Why are the shelves so wide?

[4Blade]

Most of my custom bows have an arrow shelf so wide that it is nearly impossible to achieve minimal fletching contact.  I know you can use a more "flexible" arrow but my quest has always been to use the stiffest arrow shaft possible to eliminate loss of energy from vibration.  I have "modified" the shelfs on most of my bows to eliminate the excess.  Even though I know it voids the warranty.
 

If you are going 3/16th past center then why not just leave about the equal amount of shelf on the other side of center.  What say you?

[Stumpkiller]

Many were made to accomidate a rest and not be shot off the shelf.  There are also a lot of guys who hold the bow vertical even when shooting off a rest and without the width they'd be bobbling arrows all day.

Like you, I've pulled out a rasp and made them better.  Usually I just stick on a rug and trim the edge with scissors.

[A.S.]

That is one thing that I love about Black Widow bows. Their shelf is just right in my opinion.

[bigiron]

nothing wrong with cutting them down the way you want.

[Ragnarok Forge]

To keep the arrow on them is my guess.  If your using overspined arrows your going to have shelf clearance issues.  Your solution solves that problem.  Properly spined arrows clear the shelf with the fletch bent away from the shelf as it passes the riser of the bow.

[tippit]

I agree...modified old Red Wing Hunter.  Heck Fred modified his own Kodiaks     Doc

 

 

[Morning Star]

That is one thing that I love about Black Widow bows. Their shelf is just right in my opinion.

 

They do have it right  

[ron w]

I agree that many are very wide, but If you watch slow motion video of a proper spined arrow being shot it never even comes close to the shelf or the riser. Archers paradox makes the arrow clear it and then some. Granted the more cut to center the riser the better as far as finding a arrow that shoots well! I'll admit to breaking out the rasp a few times myself....LOL  

[4Blade]

Glad to see I'm not the only doing some "whittlin".  I have even modified some longbows.  I have never had an issue with weakening a riser.

[Bowmania]

Funny, I shoot the weakest arrow I can tune.  Mainly because in a hunting situation I might short draw or with hunting clothes on I know I can't draw as far as a tshirt.  Never really thought about the lost of energy.  Don't you think that's minimal?

Bowmania

[4Blade]

As I get older my comfortable bow weight has been decreasing, so I try to extract every ounce of energy the bow has to give.  I love to hunt elk and it takes all my bow can give to push a broadhead thru the chest of a quartering away bull.  Using single bevel two blade heads has made a big difference also.

[ron w]

As far as whittlin, I to have attacked a longbow or 2. I have a Bear Montana that has had the tips thinned and the grip made less blocky, cut to center and the shelf more radiused. Then end result.........a FANTASIC shooting bow that fits me!!

[Pat B.]

I cut the width of the shelf more to accomadate my grip than arrow clearence.. The big knuckle on my index finger contacts the shelf of many stock bows and by narrowing the shelf it allows me to rotate my arm and hand more comfortably.

[hockey7]

I don't understand why there's a shelf at all. Why not taper both ends of the shelf so it comes up into a "point" where the arrow rests. That way there's minimal arrow contact, the arrow has all the rest contact it needs to stay on the bow.
Just a thought.

[Eugene Slagle]

On my 92' Sky - Sky Hawk I used a piece of match stick to raise the arrow up just a touch & one on the side to bring the arrow closer to center & in effect once I used the coverings it achieved the clearence I wanted & still got the arrow situated for proper spine for the bow.

Where others have rang in on the Archers Paradox is correct, the arrow when it is properly spined for the bow the arrow will clear the bow with no contact or effect.

[Bjorn]

Soon it will be hunting season again and more important issues will arise!