When considering which pieces of equipment will effect the largest changes in your score, the arrow is often overlooked. Aside from an archer’s form, a proper arrow match to your your kit is where you can really improve your group sizes and miss variances.

Why is this so? A properly matched arrow will actually minimize archer errors. Finding the match which allows acceptable groups even if the archer makes a slight error is the goal of a good archer/arrow/bow combination. This forgiveness of set up may not be noticable to a new archer, but will be readily apparent to a more experienced shooter. If you have heard the expression ‘critical set up’, it refers to a combination which may produce excellent results but is quite sensitive to an archer’s errors. These errors are quite often related to release inconsistencies finger shooters have.

Let’s look at what happens when an Olympic recurve shooter looses an arrow. The string is released with a sideways motion, creating a left and right oscillation called the string cycle. This in turn causes the arrow to bend around the riser of the bow (Archers Paradox). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2-d1SGRIgM

This flexing is why we need to consider the spine of an arrow. If the arrow flexes too little, it will not bend away from the rest and riser, causing contact. If the arrow flexes too much, there will be a loss of stability. The correct solution of what is the proper spine (flex) for an archer is determined by a few variables.

If you understand your draw length, arrow length and weight of the bow at your draw length, you can roughly determine what spine arrow will work in harmony with your bow.

Draw length = length of arrow to the pivot point + 1.75″. A rough approximation would also be arrow length to the back of the bow. Now determine what poundage you are holding at the draw length you’ve determined. You’ll need a bow scale for that. Next, what is the length of the arrow you will be shooting.

Now you can go to the arrow charts of the manufacturers and determine what fits the parameters you’ve discovered. http://www.eastonarchery.com/downloads/selection-charts

But your job is not finished. You’ve now got an idea about what may work, but there are other variables to consider. How clean is your release? What point weight are you shooting? Is the archer growing? Is your form changing?  Get together with your coach and he can help you determine what arrow spine is appropriate for you.

The selection of arrows to fit the archer is not an exact science! When you do find the correct combination, the payoff will be tighter groups and a more forgiving set up.