Fletching preference: 2, 3, 4? Shape? Size?

[tomsm44]

I currently shoot 4 fletch, but have used 3 before, but was recently told by someone that he shot 2.  He says they fly just as good as any other he's tried, and pointed out a few advantages.  Just curious what you guys prefer.  Also, what's your feather shape/length of choice.  I just finished a couple with 2 - 5" shield cut gateways to try.  I'll let you guys know how they fly.  If they fly well, there at least shouldn't be any issue with fletching/shelf clearance and it'd be half the cost and time to fletch compared to my current 4 fletch.

 

 

Here's my 4 fletch and my son's 3 fletch just for comparison sake.

 

 

[OregonTom]

My favorite is still a long 4.5 to 5 inch ,  low profile half inch tall,  triple banana fletch.  For me they are more quiet compared to shield cut feathers.

[njloco]

I go with 3 parabolic at present, going to try 2 first chance.

[tomsm44]

The 2 fletch I saw that inspired these were banana feathers.  I want to try those, but it'll be next year probably.

I just got in from shooting them and they actually fly better than my 4 fletch.  With the 4 fletch, there's a very slight kick from the bottom inside feather contacting the shelf.  It's very light, straightens out within a couple of yards, and has virtually no impact on overall arrow flight or impact point, but it is there nonetheless.  With these, there isn't a feather there to hit the shelf and they fly like lasers.  They also seem to have just as mutch spin as the 4 fletch does.  Now, anybody know a good way for me to strip two feathers off each of my other arrows without damaging the cresting?

[jt85]

I shoot 3 5" feathers either parabolic or shield cut.

[damascusdave]

I prefer my arrows fletched by my arrowmaker...he uses four inch three fletch

DDave

[Hoyt]

3, 3" Shield Cut Wild Turkey feathers.

[tomsm44]

Thanks for the input guys.  I was hoping to hear from somebody shooting 2 fletch to see what pros/cons they've observed.

[VA Elite]

3  5" par or shield

[Danny Rowan]

4, 4" shield

[Westkyhunter]

I've always shot three or four 4" feathers until this year I wanted to go with 5" shields. Just fletched a couple and instantly got severe contact. I'm thinking my release may play a good role in it but anyway I tried everything I knew to try and got it better but just not good enough. Since they were fletched with tape I came in and gently removed the feathers and redone them with 2 5" helical shields. They flew perfect! Zero contact and they come off the bow straighter than any fletch combo I've shot. I've been shooting them in two bows with same results out to thirty yards since mid June. I've got a dozen fletched up now this way and shoot broadheads as well every other time I shoot. They fly great too. The heads I'm shooting are Simmons tree shark 2" and Magnus ma l 1 1/2" cutt. I've shot them out of a double bull blind and out of a tree stand also and I cannot find anything wrong with this fletch style. I love it.

[tomsm44]

Thanks westkyhunter.  That's what I wanted to hear.  I've been shooting the same four 5" shield setup for a while with no issue, but I switched from a recurve to a longbow with about a 1 1/2" shorter brace height this year and I'm seeing the little kick mentioned with the longbow but I didn't see it with the recurve.  I hadn't considered it before, but if the fletch length affected yours, it may be the brace height doing the same thing to me.  Either way, I seem to have found the answer.  I had 10 arrows already fletches with four 5" shields and tried the two with two 5" shields, so 12 total the same spine/length.  I went ahead and stripped two feathers off of four, so now I have six of each.  I'm gonna leave half of them with four because I have a recurve tuned with the same arrows that shoots great with the 4 fletch.  This way I have six matches to each bow.  I used glue with mine, so it wasn't as easy to remove.  I left a little glue residue on so I wouldn't have to mess up my painted cresting completely.  Doesn't look great, but it'll still kill a dear.

[Doc Nock]

Matt,

If looks could kill, my Momma would've buried me long time back!    :rolleyes:  

Primitive site I used to visit talked extensively about 2 fletch...

I shoot pretty small feathers, straight offset, so I've not been tempted to mess with it, but the first time you have to shoot thru a hole in brush you'll be glad to NOT have that 'little kick' to contend with, eh?!  

Curious, did you try the 2 fletch on the RC and it not work?

[Sam McMichael]

Three shield cut fletch, five inches long.

[tomsm44]

I didn't try them on the recurve, but it should shoot the 2 fletch fine.  I spent a lot of time on cresting and splicing feathers for them last year and I knew I wouldn't be able to remove any feathers without messing up all that work I did.  I just picked the 4 that had been shot the most and looked the worst to convert to 2fletch.  I touched up the cresting a little where I messed it up taking the feathers off, but it still looks crappy compared to the original.  I'll probably go to 2 fletch for the recurve as well when they need refletching.  Here's the original 4 fletch.

 

I use 3 - 4" parabolic feathers on all my arrows!

Bisch

[Westkyhunter]

Sounds good Matt. They'll shoot just as good with a lil extra glue on them. Also I'd say they'll shoot just as good from your recurve. My neighbor wanted to try one of my two fletch arrows from his compound one day because he was interested in the wood grain gt blems I've been shooting. He has a really short draw so my arrows were pretty close for his setup. I watched him shoot several times looking over his shoulder and they were flying as perfect as you could ask them to. He really liked them and said he'd never seen anything like that.lol Of course he shot his light tips instead of my heavy tips to increase the spine. Sounds like your having good luck with them as well. I also tried some other arrows with 4" two fletch in one bow and they flew just as well.  Good luck with them this fall. If I take anything with them I'll try and get pics posted.

[zepnut]

5" parabolic and shield also.

[DesertDude]

4x5" or 3x5.5

[Fletcher]

Played with lots of styles and have settled on 4" parabolic 4 fletch 90 deg.