Fletching Orientation and Shelf Contact

[Ryan Sanpei]

As I mentioned before, I've done a bunch of test in the past, but I've never documented them. Now that I have some spare time here and there, I've decide to retest a few things that I feel has helped me in terms of tuning my bowhunting rigs.

I've played around with fletching for years. From 2" to 5", parabolics to shields, two fletch to four fletch, 90 degrees to 120 degrees, and even tried staggering my fletches.

For this test, all I'm comparing is two different fletch orientations and it's impact off of the riser.

***Please keep in mind that these results are also affected by the size and shape of the arrow shelf and strike plate, which is one reason why testing results vary.

[Ryan Sanpei]

How I prefer to orientate my fletching.

 


Cock feather out.

 

[Ryan Sanpei]

The first thing that I did, was I taped my riser with masking tape to show the lipstick tracks.

 


Then, I grabbed the lipstick and one arrow. Lipstick is messy, but it leaves a great trail. (some prefer to use things like foot powder)

   


Then I applied the lipstick to the "contacting feathers". I applied a little too much but figured it would show up even better.

   

[Ryan Sanpei]

First I shot my preference of orientation.

 


Here's what the tracks look like after the shot, as mentioned, I applied too much lipstick and it's darker than usual. What I did in the past was I tried all the common orientations until I found the one with the least or lightest amount of tracks. This orientation always came out the best for my personal set up.

   


I set up this test so that it would produce two results. Impact on the riser and how it affects arrow flight, so I also set up my paper tuner. It produced a bullet hole on the first shot.

   

[Ryan Sanpei]

Then I rotated the nock to have the cock feather out.

 


Here's what the tracks look like. It even marked the under side of the shelf.

 


Here are the results through paper.

 

[Alexander Traditional]

I shoot almost all of my longbows the way your preference is. I've never shot through paper or done any test like you have though. It's  interesting to see though. I built a neat paper tuning rack with a roller and everything and have never used it. I guess I need to get out and do some testing,thanks for the pictures.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Ok, I know that could've been a bad shot. Even I said that to myself, so I decided to take a second shot with the cock feather out.

 

Almost the exact same results through paper.

[Paul_R]

Great stuff Ryan thanks for posting that. Hard to argue with those results.

[Ryan Sanpei]

So was my first shot a fluke??? I spun the nock back to my preference of fletching orientation and shot through the paper. Talk about pressure... All the evidence was now on this one piece of paper. LOL!

   

Not perfect, slight nock right, might have been a slight short draw due to the nerves... LOL! excuses, excuses... yes, I'm a bowhunter...

[Ryan Sanpei]

I've done these test with a bunch of different bows, fletches and fletching orientations. I've definitely had some interesting results over the years.

One thing I can say... When tuning broadheads, it's so much easier from me when the arrows are flying clean off of the shelf from the start...

[M60gunner]

Guess that shoots the "arrow clears shelf before feathers get there" theory all to snot. Your preferred setup is much like Ken Beck at Black Widow does. He turns the nock also but starts with cock feather out. Turns it till hen feather is lined up like you show,
Thanks for showing these tests, helps folks understand how the bow and arrow interact when shot.

[Gen273]

Great test Ryan! Thanks for taking the time to post this!

I have always got better arrow flight and paper tuning results out of cock feather in. I am going to try some shots like you had the feathers set.

[A.S.]

Good stuff Ryan. I shoot my feathers the same way you do. I remember Ken Beck suggesting this way several years ago.

I have a very high anchor point and this way gets the feather out of my vision better that other ways.

[The Whittler]

I use a JO-JAN with right wing fletch and shoot cock feather in. My arrows fly great with NO kick, and if I put cock feather out I get a nock bump up. The bottom hen feather contacts the shelf just on the outer edge. And I do bare shaft test.

I have an other gig (can't remember the name) thats left wing and I shoot with cock feather out and great flight. The bottom hen angles to the groove towards the window.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Thanks Gang!

Charlie, cock feather in works great too! I just have this one like this because the shelf on my bow is a little wide, so I need the "7 o'clock" fletch a bit out. Foar smaller shelves, the cock feather in is fine.

[Ryan Sanpei]

For a majority of these tests, the results are mine, but the suggestions are from other bowhunters.

I need to thank Rod Jenkins for all his ideas and suggestions. Guys like him and as mentioned, Ken Beck has been helping for years.

I just like to test theories and ideas to see how they work for me.

I use three fletch and orient my lower inside fletch up in the corner, like your preferred way. I also leave a gap between the rest velcro and the sideplate velcro.

Bisch

[Steve O]

Pictures are worth a thousand words...thanks brah.

How far you have your paper from the back of the riser?

[Ryan Sanpei]

Anytime bruddah Steve! Hope all is well!!!    

I found that if i stand 6 feet from the paper, I get the most reliable results as compared to bare shafting. So to answer your question, just over four feet from the back of the riser to the paper.

Aloha Gang!

[Steve O]

All good here buddy. I use 6' from the back of my riser so we are close.