Hey guys, Im trying to get the hang of all this stuff so forgive me if my questions are becoming annoying. I am clueless when people start talking about arrow spine. What does this mean? How do people decide what size arrow and broadhead they will use? I recently purchased a Traditional Archer magazine, and I noticed in many of the pictures, the guys with back quivers had all different kinds of arrows back there. I am used to the compound where every arrow is the same. Any help? Thanks guys!

Bran, check out these links. I think they will be helpful.

http://www.mrfizzix.com/archery/spine.html

http://pages.cthome.net/dkelms/spine.htm

http://www.arrowsbykelly.com/Spine_Charts.html

Just use google and type in questions and keywords....... This stuff can seem very technical, but once you understand it, it's relatively simple stuff....... Also google up OL Adcock and go to his website and click on the link for bow tuning.... It explains alot.....


As for spine..... The "good ol' boy" definition is: Spine is a term used to define the stiffness of an arrow..... When shot, an arrow bends back and forth from left to right... Given the same arrow, a heavy bow will have more left and right motion than a light bow.... Therefore, a heavier poundage bow requires a stiffer spined arrow..... Now, some egg head has figured out a chart for the spine needed for any given bow weight and draw length..... The chart can get you pretty close but you typically have to do some tweaking with either the bow or the arrow..... Check out O.L.'s website, it can help....

Welcome aboard!!!

http://www.bowmaker.net/main.htm

I figgered he'd like to know where O.L.'s website is. [8D]

Bran, about the variety of arrows you see in quivers.... It doesn't take long until arrow loss and breakage cuts a dozen arrows down to a few. So, we buy another dozen. Once again, attrition takes it's toll and now we've got a few leftovers from a couple different dozens. Extend that pattern a few years down the road and you wind up with a whole bunch of good, but mismatched, arrows.

When you're out goofing off, like at non-compeititive 3D shoots or stump shooting or small game hunting,you load up the quiver with some of the old retreads instead of your 'good' arrows. Even hunting, you might see a few of the 'good' arrows mounted with broadheads, then the rest of the quiver filled with leftovers for busting grouse and other small game.

So, as you see, it's actually possible to have a quiver full of arrows and not have a matching pair in the whole bunch. Maybe it is 'best' to have all matching arrows. On the other hand, when you see a quiver full of mismatched arrows, youmight find outthe guy is using his lucky arrows. The survivors. The ones that have the mojo.