I bought some Easton Excels to bang around in the back yard and use for 3D. I didn't want to destroy my Axis shafts as they were going to be my hunting arrow this year and are a little on the salty side. The Excel would not shoot very well for me at all. I really thought it was me so I began bearing down hard on my form and was taking more time off of shooting figuring I was just in a rut shooting too much and my form was suffering.

Long story short, I swapped the Excels out for the Axis, moving my nock point and paper tuned. Once tuned to these shafts, I shot 4 arrows at 20,30,40,50 yards and all were within a golf ball size group.

What the heck can cause the Excels to do this? They just didn't shoot well from the get go. Also, what is the deal with the Axis? I've read on here somewhere that the spine on them has softened after a while and your groups with suffer. Anyone having this issue with the Axis?

Could be a couple of few things Muzz

1) this is Easton's bargain basement arrow shaft..did you weigh them?

2) Did you rotate the nocks? This is the first thing someone should do when they have a flyer w/ an IC carbon. This will often pull an arrow into the group. Doesn't matter what brand or grade, they all can benefit from that trick.

3) did you spin them? Just how straight are they?

4) If you are borderline spine with the AXIS, the Excels may prove too weak due to the heavier farther forward insert or spine incosistencies.

if your groups are primarily strung out high and low, it's probably weight issue...

If they are right and left or a few will go down the middle, and the rest are anyone's guess, it's likely spine and straightness issues. You can also try papering with one shaft, get it right then try another shaft..if it rips bad, then it's spine (assuming you are doing your part)

I don't know of any spine degredation with ST AXIS, but there is an issue with sloppy straightness tolerances in recent months, and straightness degredation over time. I $hit-canned mine.

Even better is to get a spine tester, check several points around the diameter of each shaft, and align all your nocks so that your cock fletch is over the stiffest part of each shaft (the actual spine). Basically all you're doing when you rotate your nocks is aligning your nocks to the spine. Fine for dropaway rests, but problematic when you have to deal with fletch clearance issues.

Only difference between using the spine tester and rotating the nocks is that the tester is a direct measurement. Rotating the nocks is trial and error. One is quick and easy, the other is time consuming and frustrating.

There are many points with carbon arrows that I feel are directly comparable to wood arrows. They both have a definite 'spine', an axis along the shaft where they are stiffer than at any other point around the shaft. If you don't align the spine consistently the same when you make up your arrows, then each arrow will shoot to a different point of impact. Also like wood arrows, when you get past carbon's spine inconsistencies, then you get to deal with weight and straightness problems.

Ain't it ironic that aluminum arrows are so uniform they nearly made spine testers obsolete, and now space age carbon arrows are making them a necessity again? One step forward but two steps back.

Spine testers: Now that we've got carbon, they're not just for wood arrows any more. [8D]

Art...you know all that, I know all that

But most guys don't have access to a spine tester, so that was why I recommended turning the nocks...It will work more often than not.

Yup! That's why I recommend they go out and get themselves one.

JeffB, I did spin em. I had a couple that weren't real pretty so I didn't bother with them. Weight were with in 5-7gr per arrow as I built them and weighed them. They just never would come together for me.

I'm shooting an Xtec at 65lbs, with those shafts at 27" with a 75gr tip. Draw length is 28"

Couldn't figure it out. I'm kinda concerned that you "$hit" canned the Axis. I guess my original post got off the path a bit. What is causing the straightness degredation?

With all the issues with carbons lately, I might have to go back to Gold Tips. Especially the new ones.

Try turning the nocks and see what happens. Also make sure you are not getting any nock pinch. The supernocks are bigger than the X-nocks for the Axis, and snap tighter.

As for the AXIS...typical Easton C2 contruction, they have poor shaft memory..I had though the thicker walls of the ST AXIS would counteract the problem, but it didn't Which really sucks, 'cos otherwise I love the arrows..but if they won't stay straight or aren't to begin with, it's a lost cause. Up at the shop I've been testing brand new pre-fletches and bare shafts and they are absolutely all over the place for straightness. Len is seeing the same thing.

The XT's haven't really improved all that much ..at least when based on the new dozen I bought a couple of months ago, but I'm shooting the Pro Hunter 75/95 series out of my Liberty, and the 3D Pro 55/75s out of various bows, and I have to admit they are shooting and holding up extremely well. They are super straight, weights are super tight, and with some nock turning, they all pull in and group.

I may just be shooting them come hunting season as I'm nearly out of A/C/Cs

Jeff ! you didn't like the Axis's ,glad I didn't buy any then ,and you mean you never got any new arrow's for father's day? I'm just joshing with you . I got the Gold tip 3D pro's and I really like them but then again i have a lot to learn about arrow's .Glad you ,Authur Len,WWAG and Ausie-guy are around to help me out.

nubo

I'm also putting togther some Axis 340's and seeing some that are not spinning very straight[:@] I cut an equal amount off each end but I don't think they are going to live up to the standards of my trusty XX78's

Here I am, all happy as a pig in ...... when shooting the half dozen Easton Excels I bought about three weeks ago. I am getting great groups out of them and have found them to hold up relatively well for me so far in terms of retaining their straightness levels....after shooting them 3 to 4 times a week since I bought them.

Then I go ahead and read your post MM. Now I know I am going to be second guessing myself as I pull one out of the stand to shoot.

Maybe I got a "good" half dozen.

I have to admit though that they are shooting more accurately for me than either the Beman ICS or the Axis out of one of my bows with my particular setup. As the others have made mention to maybe it isn't the construction of the shaft but possibly a spine match issue with your bow.