FOC

[Army]

Can someone explain FOC (front of center) for arrow performance. What is the oppitmal number. Will this help decide what weight broadhead to use?

U.S. Army

[pdq 5oh]

With broadheads 10-12% is a good number. The head weight will be part of the equation when determining arrow construction. Shaft weight, vane or feather weight, point weight, spine are all things to consider when chosing an arrow. Not enough FOC and the arrow may tend to wander around. Too much may cause the arrow to be under-spined, resulting in erattic flight.

Since a broadhead can cause an arrow to plane, could less FOC give the fletching a better chance to steer the arrow correctly? I've thought about this, but I may be thinking too much. Or could low FOC cause fishtailing?

Phil.
&quot;Could you guys be quiet, my dad's trying to shoot.&quot;<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

[Ossage]

That is the number I have heard also. But what I also hear is that with fast bows and short ranges (relative to say recurves shooting at 90 meters) it doesn't really mater. Either way, unless you search out a very light broadhead, you will probably be 12% or heavier, so no worries.

[BHunter32]

I am shooting Beman ICS 340 hunter shafts cut to 30 inches. I use 3, 3 7/8 easton diamond vanes, and 100 grain muzzy heads. According to the bow jackson website I am only getting 9.1 foc. I want to stay as close to 400 grains as possible and do not really want to shoot feathers or a heavier head, unless necessary. From what I have read on here I can get better accuracy with a higher foc, but I don't seem to have to much trouble anyway as I rarely taking a hunting shot past 25 yards. What would you do? I am open to any suggestions as the arrow is what I spend the most time trying to figure out what works best for speed and accuracy. Thanks.

[Raymond van Halm]

I have done some experimets with FOC.
I even tried to shoot the alu easton arrows with the tappered edge.
I used this edge as point and put a unibushing in the other end.
With the use of natural feathers i cold make negative FOC, or better a Behind of Center.
The arrows fly ok and weighted very little.
All I needed was playing with enough drag to keep them flying strait.
With all other FOC playing i did, I came to the conclusion that I was trying to find out what was allready there.
At one moment before cometition season started, i had to little practice to be sure about my capability's.
To keep up the results I decided to go a bit back to basic and I took out the trustfull Easton ACC's.
Supplied with a basic point setup i had a FOC that was maybe double as i had in long time.
Ok, it all flew a bit slower ad my judging distance had to be more accurate, but i noticed my arrows would group much easyer than with the arrows i had setup for speed.(+310)
So, last year I setup some arrow dynamics (light weighted) with 7% FOC.
Believe me, they did 60% of thwe work.
I took one 4th place and all the others where 2th and 1st.
My sugestion: Dont make to much of it. Take a arrow that preforms well...
Nothing better than a nice flying arrow....