I was playing around with trying to get the best fletching clearance that I could the other day. I had to replace the shelf carper (velcro). When I did it I left a gap in between the velcro and the shelf wall..about 1/4". Then I turned the nock on some carbons so the cock feather was at 12:00 and the hen feathers were at 8 and 4. The 8:00 feather misses the outer edge of the shelf(I'm right-handed) and the 4:00 feather runs down through the slot I left. It also left a little better cup for the arrow to rest in. The results were great. I just wonder if bowyers ought to cut a little groove along the shelf and shelf wall to provide a space for the fletching to travel???? :campfire:
When I use RW feathers, I turn the cock feather in and this results in the one hen feather in the 12 o'clock position. When I use LW, I put a severe helical on and this results in my hen feather at "noon". Great arrow flight every time.
I'm RH and when I shoot RW I turn cock feather in or I use a TM nock reciever which fletches cock feather up or down,I used this on my wood arrows.But with tunable nocks like carbons or easton uni-system I just rotate for best clearence.
A lot of folks set up their shelf and strike plate like that. Works with cock feather out as well. I believe Tim Mullins (Acadian Woods)carves a little hump on the shelf with a channel between it and the side plate.
I am making a recurve and am thinking of doing as Tim Mullins does...makes sense!
Jack Kempf also leaves a "trough" on the radius shelf for feather clearance.
I shoot cock feather up as well, I dont know why I tried it to begin with but I liked it, I thought it got the least amount of contact and stuck with it.
Black Widow has been recommending a 12 o'clock cock feather for quite some time. I will fletch that way if requested.
I think I'll try one today.
I guess I don't understand why more folks don't shoot that way. I've been doing that way for years and am very happy with it.
I've tried cock feather up as per Black Widow rccomendation. It is ok but if you nock one up and look at the way it lines up with your shelf there is not much difference than cock feather out.
Just my observation.
John
Fletcher, the video from BW that I saw was made quite awhile ago.
Lewis, you've been holding out! You need to let me in on these things! hahaha
Cutting grooves and such is a total waste of time unless you are shooting a centershot bow with a release.Putting the arrow down in a groove is also a mistake. jmo
Do whatever works for you and let-er-rip!
Contact effects flight; therefore, minimizing contact minimizes effect. Instinctive ability WILL rectify to what degree? That is, does any one fletch configuration produce higher accuracy? Confusing contentions at least.
I watched slo-mo vids at SB but think he posted here also. Your interesting find is no less valid & I'd like to see it video doc'd.
http://www.meta-synthesis.com/archery/archery.html
Go here and see that a properly spined arrow will NOT put a feather through the "trough". Shooting that way will however prevent contact with the shelf's outer edge which causes most flight problems.
Ditto Kevin. :) Also laying an arrow down in a groove when shooting with fingers just causes more contact as the arrow bends.You then not only have the arrow moving side to side but you have thrown an upward motion to the back of the arrow as well.All it does it make tuning that much harder. jmo
When I fletch up a shaft I don't glue the nock on until I have it fletch up. Then I rotate in a 12 4 8 configuration with the Cock feather out. Works great and keeps your colored cock feather out.
Ditto Zman.
I fletch with the cock feather at about 11:00. It has nothing to do with clearance. I put a new nock on an arrow once and didn't get it turned right. Result: cock feather at 11:00. When shooting that arrow I noticed that the feather hit the corner of my mouth at full draw. Presto! Another reference point to insure I'm at full draw when I shoot. Works for me.
The Quick Styk I got from Jack Kempf has this little cut out where the riser meets the inside of the shelf.
Yeah Snag....you wont find any arrows in my possession..old or new...that don't have the cock feather up for the very same reasons. I've always left a gap for the 4 oclock feather to run through.
Good Stuff!
I can't find ANY difference in my arrow flight no matter how my arrows contact the riser. Of course, mine are very low profile and 4x90 so that may have something to do with it. I rotate my nocks so that my broadheads line up the way I like to (not) see them when I draw...I could care less where the feathers end up in that rotation.
Glad to hear it's working for you though. Any improvement is worth a try.
Oh Yeah...Joe made me remember...cept my 4 fletch..but I still got a 4 oclock feather.