Confused about fletching.

MDBUCKHUNTER · 04-09-2007, 06:22 PM

I have my local archery shop fletch my arrows for me. I live in an apartment and do not have the ability to buy a jig.....(so my wife thinks

)

When I read about people using right helical, left helical, 4 degree offset, etc......I don't know what this means. Can anyone help or does anyone know of any good articles to read?

I am a right handed shooter, can I shoot either helical?

Thanks Guys/Gals.

98Redline · 04-09-2007, 10:53 PM

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.....so how about 2 pictures?

The arrow with the red fletching shows the feathers put on with an offset. Notice how the feather is not perfectly parallel to the arrow shaft but sits at a slight angle.

The arrow with the pink fletch shows feathers with helical (actually it is both offset and helical). The feather is sort of wrapped around the shaft giving the feather a sort of "S" look.

A straight fletch generally means the fletching is directly centerline on the arrow shaft and is parallel to the shaft. Generally straight fletch is used only for target shooting and field tipped arrows.
Offset fletching is probably the most common. It provides more drag and thus more stabilization than a straight fletch.
Helical will give you the best stability performance, however it will tend to loose speed faster downrange (>35-40 yards) due to the increased drag.

As far as right or left offset or helical, you can shoot either. The distinction for right and left helical comes from recurve shooters. If you were right handed, you wanted left helical so that on the shot the arrow would rotate left and away from the arrow shelf. The opposite for a left handed shooter. With modern compounds it makes no difference.

Some will tell you that you should shoot right offset/helical so that the spinning action will tighten your tip/broadhead as oppsosed to loosen it. This might be the case if your tips are finger tight, but any properly torqued broadhead or fieldpoint will not come loose regardless of how fast you spin the arrow.

Hope this helps.

ash2042 · 04-10-2007, 02:41 AM

I think the pics from 98Redline sums it up.

TROPHYHUNTER25 · 04-10-2007, 04:10 AM

good refrence

Straightarrow · 04-10-2007, 05:00 AM

Just so you know, even with traditional bows, right or left helical doesn't really make a difference. If you shoot without a shelf (off your hand), then for a right hand archer, left helical is supposedly better to keep a sharp quill from cutting your finger. I can't verify this because I don't shoot off my hand with any of my bows. I can say that there are many right hand archers shooting well with both left and right helical off the shelf.

MDBUCKHUNTER · 04-10-2007, 05:52 PM

98Redline, thank you so much for the information. wow.

One last question if you don't mind answering:

If I walk into the archery shop and I say fletch these dozen arrows with 2" blazers, right helical and offset.....do I need to explain anything else? (AKA, is there a standard that says right offset should be a specific measurement?)

archer58 · 04-10-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: MDBUCKHUNTER

If I walk into the archery shop and I say fletch these dozen arrows with 2" blazers, right helical and offset.....do I need to explain anything else? (AKA, is there a standard that says right offset should be a specific measurement?)

Redline must be off line so I'll answer for that for you. There is no standard for offset or helical. The degree of each depends on who set up the jig.
It's pretty much eye ball unless youcan use a protractor to verify the degree.

MDBUCKHUNTER · 04-10-2007, 08:17 PM

Thanks Archer58.

I have been shooting straight fletched Blazers for a year now and honestly I am just fed up with the stability beyond 20 yards. My arrows look horible in flight....even worse with BH's.

I will try the right helical/offset and see what happens.

Straightarrow · 04-11-2007, 05:40 AM

All you need to ask for, is helical fletching. Offset is not an option on helical. They only fit one way. Shaft diameter determines the amount of twist. Many shops will only have left or right helical, not both. It doesn't matter which you get. They both fly identically.

Also, in my opinion, helically fletched feathers are the best for a hunting setup.

txjourneyman · 04-11-2007, 06:15 AM

Also keep in mind and let your wife know that a fletching jig doesn't take up much room at all. I use mine on the kitchen table at times. It will also pay for itself over time. Not to mention the feeling of satisfaction you get from doing your own.