Fishtailing?? Too weak or too stiff

[toby]

I know release and other things can cause this, but is either too stiff or weak more likely to cause it?

[Rick Richard]

fishtailing may be a sign of poor arrow clearance.

[Mojostick]

Try to bareshaft an arrow and find out if too stiff or too weak.

[FerretWYO]

If it is fishtailing as in going both directions I would think clearance or release.

Like Mojo said try bareshaft.

[LittleBen]

IIRC fishtailing can be a result of either too stiff or too weak. But I believe it takes a really excessively stiff arrow to cause fishtailing.

Specs on the bow and arrow setup?

[Bjorn]

Side to side movement is often brace height.

[TxAg]

I'm no expert but when I experience fishtailing it is because I'm too weak.

[r-man]

Use paper at 10', which side kicks to first, and which hand do you shoot? what arrow? what draw/ ?  we need this info so we dont guess. as well you may be torking?

[Zradix]

just to complicate things I'd try paper tuning at 5 foot.

Really though, if ya get too far from the paper the fletch starts doing it's job and you'll get false readings...or even worse it could punch the paper after overcorrecting...   :eek:

[Easykeeper]

Your spine may or may not be correct but even a fletched arrow that is not the correct spine should fly without a lot of fishtailing.  Fletching is very good at stabilizing an arrow.  I would look at your release, follow through, or contact between the arrow or riser.

A good summary of the bare shaft tuning process is in the link...   www.acsbows.com/bareshaftplaning

[JamesKerr]

Originally posted by Easykeeper:
Your spine may or may not be correct but even a fletched arrow that is not the correct spine should fly without a lot of fishtailing.  Fletching is very good at stabilizing an arrow.  I would look at your release, follow through, or contact between the arrow or riser.

A good summary of the bare shaft tuning process is in the link...   www.acsbows.com/bareshaftplaning  

X2

[wandering monk]

to be honest there are a few things not mentioned here...Long Bow, recurve ...??

arrow length and draw length...draw weight..without this info its impossible to give a good answer...

shooting cedar, alum?? point weight

LB's generally like a slightly lighter spline that draw weight...

a paper shoot is good...but it might be good to make sure you have a proper set up first...tuning an improper match isnt really a good place to start...

[Hawkeye]

Originally posted by Bjorn:
Side to side movement is often brace height.

That's what I have always found, as well...