If an arrow is supported on each end and weighted in the center, the amount the arrow sags or bends is a function of its static spine. "Static spine" refers to an arrow's stiffness characteristics while the arrow is at rest. Arrow "spine," at the most basic level, refers to the degree an arrow shaft bends under pressure, but there are a couple different ways to measure arrow spine. Thus, your bow will be louder if you shoot a light arrow.Īt least as important to your arrow setup as weight considerations, spine tolerance is a critical factor to ensuring optimal arrow performance. If you shoot a light arrow, your bow is forced to shed wasted energy via vibration, which is noisy. The trade-off is that heavier arrows absorb more energy from your bow at the shot than do lightweight arrows. But what if the shot is not optimal? What if your arrow needs to break through a shoulder bone? Or suppose your arrow encounters grass or brush en route to the target? In these cases, you'd likely trade a few feet per second for a bit more momentum.Īs a side note, it's worth bearing in mind that lighter, faster arrows will produce a flatter trajectory at reasonable ranges than will a heavier, slower arrow. The lighter arrow will lose velocity more quickly, and though it might still reach the target first, it will likely do so with significantly less momentum.Īll things told, most lightweight arrows shot from reasonably efficient bow setups will still carry plenty of momentum to generate a pass-through on an average-sized whitetail - if the shot placement is good. The heavier arrow will require greater force to slow it down, which means it will retain greater momentum downrange. A lightweight arrow might leave your bow at a blistering 330 feet per second, but it will decelerate and shed energy at a greater rate than a substantially heavier arrow.Ĭonsider the example of two arrow setups of equivalent exterior dimensions, but one of the arrows weighs 7.9 grains per inch and the other weighs 10.2 grains per inch. Lighter arrows are more susceptible to this. Conversely, heavier arrows tend to carry greater momentum to the target and, thus, generate greater penetration.Īs soon as an arrow leaves your bowstring, it encounters resistance in the form of drag, which causes deceleration and drains energy. In the bowhunting world, the debate between heavy, hard-hitting arrows and light, fast arrows has raged for decades.įundamentally, lighter arrows have higher velocities. Dictated by physics, the factors involved in arrow performance are inter-related, so it's important to take a comprehensive approach to arrow selection and consider how variances in weight, spine, diameter and material will impact performance.įord versus Chevy? Baitcast or spinning reel? Scrambled versus over easy? They're all age-old debates, and if you're breathing, you probably have an opinion on each. Stray too far to one end of the spectrum or the other in any of these categories and you will see a drop-off in performance and accuracy. Likewise, the more consistent that straightness is from one shaft to another, the tighter your groups will be. The straighter the arrow, the more accurate it will be. Nearly all mid-range to high-end arrows have sufficient straightness out of the box for hunting purposes, but it's still important to ensure your chosen arrows have consistency in straightness. Purchase the straightest shafts you can afford for more consistent performance out of your bow.Īs a result, it's far too common that we make judgment errors when selecting and setting up our arrows, despite having more options and greater technological advantages than ever before.īoiled down to a fundamental level, appropriate arrow selection for your setup rides on a few key factors: weight, diameter, material, stiffness (or spine) and straightness. The straighter your arrows, the more accurately they will fly.
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