How much arrow should hang over the shelf at full draw?

To me it does not matter unless there is not enough!  2-3 in works for me.

It comes down to personal preference. I have a 30" draw length and I shoot 32" BOP (back of point) length arrows.

With you aluminum or wood there are enough different spines you can pick that doesn't have excessive overhang.With carbons I let my tuning determine their final length.Really doesn't matter to me.

imo, add to yer draw length whatever it takes to make the arrow fly well and not have the broadhead cut yer fingers.  

my typical recipe for a good hunting arrow is

• 1/4" to 1" longer than my draw length - i like 1/4" or so
  
• at least 9gpp - 11gpp for me, to accept the most energy from the bowstring, be as quiet as possible, hit with more energy
  
• it must fly well - bare shaft to solve the left/right (spine) and up/down (nock point) issues
  
• generous steerage - for me that's three 5.25" fat feathers with lotsa helical
  

if i do my part with form and release, the arrows should group consistently at realistic hunting distances.  don't forget a sharp coc broadhead!  

The answer is "it depends."  If you are concerned about weight because you shoot targets at 90 meters then you want to keep the arrow as short as possible.  If you are a hunter then use arrow length as a tuning variable and make the arrow as long as you need it for best arrow flight.  Whatever you do, don't worry about what it looks like.  Appearance is the worst reason I know of for cutting arrows short, but I have heard it.

I am not worried about esthetics. I really want an accurate arrow. I was just wondering if there was a rule of thumb on what is too much... just trying to get as much info as possible.
Thanks guys for your help

QuoteOriginally posted by rluttrell:
I am not worried about esthetics. I really want an accurate arrow. I was just wondering if there was a rule of thumb on what is too much... just trying to get as much info as possible.
Thanks guys for your help

truthfully, there is no rule of thumb, only what works consistently best for you.    

folks conjure up all kindsa reasons why they like long or short or heavy or light or fat or skinny or manmade or organic arrows.  it's all good, use what works best ... for you.