If you love your bow, you may never want to take the risk of using the wrong arrows. Compound bow arrows should always be selected, keeping the bow design and weight in view. It is because you can only do the proper aim when your bow and arrow coexist in dynamic equilibrium and balance forces. Therefore, several factors must be considered while selecting arrows for a compound bow.
What are the Different Parts of an Arrow?
Before getting into technicalities, it is essential to see the parts of the arrow that play a crucial role in selection. An arrow has a shaft, arrowhead or points, fletching, and the nock. The length of the arrow is referred to as the shaft, and it is made of wood, aluminum, carbon, or carbon-aluminum mix.
The points or arrowheads are the pointed ends of the arrow that hit or pierce the target. On the other hand, the fletching is vanes, commonly referred to as the arrow’s feathers. It is attached at the end opposite to the head. Lastly, the nock is a small tip at the back of the arrow from where it fixes the bow.
Can the Wrong Selection of Arrows for Compound Bow Damage it?
A pro tip to targeted shots is bow and arrow that go well together. The arrows’ weight, length, material, and strength significantly affect an archer’s performance. Wrong arrows can even damage the bow. Heavier arrows will excessively weigh on the bow, while lighter arrows will ask for more significant force. Similarly, wrong lengths will produce excessive or insufficient strain in the bow and affect its elasticity.
Key Targets in Selecting the Right Compound Bow Arrows:
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while selecting an arrow for the compound bow
1. Measure the Length of the Bow
When choosing or buying arrows, first measure the draw length of your bow. It is taken as the length from the nock point to the throat of the grip. In simple words, it is the length that determines how much your bow will be drawn before you shoot. This draw length is crucial to the right choice of the arrow shaft.
2. Select the Right Length for Compound Bow Arrows
Your arrow should be 1 or ½ inches longer than your draw length to allow for maximum elastic strain. The length of the arrow is measured from the deepest part of the nock to the end of the shaft. This measurement does not include the points. Arrows shorter than the draw length fall off the arrow rest or even shoot the archer in hand. On the contrary, too-long arrows damage the bow and fly awkwardly since they are easier to bend. In addition to the right length, the arrows should be as straight as possible.
3. Select the Arrows with an Accurate Weight
The weight of the arrows largely depends on the weight of your bow. It will help you if you have a stiffer arrow for bows with a higher draw weight. Contrary to that, bows with low draw weights should be coupled with lighter arrows.
Generally, the total weight of your arrow, including shaft, fletching, nock, and point, should be 5 to 6 grain per pound of draw weight. For instance, for a bow of around 60lbs, you may want the arrow to weigh between 300 to 360 grains. These arrows are ideal for target practicing. On the other hand, you may need heavier arrows around 6 to 8 grain per pound of draw weight for hunting.
4. Pay Attention to the Material of the Arrows
Arrows come in different materials to serve several purposes. Wood arrows are ideal for beginners who do target practice. However, they are less common in competitions and indoor archery these days. Aluminum arrows may be ideal for bows with low draw weights since they are light and thin yet strong.
Carbon arrows are suitable for heavier hunting compound bows. However, they can be a little pricey and dangerous if shattered. Therefore, it is vital to handle them with care. Today we see arrows of carbon/aluminum mix. These arrows have a core of aluminum and an outer coating of carbon. They are lighter yet stiffer and can even hit accurate targets in winds.
5. The Spine of the Arrow should Never be Ignored
The spine of an arrow indicates its stiffness and resistance to breakage. Your bow strength is the major factor in selecting the arrow’s spine. The arrow spine directly affects an arrow flight, and therefore it should be given due consideration. The three general rules for the selection of arrow spine are:
- Greater the poundage of the bow stiffer should be the spine
- Longer arrows need to be stiffer
- Greater the weight of the arrow points greater should be the spine
6. Select Pointers for the Arrows Accordingly
Heavier points overall increase the weight of the arrow. If you choose arrows for hunting compound bows, you may need heavy and sharp points. These arrows move slowly but carry more kinetic energy to pierce the target.
On the contrary, you may want to use lighter heads for indoor archery. These arrows will move faster and straighter but will carry less energy. As a result, they are ideal for target practice.
The Bottom Line
In a nutshell, your bow plays a substantial role in choosing the right arrows. Nonetheless, when choosing an arrow, consider its overall design, length, weight, fletching, and points, and then decide. You may also want to target arrows based on the style of archery, whether indoor, outdoor, professional, or beginner.
