Fluorescent Nocks
 

This will be my second year shooting 3d and one thing still confuses me. If I understand correctly, the sport was created based on hunting, this would explain all those nice foam creatures. I extremely enjoy the sport accept for one thing, fluorescent nocks. Personally I use blue Beiter nocks which are nearly invisible on most targets and have been told that I use " prick arrows" . The last time I checked an animal in the wild doesn' t have a nice fluorescent spot to aim at in the wild. To me, intenionally aiming at another persons nock represents two things. One is cheating and two is taking advantage of a good shooters shot for reference. I' m sure I will get a lot of nasty posts regarding this subject but was curious to see how people will react. My solution would be to ban all colored nocks exept brown, black, and white. White nocks would only be used on the ram due to the color. Just wanted to get this off my mind but I' m sure nothing will change, but do this for me. The next time you go to a shoot count the number of times you hear someone say " just aim left of, above, etc, of my nock" .

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Its one thing to shoot at a spot but its another to hit it. I pick and use several different spots to aim for during a shoot. If it is not an arrow it may be a hole, a speck of sunlight or a shaded area, ect.... That does not make it cheating. If I can hit at where I am aiming it is a good shot. I have yet to see an animal in the wild stand trere like the foam does.

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RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Glowing nocks have a down side. Ever have one a couple inches from where you want to hit, and its just sitting there bright as can be glowing away. Go ahead, TRY not to hit it, it has a way of sucking you over there [:o]

As for cheating or not, I could care less what color you shoot, we all take turns going first, I shoot flo-green and flo-orange nocks cause I like them. If they help you go for it, if they don' t well that' s ok too, if they suck you off the 10 ring cause I made a bad shot, well that' s not my problem.

Just go, shoot, have fun.

--Bob

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

I also aim at holes, shadows, or a speck of light and except for a hole in a shot up target most are natural and I don' t consider that cheating. The point I am trying to make are those people that solely rely on nocks for a reference when shooting. Using someone elses nocks in my opinion is not ethical.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Hi HuntingHoosier,

I really don' t see the problem.

I usually shoot with a group of compound shooters that shoot at various stakes. I' m always the last to shoot, as I shoot from the white stake. The only problem I see is all those colors get confusing at times when you shoot last.

Telling someone to shoot two inches lower and to the right, is a vision thing, and if someone wants to invest in a really good pair of binoculars, that problem is solved.

2c worth, gg

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

This is one thing I forgot to put in my original post that also initiated my original post. Those fluorescent nocks also iritate me for the reason you brought up. I sometimes wonder if those nocks have special magnets in them calling out to my eye or arrow. I know it' s subconcious but try and not see those nocks and accidently smack an arrow right next to one. Shooting first is my preference and I think most like shooting first also.

Also, I was just trying to get some feed back on this subject. It' s not very nice being told you shoot " prick arrows" . This is what originally fueled this post.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Capital L for Loser on the person who told you that you use " prick arrows" . They probably couldn' t hit a real deer in the right spot. I use black nocks and flo green fletching. I don' t hear the nasty names because this sport is full of gentlemen who won' t cuss around a woman. I simply got tired of people destroying my arrows when I used bright nocks. I ain' t rich. And black shows up real well on white targets.

I say shut up and shoot. :)

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

HuntingHoosier, I also Shoot " Prick Arrows" . I shoot Black nocks with Black and Purple vanes, and I also catch a lot of grief about it but I do not use the dark nocks and vanes to hide in the target, I use them because I have a bad habbit of wanting to watch the arrow arfter it leave the bow. So if I can' t see the arrow I will not jerk the bow away.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

I get yelled at all the time about my nocks to.I hate looking at an target and seeing a big glow the dark nock.I wish everyone would use a dark nock.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

okay there nockhuntinghoosier, i think i understand your stance here. you feel as though you have been slammed for shooting your particular knocks. i see no problem here. i, like you, will shoot at anything the target offers. a shadow, hole, ANOTHER NOCK, the tip of a twig etc......i also will shoot bright nocks until someone in the group pulls out the black stuff......then all bets are off.

in the grandest view of things, all things being equal, i shoot with and have shot with some very good shooters. i have never had a real problem with my or their equipment being torn up or shot up due to the bright nock thing. it would be tough enough to hit the small nock at 37.5 yards on a puking turkey, if you knew the yardage to the inch.....or even nearest 16th of an inch. most shooters i know just dont shoot that well. i know my arrows get rattled in the target from time to time, but that happens.

as for using a nock to aim off of being a reason to call another shooter a cheater, i would choose my words a little more wisely than calling them a cheater, even if i felt it to be true.....i would consider the other shooters resourceful, in that they are using all things available to them to accomplish the real goal of 3-d TARGET archery, to win the shoot........it is not deer hunting, but it is realistic practice....

sit back, relax, enjoy yourself out there shooting. chances are if you shot nocks with the distance wrote on them they would be safe in any target....remember, it is just a game we all love and love to play.......if you are making a living doing this, i may reconsider, but until you are paying for your house and a new 4wd truck with your money from archery wins, relax......you will enjoy this sport much more........

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

I use flo yellow magnocks and 3 black vanes.
The reason I have the 3 black vanes is I brought 100 flo yellow and 100 black fletched up my arrows with 2 yellow and 1 black. When I went and started a practice session every yellow vane flew off but the black stayed in tact so I just came home and refletched to all black because I am not going to go out and buy more vanes untill I have used all these ones.
I did get in touch with the people I brought them off and they passed me to the manufracturer so when I contacted them they told me to go to the people I brought them off.

Neither company has offered to replace them or give me my money back.

So when I have run out of the black I will be looking for other brands on vanes and will hopefully get better service than I have got.

I do tell every one in my group at the start why my arrows are fletched the way they are.
Call me a cheat if you want but be prepared for a come back:D

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

I don' t see how anyone can consider it cheating wether you use bright nocks/vanes or not. By shooter rotation we all get the chance to shoot first and last. Some feel they have a competitive edge with all dark, ok hope it works for you. Some like to reference off other arrows, that might work too. Others feel an errant bright arrow draws them off target, that could happen. The truth lies in the middle. Your focus while on the stake should be the one spot on the target you wish to hit. If you fail to do so, that responsibility is yours alone. If I manage to put a nice bright nock in the center of the 11 ring, on a dificult target, I' ll invite everyone shooting with me to center on that arrow and do their best. I don' t want to lose arrows but if you can hit that small of a target i' ll celebrate your shot with you.

Enjoy shooting, however you choose to do it. I hope your means of competition brings you success.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Exactly Bluejacket, There is a saying that I like A lot.
" If you don' t want your arrow hit keep it out of the 12" oops 11:D

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

So then, are solid black arrows, ie; black shafts, vanes and nocks frowned upon?
Most of the guys I know all shoot their 3-D arrows that way.
Should I not do this? I fletch my own...I can do whatever.
I thought this was the status-quo for 3-D.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Just shoot what you like. If you try to set your equiptment up based on what someone else likes, you will always find someone who does not like it. If you set it up based on what you like, you will always be happy.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

i have given this additional thought, shoot whatever you desire to shoot. thinking back, i shot with a fellow who shot with the " black" stuff......it forced me to focus even harder while shooting, it probably helped me shoot that day.

looking at modern 3-d equipment, 8xbino, any power lens for open shooters, is it really that difficult to see your dark arrows in the targets? i think not. maybe if the target were set in the dark holes, or if you are in the open and the target in the shade, but in these two situations, you probably couldnt see any arrow very well with the naked eye, and maybe not at all with a 4x scope.

i am like most people, whatever i am looking at is where i hit, if the yardage is correct, and i have shot and hit arrows in the 8 ring because they stood out a little bit, so i cant say that it helps to have the nock to aim off of, or that it hurts either.

my suggestion: shoot what you want to shoot, as long as you are breaking no rules as defined by the governing body in which you are participating. if you are getting razzed by the buddies, so what. who is to say they are right? an opinion does not mean you are at fault if it is different. it is just that, different.....so go forth and prosper with your different equipment...........

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

This gives me a grand idea.

Make all black FAT line catcher arrows, with black everything. Then market them as " Prick arrows for 3D:D

When I did my first 3D, we rotated shooters. That way we all had a chance to shoot first, or last.

They all nagged when I shot first that my big fletchings, and fat aluminum shafts were blocking them.[8D]

Never thought or heard about the color being problems for someone, but it is interesting the take on the subject.

The way I view 3D, and I just got started. It is like golf and billards/pool put together. It is a game. Rotating shooters, lets the first shooter block the ring, keeping everyone else at bay. Or if it is a big ring, something for everyone else to shoot for. Replacing nocks and torn fletchings, is part of the game. If someone tears my shaft up, payback is in order! That is what makes it fun and we have a blast trying to tear the others arrows up. By the hollering and laughing through the woods on tournament day, I' d say someone else was having the same fun as us.

I can' t wait till Sunday!!! My 2nd, 3D tournament! This time my wife is shooting too! I can' t wait for her to tear up my shafts. PAYBACK!

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Shoot what you want.
Use em to aim ,don' t. Up to the shooter.
I would suggest that comments about a shooters equipment such as the ones referred to here,( about nocks) reflect upon a persons sportsmanship.
I would also suggest that constructing ones arrows specifically to preclude a competitors ability to see an arrow in the target also reflects an attitude about sportsmanship.
Both wrong.
To sum it up. Build em the way you want them to look. Marvel at how nice they look, and enjoy the shoot.
ken12

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

Shoot, I even have my arrows dipped in white paint, crested with Chartreuse paint and chartreuse and florescent orange vanes. Oh yeah, I use neon green nocks too. The reason? I' m in my mid 40' s and like to see my arrow in flight. Helps me see where my arrow enters the animal. (Your sight starts to suck after you turn 40) And these are the same arrows I hunt with too.:D

Cheat hell!!!! On a couple of the 50 yard targets that are set back into the trees, I have a hard time telling which way the animal is facing.[:o]

Its just a blast to get out with friends, shoot your bow at really neat targets, and give each other a ration of sh*t.[8D]

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RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

I shoot all black arrow,nock ,and vanes.I do this not so you cant see my arrow but so I cant see it.I dont like to see my arrow fly.I just want to make a good shot.And if I do that then I dont need to see where my arrow goes because if the yardage is right then I know where it is.Any one has the option to shoot what they want.I dont have to have a arrow to aim at.With my binos I know where to hold.Every target has a good referance point to aim at.So shoot what you wish.I do.Im not worried about what you shoot.

RE: Fluorescent Nocks
 

I have a hard time reading these posts - coming from a competitors position and not from a practicing bowhutner that is...

I' m a BIG bowhunter - and will be the FIRST to say that 3D shoots are a GREAT way to become a better bowhunter - but - a great bowhunter can be a crappy 3D shooter. 3D shoots can' t be warmups using real scoring because the 11 rings are in the wrong spots for quarting shots. And - if 3D shoots were REALLY *bowhutner warmup tournaments* then you shouldn' t be able to use bino' s & the scoring should be 10, 0 and -10. 10 for a vitals shot, 0 for a miss, and -10 for hitting anywhere NOT in the vitals.
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION (of course [8D])

During 3D shoots I' m not a bowhunter - I' m a competitive archer competing for a score and playing a game - and to me - this is just part of the game. It' s not cheating - if anything it' s playing defense in an attempt to not help your opponent.

I go out & shoot with the dumb bunch all summer long - we' re all great friend & give each other plenty of $h!t (we have a travelling pin that reads " I GOT SPANKED" and last weeks winner doesn' t wear it...)- and - this year I' m using black nocks, itty-bitty black vanes, and fat black shafts.... Why? Because at the end of last years season (state competition) I shot against a guy using black/black & guess what - when he led off I couldn' t use his point of impact as a reference. Then it was me aiming at MY spot not aiming OFF his nock.

While shooting @ the club yesterday one of the guys stopped me & said my black/black/black bullets were *illegal*....which i had never heard of...

Does anyone know if the IBO or NAA of NFAA have rules against an all black arrow? I didn' t think so but thought I' d ask...


Keep ' em in the 11 ring