Arrows for Beginners
At Tooth of the Arrow, our goal is to breakdown bowhunting into simple terms. As part of that commitment, we have put together a whole series titled Introduction To Bowhunting.
In this post we will be going over everything you need to know about arrows.
How do I know what arrows I need?
You will need your draw weight, and desired arrow’s cut length. From there, you take this information to your selected arrow manufacturer’s spine chart, and find which arrow spine matches your specs.
To find you desired arrow’s cut length, have a friend take a tape measure to your bow at full draw. They will need to measure from the pivot point of the bowstring to the center of the riser. Use this measurement in the spine chart. If in doubt, consult a local pro shop.
Is it cheaper to make or buy arrows?
Buying the parts and assembling arrows yourself is slightly more costly than buying pre-built arrows.
However, many archers prefer building their own arrows for complete customization, more options in fletching choice and configuration. Acquiring the gear and building your own arrows is something that almost all serious archers end up doing at some point in their archery journey.
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What length arrows do I need for a 30 inch draw?
Arrow length is not something you can assess by draw length. Have a friend take a tape measure to your bow at full draw. They will need to measure from the pivot point of the bowstring to the center of the riser. This will be the closest assessment you can get without running your specs through an online software such as Archer’s Advantage.
Are thicker or thinner arrows better?
Thinner arrows offer many benefits over thicker diameter arrows: increased penetration, less impacted by crosswinds, and they are generally stronger due to the more compact nature of the carbon. Thinner arrows are generally more expensive than larger diameter arrows, but they are worth it for many archers.
Are heavier arrows more forgiving?
Yes, heavier arrows are slower than light arrows and slower arrows will be less impacted by issues such as mismatched spine, poor fletching, or unsquared shaft ends than fast arrows.
What happens if your arrows are too lightweight?
If your arrows are too light, the arrows flight can suffer. Arrows are not designed to fly at excessively high speeds, and perform best in the 270-280fps range. If you arrow is too light to an extreme degree, it may explode when firing it out of your bow causing potentially permanent damage to yourself and your bow.
Are 340 or 400 arrows heavier?
Arrows increase in weight as the spine gets stiffer. Since 340 spine is stiffer than 400, the 340 spine arrows will be heavier.
What happens if your arrow spine is too stiff?
If your arrows are too stiff, they will not be able to flex properly in flight. This flexing is called the archer’s paradox, and can make or break the flight of your arrow. Arrows that are too stiff won’t explode like light arrows might, but they will not fly accurately especially once you start shooting broadheads.
How heavy of a broadhead should I use?
You should use whatever weight the field points that you are currently practicing with are. If you change the weight of your broadhead compared to your practice points, your arrows will not fly the same. If in doubt, go with 100 grain broadheads as they are the most used size in the industry by far.
How can you tell if your arrow is over spined?
Erratic flight is the first sign. If you paper tune your bow, and are unable to get a consistent tear, you may be over spined. If your arrow flight with broadheads is completely erratic, you may be over spined.
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If you have any questions or would like to discuss the topic further, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@toothofthearrowbroadheads.com
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