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Helical fletch vs straight fletch which is better?

Started by sightsee, March 05, 2017, 11:08:00 AM

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0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

sightsee

So will I get better flight with straight fletch or helical? I hearing that my helical parabolic 4", 3 fletch is actually slowing my arrow down. I use Grizzly single bevel broadhead.
What's your recommendation on fletching?

Pine

I shoot 5 1/2" helical and don't worry about the speed .
It's easier to fool someone than to convince them they have been fooled. Mark Twain

If you're afraid to offend, you can't be honest.

TGMM Family of the Bow

Red Beastmaster

All fletching slows an arrow down.

If you plan on shooting broadheads you want your fletching to stabilize the arrow. Helical will do the better job.
There is no great fun, satisfaction, or joy derived from doing something that's easy.  Coach John Wooden

creekwood

The helical fletches cause the arrow shaft to spin.  Objects that spin in flight, whether it is a bullet out of a rifled barrel, a football or an arrow that spins will have a more balanced and stable flight.

Pat B

Even a straight fletch will cause the arrow to spin, just not as much as helical.
I've always used straight fletch because someone gave me a JoJan Multi-fletch with straight clamps. I've never had a problem with arrow flight because they were straight fletched.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

ron w

I use both and can see no real difference. That's with 4" feathers.
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's there are few...So the most difficult thing is always to keep your beginner's mind...This is also the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner.  Shunryu Suzuki

Shadowhnter


JamesV

Proud supporter of Catch a Dream Foundation
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When you are having a bad day always remember: Everyone suffers at their own level.

DarrinG

I personally think helical fletching with a big broadhead is a help, especially in a hunting scenario where there could be crosswinds also. Now if youre shooting small heads or those junk  mechanical heads like many wheel bow shooters do, straight fletch may be just fine. Just my $0.02.
Mark 1:17

Pat B

Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Tim in Wa.


BWallace10327

A well tuned arrow should do well with either selection. If I do my part, that being especially important, a 5" left wing helical, 5" left wing straight offset and a bare shaft will group, although I can't emphasis the archer doing their part and meticulous tuning.
***$ Brent Wallace $***
NRA Life Time Member

crazynate

Yup what orion said. Once my arrows are super tuned it doesn't matter what feathers I put on them. I use 4" helical just because I can get 2 feathers out of 1 full length.

When I use aggressively fletched helical four 5" with matching single bevel heads, they they spin so fast that i can see the arrow fly through the hole I just drilled through the deer.  Really, I wouldn't kid you on that, maybe sorta.  I have found that enough fletching can get an arrow to straighten out quicker with a bad release, whether that is straight offset or helical.  Many years ago I fletched with thread and glue as Hill described.  I could get super helical wrap arounds.   They straightened out real fast.  They buzzed like a bumble bee in flight.

STICKBENDER98

As stated above any fletch will slow your arrow down, I have shot both straight and helical and have settled on helical only because I prefer it to the straight.  I haven't noticed any speed difference, but my eyes might be off a bit due to aging.     :)   But seriously, if it's working for you and isn't broke, don't fix it.

Jason
Too many bows to list, and so many more I want to try!  Keep the wind in your face, and your broadheads sharp.

cacciatore

I don't think that helical can slow down an arrow  at hunting distance but for sure it can help,so why to risk?
1993 PBS Regular
Compton
CBA
CSTAS

McDave

With a well tuned arrow tipped with a field point, you should be able to accurately shoot 20-30 yards with no fletching at all.  You would be more accurate with 2-3" straight fletchings, because we don't live in a perfect world.

The same 2-3" straight fletchings would not adequately control an arrow tipped with a broadhead, no matter how well your arrow is tuned.  You would get the best performance out of your bow if you shoot the least intrusive fletching that would do the job.  So you would make up a series of arrows starting with 3 - 4" straight fletchings, and ending with 4 - 5 1/2" helical fletchings, shoot them all many times, and pick the one that gives you the control you need with the smallest and least curved fletchings.  This would be tedious.

Or, you could just pick 3 - 5" helical fletchings, a combination that has proven effective for many people, and live with the fact that you might be leaving some speed on the table.
TGMM Family of the Bow

Technology....the knack of arranging the world so that we don't have to experience it.

Greg_M

I find offset straight goes on better with the short feathers I'm using now. No issues with arrow control with the VPA three bladed heads I've been shooting.

Deno

I fletch my arrows with 5 " LW shield helicals, never tried anything else.  Iv'e shot the others but never noticed that much of a difference.
Deno
United Bowhunters of New Jersey
Traditional Archers of New Jersey
Traditional Archery Society
Howard Hill Wesley Special 70#
Howard Hill Big 5  65#

durp

if u can tell whitch flyes faster ur a better man than me...to much worry for nothing !!!


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