I like the Gateway a lot better than Trueflight. If you get in touch with Gateway or Trueflight for that matter, I think they will replace your bad feathers. I like 5 1/2" but with my girly pounds, the 5" work better. I like shield cut but the parabolic seem to be quieter and shoot just as good. The problem might be your shafts and not the feathers(just a thought). The new alums. are real slick and some carbons are a bear to get vanes or feathers to stick. I use Duco(.99 at walley world) on wood and have never had a problem if I wait 15 mins. between feathers. Don