Right or Left-Hand Helical Fletching?

[hairbear21]

I recently started going to a new pro shop, and the old guy that runs it makes some niiice arrows. He only uses left-hand helical on his fletching though, and I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on this.
The reasons? This is what he told me;
1. The arrow comes away from the rest faster which in turn straightens the arrow faster
2. It's easier to get left hand vanes/feathers because the manufacturers buy up most of the right-hand, and the cost is cheaper for left-hand
3. He also said that the largest manufacturer uses left-hand helical.
I don't know how true all of that is, so I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on this.
BTW, I bought 1/2 dozen of his arrows, and they are MUCH nicer than the other arrows that I was shooting. He dips the arrows, and puts what looks like a "pinstripe" around the top and bottom edge. I bought feathers, instead of vanes (my old arrows have vanes). My groups were tighter, and at longer distances, you could see the arrow straightening out faster than with my vanes. I took my vaned arrows in to have him dip them and put on feathers too.

[KIDD642]

That "pin stripping" is called cresting. That is the finishing touch to a dipped arrow. Some people get confused and think that the actual dipping or coloring of the end of the shaft is cresting but it is not. The detailed lines around the shaft whether it is on the bottom or the middle is called "Cresting" If done properly looks great. It sounds like he is an old schoool archer. Good luck with the new arrows. As far as the helical goes, he is right, but also with today's modern drop aways the left - right issue has really become less of a factor. I am a raight handed archer and I shoot RW, just for the simple act that the spin of the arrow actually tightens the broadhead or point upon impact do the the rotation of the shaft. Some archers do like the LW, if they are a RH shooter because it spins away from the bow, It really just comes down to preference. As far as the whole lw is easier to get a hold of, I am not sure but who knows Enjoy those new arrows.

[gibblet]

left, right, doesn't matter. sounds like he does a nice job.

[Arthur P]

I use right because the shops in my neck of the woods stock right wing feathers. If they stocked left wing, I'd buy a left clamp and use left. I use what the shops stock in case I need feathers in a hurry and don't have time to order feathers and wait for them to come in. Besides that, I believe in supporting the local shops. As far as accuracy and how quick they straighten, I've never seen a hair's worth of difference between left and right.

Really, I think what you've noticed with your arrow flight is just how much quicker feathers stabilize an arrow than vanes do. Also, since feathers are a lot lighter than vanes, you definitely took weight off the tail end of your arrows and moved the center of balance forward. That's the front of center balance, or FOC that you see discussed from time to time. Moving the center of balance forward will also help an arrow stabilize faster.

[hairbear21]

Thanks for the info! That taught me a lot about why he does that.
I found out yesterday that he used to hunt with Fred Bear too! You'd never know, but I asked around and looked at some of the pictures in his shop, and there was proof. The guy hasn't said a thing about that, and he is very modest. Although, he's also very short and to the point. If you're wrong, he'll let you know. If you "heard" something somewhere, and it's not entirely accurate, he'll let you know. His blunt demeanor took a little getting used to, but he's quite the character.
I've attached a picture of one of my arrows to show the dipping and the crest that has been put on there. I bought these arrows right out of the rack. I didn't choose the colors or anything, although I have come to like them.