X10 setup

[jadams]

I have a question for the recurve X10 users.

A few (actually probably more than a few...) years ago when the X10 was fairly new I went to a seminar by Jay Barrs and Mike Gerard which was about setting up the Avalon limb alignment and also about optimising performance from X10s (I think it was at Bournemouth AC hosted by Quicks but I may be getting confused). Anyway, I'm pretty sure I remember Jay Barrs saying that he recommended cutting 1/2" off the back of the X10 one spine weaker than your normal selection to bring it into spine for your setup, then cut the front to your normal arrow length. The point is so you can shoot one spine weaker and therefore lighter than you normally would and so don't sacrifice quite as much sightmark when coming over from ACEs, but still have the benefit of the smaller shaft diameter with a bit more shaft weight. Does anyone actually do this or does everyone just go for their recommended spine and do it normally?

[buzz lite beer]

It is quite often practiced on both the X10 and the ACE shaft, I have done it in the past and I think (memory going) it was just little more than a half an inch I removed around 11/16" , you must be careful in general how much is taken off the back of these barrelled shafts as you want to maintain a flush and proper nock fit, especially when using over-fit type nocks, at the moment I have chosen to use the "normal" spine for my shooting weight purely for the reasons of durability.

[gtek]

95% of top shooters using X10 shafts cut nothing from the back.

[Stretch]

I was at the same seminar and I can promise you that Jay and Mike did not suggest cutting from the back.

A lot of the UK compound shooters at the time were recommending cutting 1" or more off the back (Peart/White etc) - which is probably were the confusion came from - I'd guess that probably still stands. Also at the time the majority of the top UK target recurve shooters were shooting ACEs out of preference and I heard a lot of them talking about cutting from the back X10s but would you take advice from someone who's choosing to shoot something else

However, off the recurve it is just a waste (unless you buy a spine weak by mistake and need to stiffen then). I've shot 410 or 450 since 1997 and as long as I get the right spine I've always been happy chopping the whole lot off the front

HTH

Stretch

[jadams]

Thank you guys for your replies - that's the info I was interested in. My memory is a bit hazy I think - but then it must have been getting on for 10 years ago!

[buzz lite beer]

Needham has done it!, or at least said he has! many have probably been advised to retract there claims by sponsors.

[Stretch]

Yes, Simon (who moved to X10s from ACEs quite late) has cut X10s off the back (so have I). If you are shooting 1300+ and want to experiment between spines you may get some benefits from it. But there is no requirement to do it from scratch.

(Simon has also shot 1300 with an inside centre setup which not many would recommend)

If you look at the spine to weight ratios on the shafts (same with ACEs) if you're borderline and maybe by dropping 1# and nipping a touch off the back you can maybe get away with the weaker and lighter arrow. This ceases to be relevant if your sightmarks/arrow speed is Ok with the heavier spine.

But just to be clear I'm not advocating that. Buy the correct spine and don't trim off the back and enjoy.

Stretch

[buzz lite beer]

You have got to consider that some people who are going to select to shoot X10's may for whatever reason not have enough sight to reach their maximum competition shooting distance, be it from insufficient power or from having a small distance between sighting eye and anchor position and although moving the sight back and forth or even bringing it inside the bow it an option it's far from desirable altering the bow balance and reaction, and so spine weight becomes more of an issue to these people, so for instance a 600 spine X10 shaft at 28" weighs in at 14 grains lighter than the 550 shaft of the same length will gain you some arrow speed. Yes it's a compromise and yes people who have to take such measures in reality perhaps shouldn't be even considering the X10 but it's a compromise that may get an archer that is determined to enjoy the "wind cheating" effects of the X10 actually being able to reach the target and the more skilled archer can take benefit from the reduced wind drift perhaps a stage further with the gain in speed.

[Valdez]

One reason Simon cuts off the back of his x10s is because of his short draw length.
If he cuts only off the front it leaves the back end too weak.