The bottom line when choosing arrow type and spine, broadhead, etc., one must choose which compromise to make. Do you compromise energy and silence of the bow to accomplish greater speed? Or do you compromise speed to gain energy and improved silencing of the bow.

I have heard the arguement that speed has more influence on energy than does weight of the arrow because the energy is a factor of the velocity squared times the mass. That may be true insofar as initial velocity is concerned. However, I believe the heavier arrow will retain much more of its energy downrange than will the lighter arrow.

The air drag of feather fletching will impact the lighter arrow downrange more so than the heavier arrow. I always chose to use arrows as close to 9 gr/pdf when I was shooting compounds because my bows were much quieter, the limbs therefore were absorbing much less of the energy from the draw force curve because the heavy arrows were much more efficient in absorbing the energy.

That is the other element that must be considered. Transfer of energy from the bow to the arrow. A heavier arrow will have more energy transferred to it. The lighter arrow will have less transferred to it, therefore the limbs pay the price by absorbing the difference.

What is a good trade-off. With compounds I never went under 8 gr/pdf and got as close to 9 gr/pdf as I could. With traditional, I haven't been at it long enough to really get a good feel for it, but I think I would stick to the 9 gr/pdf as my minimum and probably would try to avoid going over 10 gr/pdf.

Can I give a good reason for my guesstimations for traditional bows? No! It is just a gut feeling. And I have a big gut so I usually trust it! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Bill