? The truth do footings stiffen or weaken spine

[Mr. fingers]

I am  referring to carbons with an aluminum footing.
Some on here have told me that they weaken spine because of the added weight up front. But the spine calculator  says it stiffens spine. I was just looking at the arrafoot kit on big Jim's web site and it claims adding a footing will stiffen a shaft allowing you to shoot a heavier head with having to buy a,stiffer shaft.
So which is it?

[CKeth]

I'm sure the answer isn't that cut and dry. If the footing is long enough, the harder, heavier, and probably stiffer wood would have a stiffening effect on the leading half of the shaft and a weakening effect on the trailing half.

[JimB]

I use 1" footings that weigh from 9-11+ grs.I haven't noticed any change.They aren't longer than the insert and weight behind the front of the shaft,so they don't stiffen anything.Couple that with the fact that I use a 1/4" footing on the nock end,may balance things out.Weight on the rear has a stronger influence than weight on the front.The nock end footing is just good insurance.

I didn't always,but these days I know what length I want and foot them before any tuning.

[Fanto]

4" aluminium footings on GT 3555s stiffen them

cheers

[Piratkey]

Depend the footing lenght,same or shorter than the insert and the arrow become more weak,around 1" more than the insert lenght and this change nothing,more than 2" after the insert end and that start to stiffen the shaft.
All this depend of course wath kind of footing materials that you use.

[onewhohasfun]

Listen to Jim B. Only need for a 4" footing is if you want to stiffen your shaft.

[Prairie Drifter]

I have added up to 6" aluminum footings(2114's) in the hope of stiffening my arrow so I could add more point weight. Didn't work. If I added 60 grs(the weight of the 6" footing),I had to lighten my tip weight the  same amount to keep the same tune. So in my experience, no It doesn't stiffen the arrow.

[Bud B.]

I use 1" footings on 3555s and find it weakens spine according to the weight of footing itself. Never used longer footings. And I collar the nock end with 1/4" tubing to counter any tuning impact the footing causes. The nock collar also helps reduce splits in glancing hits while stumping.

My experience mirrors JimB's.

[Blaino]

i can't see how 10 or so grains will change anything..... maybe i'm wrong or maybe i'm just not accurate enough to tell.  

[Roadkill]

It is not the wieght as much as it may be the extra reinforcement to the shaft-it may not bend as much, thus perhaps stiffening it.  I donno as I read this for info.  I, too, collar my nocks and use 2 inches on the tip end for carbons.  done no resarch to add anything useful..

I built one of the internal footing things 3 rivers sells years ago.  i driled down in the cedar to add a bamboo stiffener to keep from having so many boot top breaks.  then I started using large finishing nails to add more FOC.  This topic is of interest to me ...

[Bladepeek]

It seems to me, as the length of the footing approaches the length of the arrow it will increase the stiffness. I think the real question is where, in length, will the footing start stiffening the arrow instead of weakening it. Not sure there is anything to be gained by going beyond an inch or two, so it probably isn't worth finding out.

[mcgroundstalker]

Weight added to the front of an arrow weakens spine. Weight added to the rear, stiffins spine.

[Shawn Leonard]

I can tell you this, no one shoots well enough to tell the difference in 10 grains on the point end of an arrow, I have done this a long time and 25 grains is about where you can tell a difference and that is tough. I am sorry but that spine calculator is worthless, this is just my opinion so take it for that. Shawn

[SAVIOUR68]

IMO a footing that is as long as the insert [1-2 inchs ] to the back or slightly longer will affect the spine in no way unless it weights 20-30 + grains and then it may be noticed slightly. If your talking about a footing that is 3+ inchs or more past the insert back then it may start to stiffen the shaft slightly with its added length. I could see a footing 3-6 inches causing a slightly stiffer arrow due to the footing being closer to the point of deflection.