my best newb advice...charge $0.02

[olddogrib]

There seems to be a sizable influx of newbs on this and other sites who are posting in frustration with the bare shaft, paper, group, xyz etc. tuning method. Any tuning method is going to be an exercise in futility if you haven't been shooting long enough to develop good basic and reasonably consistent form. So if you're just starting out, know how to accurately measure your draw length and poundage.  If  you've already made an arrow investment post their length, spine and tip weight.  If you're not in the ballpark folks can get you there fairly easily.  Then if the fletched shafts are flying decently and hitting in the vicinity of where you're looking, shoot and have fun. Repeat..shoot a long time before you even worry about a "tuning" method. I've been shooting since I was first alternate head waiter at the Last Supper. On a bad day I can still make a perfectly tuned bare shaft look like a Phil Niekro knuckleball...on a good day I shoot 3-D rounds with them because they're great indicators of form inconsistencies. Traditonal  archery is a journey...slow down and enjoy the ride!  On second thought, I'll waive the fee.

[Bowwild]

Excellent advice and of course the price can't be beat!

[VA Elite]

good advice. I am sure I am one the newbies that you mention. I began shooting the 2nd week of Jan. I shot for 2 months everyday before I decided to give bare shafting a try. I did it the other night with great results at 12 yds. Today I went back to 20. Results were good, but not as good as 12 yds. Overall, for the most part, my bare shafts hit with my fletched arrows more than not. I will continue to shoot and continue to check the bare shaft every so often. You said that form and release are key to this journey. Truer words have never been spoken. I am taking this journey very seriously and I have not been frustrated a bit. I enjoy every step of it. I also understood from the 1st day that this was not going to be a cake walk. I keep my expectations in check, and if I don't, my shooting results always do anyways. I have much to learn and a long ways to go, but I figure I have nothing to lose by learning through trial and error. LOTS error!

[Firstlight]

Good advice.  I'd work on form and good alignment with properly spined arrows before delving into bare shaft tuning, etc.

And a good reference for peeps wanting to read a bit more on tuning their bow, including bare shaft info:
   A & H Knowledge Base Link

[Echo62]

Sound advice.

AMEN!!!!!

Bisch

[moebow]

Great advice Olddogrib!!!  If we can get the new folks just shooting and NOT worrying about tuning, they will be WAY ahead of the game.  MOST poor arrow flight is form and execution and NOT TUNING!!!

Arne

[VA Elite]

One thing I did when I joined this site was take in lots of info from veteran shooters. I was told to just practice drawing, shoot blind bail, and keep my shots at short distances and shoot as much as i can. I didn't worry about tuning at all. I just had Big Jim set me up with arrows and I was off shooting. I shot and continue to shoot everyday, weather permitting. I have seen myself develop because I listened to those veterans and still do. I make it priority to shoot daily. And I am at a point now that when my arrows fly crazy, I know why. I know I didn't anchor and release properly. I know my elbow was too low, too high. The ONLY reason I did some tuning was to make sure I had the right spined arrows and have the assurance that when they didn't fly right it was all on me. They certainly tell the truth with no fletching. This has been fun for me. I am thankful for all the help I have received here. Being able to adjust my form and release because I know what went wrong has helped me tremendously. I wouldn't know these things without the advice on here. Thanks to all of you.

[LB_hntr]

Very well said and a much needed statement!

There are no short cuts in traditional archery and no way to by pass the required learning curve.
That learning curve is some of the best times to be had...thankfully it never truely ends, the curve just gets a little straighter as time goes on.

[A.S.]

Well said!!

[TRAP]

That's the best advice I've read in months

[Stump73]

Newbies! Listen to their advice.

[Paul Cousineau]

I can't say amen enough.

[Robert Armstrong]

Form, form, form. Great advice there Olddogrib. First things first. Then accurate info.

[joe ashton]

nuff said

[mike g]

I have never bare shafted our paper tuned an arrow....

[bentpole]

    YES! You hit the nail on the head! Too many times newbies blame inconsistancey on arrows! Practice! Pick a spot,draw,achor, good clean release,watch the arrow hit where your looking. I myself have never bare shafted or paper tuned. Another thing is loose nocks on strings!
     

[Caleb Monroe]

If I may add my $0.02.
Shoot 5" feathers they correct form and tuning problems.
Just my opinion and experience.

[LongStick64]

Completely agree, but that is a symptom of our new generation that are used to solving problem with a single click. People have lost the art of patience and hard work, thats what gets you results, not a quick shot with a bare shaft.

[reddogge]

In the old days, real old days (60s) we would look at a chart, pick the appropriate Microflight or aluminum shaft, cut it 1" longer than your draw length, fletch it with 5" feathers and add a 125 grain point since it seemed that was all there was available, and go shoot it. We managed to hit things and kill deer in spite of our ignorance.