shay]

Three, five inch feathers = 15" total inches of fletch.

Four, four inch feathers = 16" total inches of fletch.

All other things equal, looks like you'd have 1" more feathers to stabilize an arrow that might be a little questionable.

[HATCHCHASER]

4 fletch for me.  You can usually chop 2 4" feathers out of one full length.  More bang for your buck.

[Night Wing]

3 fletch for me.

[maineac]

I use 3 4" feathers and if anything the arrows shoot better with the three blade on than field points.  Since I shoot with the cock feather in I don't worry if I am in a stressful situation, as it doesn't matter that much if the cock feather is in or out.

[ka]

Played with all combos over the years and i have found 3x5" for recurves and 4x4" for Longbows .What works for me!!

[ishoot4thrills]

If using skinny carbons, you can generally get by with less fletching. The main thing is, the most properly spined arrow for your bow will get the best arrow flight, regardless of what kind of broadhead you use.

[RocketDog]

If your arrow is tuned to the bow, you could use any combination from 2 fletch on up.  The more fletches, the faster the arrow will slow down.

[Chinook]

I agree with Calvin - if your arrow is tuned properly to the bow - your feather design does not have a big impact.
If you bare shaft tune your arrows and get the bullet holes in the paper, your arrow will fly straight with any feather combinations.  Provided you don't have a clearence problem and have the feather quills hitting the riser or rest to give the arrow a "kick" (had that condition one time - drove me nuts - but I've almost recovered)
That being said - I like 4 - 4" feathers on my arrows.
- I like the way they look on the arrow
  I have been using 2 solid and 2 barred combinatins
- I never need to worry about right side up or not
Chinook

[Cyclic-Rivers]

4

[tippit]

I use 4 fletch.  Lower feather height...less noise.  Doc

[8888blk]

I use 4-4" parabolic because they are quiet and stabilize the arrow fast.  

[joe skipp]

5" Parabolics with a full helical.

[Whump]

Whump Sez; Well I basically agree with the posts unless you are shooting wood shafting. Cock feather orientation can mean everything on wood. I do think 4 fletch is a bit louder than 3 fletch since the feathers are what makes noise on an arrow-- 4 feathers, [fletch height being equal] to me are louder than 3 and I have shot both.  The same reason a lot of helical makes more noise than a straight fletch--it is catching more of the wind, and I shoot helical fletch. Now if 4 fletch is working for ya and you are not having any trouble, then don't stay up two days over a witches pot putting a Gypsy curse on me. I am just stating what I have observed from my own experience. Hunt Safe