Usually I open nocks up by filing with nail file or sand paper, but that trick of holding them in hot water and prying open works really well. You have time to pry and pinch them to your exact liking.  Took the pop sound out of the release and really improved arrow flight too.

proper nock fit is just as important as any other aspect of the arrow.

Right on.

Ipcjon2, to your point how would you define/describe "proper nock fit"?

Nock an arrow then point your bow straight down. With two fingers tap the string like your ringing a desk top service bell once. The arrow should come off the string. If it doesn't the nock is too tight. If it falls when you point the bow down its too loose. Just my 2 cents.

QuoteOriginally posted by magnus:
Nock an arrow then point your bow straight down. With two fingers tap the string like your ringing a desk top service bell once. The arrow should come off the string. If it doesn't the nock is too tight. If it falls when you point the bow down its too loose. Just my 2 cents.

X2! For a while I had no idea that my nocks were too tight. Frustrating arrow flights, and got really tired of having to re-serve my string where the nocks wore it out. All of the literature was about tuning bows and tuning arrows - very little info on tuning nocks until I found this forum!

Just as Matt said it.

Yup , all well said.... and if you havn't used hot water to tighten or loosen nocks...try it, it works really well.  Sanding only allows to go in one direction... bigger.

I have really never thought I needed to adjust nock fit, sure some fit tighter or looser than others but I just used them as they were. A few weeks ago I got some lighted nocks, the flight was terrible and the bow noise was bad. I decided to open up the nocks by filing. Arrow flight improved and bow noise disappeared. I will be looking at nock fit from now on. I will try the hot water method, but not on lighted nocks.

Tight nocks can cost you anywhere from 5 fps to more.

Not only is flight and sound improved but you will be faster.

Agree with hot water.. I typically keep a glass of cold water handy to set them once I have the proper fit.

Thanks for the info folks.  I'm going to mess around with this tomorrow.

Tom

MCNSC, you can use a hair dryer to heat them up as well. They do not have to be that warm to shape but will snap for sure if cold.

QuoteOriginally posted by straight_arrow:
Ipcjon2, to your point how would you define/describe "proper nock fit"?

Proper nock fit is the arrow stays on the string hanging with the bow pointed down towards the ground but will fall off if you twang or tap the the string.

Messing with the nocks scares me some, since I have had a couple of nock failures.  I am a little slow about certain things, but if it isn't too bad, I just shoot a boatload of arrows until the serving wears to fit the nock.  Not recommending this, just what I do.  Heck, I like to shoot a lot of arrows anyway.  Yes, I know you won't have a completely proper tune right away.

Gonna need to replace 'em sooner or later anyway when you shoot more than one arrow at a target,  ;-)

I "nock" an arrow about weekly in my regular shooting.

 

Nice shooting.  I meant failure on release leading to dry fire, though.  Adjusting them may have no effect, just scares me is all.

Dip nock in hot water and insert round end if a drill bit I have determined to be proper size. Set under cold water tap. All nocks will then be the same

i like that drill bit technique. I will be trying that for sure.