Cock Feather

[bigugly1]

I have always been told to have cock feather out but I read here that others have cock feather up. Is there a right or wrong position? I'm shooting a recurve off the shelf, split finger.

[AKmud]

Play with it and find out where the sweet spot is for your bow.  Typically cock feather out is what most shoot, but I've also seen guys who get better flight with the cock feather in.  

Watch the arrow as it comes off the bow, if you notice side to side fishtailing, try a different position.  If you can't get it under control, re-check your spine to make sure the arrows are a good fit for the bow.

[bigugly1]

I'm not really haveing any issues, just wondering. Thanks for the reply.

[Peachey]

I shoot cock feather in, just seems to be better flight for me.

[Lee Robinson .]

The cock feather is just the one with the different color.

What matters is not where the cock feather is (in, out, or up).

What really matters is HOW THE FLETCHING aligns with the bow's arrow rest and sight window. You want to minimize contact of the fletching's quil with the bow. Generally, this is best with the inside hen feather being positioned so it runs through the corner of the sight window and arrow rest...but again, the color of this fletching is of course not important.

Just do them all the same way so you don't get them mixed up.

[Stumpkiller]

What Lee says.  I shoot cock feather out and it is just an alignment aid for stringing the arrow.  The key is clearance with whatever you have on the bow's shelf.  Cock up gives you a flat stance for a very wide shelf.  I instead use a rug shelf with a clearance ditch at the corner of the riser and the strike pad is elevated a bit to keep that channel in the corner clear.  With the cock feather out that lower hen slips through that channel (though it still hits pad as the fletching is helical).

If you're getting a kick from the shelf or feather wear - change something.

mine are set with the cock at about 7:30-  if looking at from back of nock.

[Guru]

I shoot with it in...

only because I used to get wear on my one lower hen feather when I shot with it out.

 One day I just decided to put it in, haven't seen a bit of wear now an any feather.

Never had a arrow flight issue, just a wear issue...

[swampsSonny]

I shoot cock in myself but it doesnt really matter.The feathers are not against the riser as the arrow passes around it anyway.If you do a search on slow motion video the arrow will look like a wet noodle as it leaves the bow,thats the archers paradox and why spine is the key to arrow flight.Good luck

[JEFF B]

try it and see all my fletch are the same colour so it dont make a diff to me i pull the arrow out and just nock it on the string.

[Lee Robinson .]

Originally posted by swampsSonny:
I shoot cock in myself but it doesnt really matter.The feathers are not against the riser as the arrow passes around it anyway.If you do a search on slow motion video the arrow will look like a wet noodle as it leaves the bow,thats the archers paradox and why spine is the key to arrow flight.Good luck

As stated, this situation is indeed influenced by arrow spine!

I also leave a space in the corner of my sight window/strike plate and arrow rest.

My fletching is helical...but I didn't exaggerate the helical for this reason. I set my jigs so the quil rides the center of the shaft flat during glue up which puts enough helical to get the benefit of helical but without being excessive. This way I still get good clearance.

[Terry Lightle]

I dont pay any attention,just nock an arrow and let her rip,sometimes in sometimes out cant tell any difference

[Lee Robinson .]

I have seen fletching alignment make a big difference for some bows and some archers. I have seen people's arrows come out wobbling flopping around only because the quil on their feathers were hitting the shelf and/or sight window...then the same arrows turned aroung come out clean.

It really does make a noticable difference for some. For others that seem clean regardless, I imagine it would at least improve the degree of forgiveness.

[Stumpkiller]

Originally posted by swampsSonny:
I shoot cock in myself but it doesnt really matter.The feathers are not against the riser as the arrow passes around it anyway.If you do a search on slow motion video the arrow will look like a wet noodle as it leaves the bow,thats the archers paradox and why spine is the key to arrow flight.Good luck

Look closer.  The arrow bows out from the shelf in the center of the shaft.  The nock is still on the string travelling with it forward and the string pushes it several inches further than the brace height at rest.  When the nock is finally free of the string it still has to clear the shelf; and if the center of the arrow has bowed out that means the ends have to bow in (the paradox occurs along a central axis).  Sometimes you can hear a "clack" as the nock end of the shaft strikes the riser (or the shelf if your nock height is off).  Usually you won't because the fletch is absorbing the hit - and the reason vanes don't work as well off a shelf.  And it is also one of the reasons for toying with brace height.  if the arrow isn't free of the string in time you will get horizontal errors.

[snow leopard]

jack howard shot with cock feather in. i can't recall his rationale behind it; he explained why in his "bowhunter's catalog." (which i no longer have) i do remember his explanation made sense.

[Jeffrey Coria]

On Masters of the Barebow, fred eichler was shooting cock feather in, Said the rotation allowed him to mis the riser on the twist leaving the bow.  I tried it for a while and whent back to shooting cockfeather out.. Didn't make much of a difference.  I can understand traffic on one feather so I might give it another go.

[Night Wing]

Cock feather out for me. Been doing it this way for the last 47 years.

[beachbowhunter]

Originally posted by Peachey:
I shoot cock feather in, just seems to be better flight for me.

same here

[swampsSonny]

Shoot what works for "you" and have fun doing it    

I've shot easton 4"diamond vanes off the shelf yes I said vanes cock in and had dead straight arrow flight but thats just me

good luck fella's

[Covey]

Cock feather out.. because that's how I've alway's done it! Jason