This is a hypothetical question and please be sure that I am not trying to fine tune my bow with the addition/subtraction of a tip protector.

Anyway, I was out doing some fine tuning of my bow today and got it about where I want it.  I know by adding a tip protector to the bottom limb I will be adding some weight and likely affecting the timing of the limbs.  My arrow is flying a tad nock low.  Will the addition of the tip protector and slight slowing of the lower limb make my arrow shoot straighter, more nock low, or not affect it at all?  Not talking left to right here, just up and down with a vertical bow.

Again, I'm not trying to tune my bow in this manner (I'm going to bump my nock point up a hair), but I'm an analytical person and this piqued my interest...Mike

In my shooting I don't notice any difference with or without my tip protector on the 2 recurves I use them on.

I have never had the chance to notice a change.  the tip protector goes on the bow before it get tuned.  Usually before it gets shot.

Never noticed a difference

I'm thinking your grip on the bow will effect arrow flight more than the weight of a tip protector....  

... mike ...

I wouldn't even worry about it. Just shoot it and have fun!

I have seen no difference in the performance of my bows whether I have a tip protector installed on not

It's good to hear that there should be no noticable affect with a tip protector.

Hey Richard. How the heck are you? I believe that a limb tip protector makes no difference in arrow flight. Don't see how it could. Personnally, I've never detected a difference. (nut)

with everything else that can go wrong I would not worrie about a tip protecter.they do more good then harm

Why don't you try it both ways and let us know if you can tell any difference?

Thanks for the responses guys.  I will try both ways and see if I can detect a difference.  I'm sure if there is any it will be minute.  The reason I asked this is because a tip protector obviously has some weight to it (not much, but weight nonetheless) and I would believe that it would slow down the limb tip (again, not much, but some).  Just wondering if it is something that we could see.

Plumber, I agree they protect the tip, but if you get moisture or any foreign material in there they can really do a job on your limb tips.  I believe bowdoc showed some pics of this...Mike

I don't use a tip protector, and I regularly use my bow for a walking stick to help me get around the woods with my bad legs. This year I had to reglue my tip overlay, but this is the first problem I've had in several decades of doing this, so I don't worry about it. Yes, they show some wear and get a bit dinged up on the tips, but functionally I've had no other problems. The bow I had to reglue was a cheapo, anyhow, and it looked like the glue bond was bad to begin with.

It seems to me that over the years I have observed that some bows seem unaffected by them while others do not like them at all. My wife put one on her bow and it ruined her set up....badly. So she took it off and is much happier without it. Personally I have never seen the need for one. I have seen situations where guys have used them, sand or debris of one sort or another gets in them and wears  out the lower string loop resulting in a broken string.