do nocks make a difference

[D.J. Carr]

I recently made up a couple dozen arrows, 1 doz the exact same as I had been shooting, gold tip trads, and 1 doz of a different brand.  When i did these arrows I ordered different nocks for cosmetic reasons. The nocks i ordered are loose fitting on my serving. Well with these arrows either set i am shooting lights out, best i ever shot.  So could this be due to the nocks?

Some nocks are slightly different width and can a have an effect on nocking point levels, but if a nock with a snap on design has any amount of tightness that will affect how the arrow comes off the string. I find that even if those clip on nocks just kind of grab they can come off the string differently from shot to shot. I have one in my practice set, sometimes it goes with the group and sometimes it wanders around in flight. I break lots of nocks in practice, I usually shoot at that arrow, but that nock is the luckiest nock in the world. I cannot seem to hit it, one of these days I am just going to cut it off.

[TaterHill Archer]

I never realized how much properly fitting mocks matter until my first Solana hunt.  Learned form Terry and the gang that your nocks need to fit loosely.  If they are tight at all, they will cause flight issues.  So I would say loose fitting mocks will make a difference.

[nineworlds9]

I like the flick test.  If it will clip on and you can hold string/arrow downward, give string a good flick and arrow falls off things are going well.  Too loose and you risk slip off and dry fire.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yup.... tight nocks cause irregularities coming off the string..... use nines recommendation. they should fit snug, but fall off the string with a slight tap on the string with the arrow hanging straight down.

[bigbadjon]

I like my nocks to snap slighlt right at the mouth but offer no resistance in the throat. Once my arrow is in place the nock slides up and down the string freely... without nocking points in place of course.

[dragonheart]

http://www.tradbow.com/public/Accuracy-and-Nock-Fit.cfm

Here is a good article for you.

[LBR]

One of the biggest mistakes I see is not paying attention to nock fit.  It's usually the first thing I check when someone tells me "I just can't get my arrows to fly straight", and often it's the reason, or at least part of it.

[ddauler]

Thats why I use mercury speed nocks! And of course there is the old and ornery part.

[Gooserbat]

I learned long ago a fingernail file can be a blessing when dealing with all the different nocks that's available on today's array of carbon arrows.  Just go slow and you can fix most any tight nock.

[cahaba]

Originally posted by ddauler:
Thats why I use mercury speed nocks! And of course there is the old and ornery part.

X2

[robtattoo]

Personally (& not many agree) I do the 'let go' test.
If I let go of my arrow & it falls off the string by itself, I'm good.
I intentionally sand out the throats of all my nocks so that there is zero contact with the string. At all.
JC turned me onto this years ago & the improvement it made to my arrow flight instantly convinced me.

[Tedd]

I have played with nock fit often. I seem to like mine just a little more snug than most shooters. Not overly tight. It takes 2 or 3 taps with a finger to make them fall off the string.
When arrow flight is marginally stiff, tight nocks might make it worse.
Right now…knock on wood…my set-up is working great with moderately snug fit easton nock that comes on 5/16 easton carbons. I think it's an S nock? They are a snap type,
I use halo serving. Maybe that helps them pop off. 18 strands of 452x and .25 halo. no modification of the nock.
Tedd

[mike g]

I like Bohning classic nocks....
When you order a string, most string makers will serve to fit your nock....
If nock is too tight, take two emery boards, place them together and draw them thru your nock to loosin them up....

[Rob W.]

I'm with Tedd. I like them to fit a bit more snug than falling off from a tap. My flight is fine and I don't worry about the arrow moving while drawing and letting down, etc.