Straight Fletchings ??

[Ginger Ninja]

Whenever I have bought fletched arrows, the fletchings are on straight.

However, I did read somewhere on the t'internet that fletchings should never be straight, always fixed to the arrow with a slight angle across the shaft.

What is the best way forward, straight or angled ??

Please help.......

[Gwyn]

The idea is that putting fletches on at a slight angle (one or two degrees) puts a spin on the arrow which helps the arrow to fly straight over longer distances, just like the rifling in the barrel of a gun. The problem when you buy fletched arrows is that the supplier would need to know if you shot left or right handed to know which way to put the spin. This theory does not apply to feathers as they spin even when you put them on straight due to different drag factors on each side of the feather, ndn it does not matter if you shoot left or right handed feathers spin the same way because we only use feathers from the left wing of birds in this country.


Gwyn
www.eastcote.net

[WhitehartFB]

Arrows with straight fletchings also spin but to a lesser degree than those vanes put on with a slight angle (1-2 degrees). But you also have to be carefull not to make the angle too great as it will slow the arrow down in flight.
My own experience is that until you are shooting 1150 - 1200 FITA's, where in any event you would be controlling every aspect of the build of the arrow it makes little difference - straight or angled.

[pyroarch57]

I`ll second what Whiteheart said. Far too much emphasis is put on minor things which to the "average" archer would make barely (if any) difference at all to their shooting. Vanes being one of them

[Random_guy]

I thought i read somewhere on here that the at arrow speeds the effect of the amount of spin created by vanes is negligable. I may have dreamt it tho.....

[N.Vodden]

on my Redlines most are fletched straight, 4 are fletched slightly offset to give a spin by me. At my current level i cant see a difference at all, they all end up in the same place so long as i dont naff the shot

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Gwyn

The idea is that putting fletches on at a slight angle (one or two degrees) puts a spin on the arrow which helps the arrow to fly straight over longer distances, just like the rifling in the barrel of a gun.

If you mean spin stabilising like a bullet, then as RandomGuy suggested it's a myth - the weight and speeds involved aren't great enough to produce that sort of result. No noticeable gyro effects.
What spinning a shaft does do is even out errors. If a shaft has a tendency to veer in a particular direction, spinning it will reduce the error, by causing it to spiral around the line of flight instead... I think we've all seen that effect at some time or other.

[Woodie]

Originally Posted by Ginger Ninja

Whenever I have bought fletched arrows, the fletchings are on straight.

I normally put a slight angle but I have to ask why buy fletched arrows? Buying bare shafts, nocks, piles and fletchings is not only cheaper it also means you control the end result. Quality of fully made up arrows can vary greatly. many are fine but I have seen sets where the fletchings start falling off after a few sessions of shooting.
Making up your own is reasonably easy and lets you try different things out.

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by Rik

If you mean spin stabilising like a bullet, then as RandomGuy suggested it's a myth - the weight and speeds involved aren't great enough to produce that sort of result. No noticeable gyro effects.
What spinning a shaft does do is even out errors. If a shaft has a tendency to veer in a particular direction, spinning it will reduce the error, by causing it to spiral around the line of flight instead... I think we've all seen that effect at some time or other.

Additionally, gun barrels are rifled because the bullet does not have any stabilization. Have you ever seen a side winder missile fired? It has small fins at the back, and it does not spin.

I can however see the benefit of some spin evening out asymmetry. I am also pretty sure that however straight we try and put a vane on, it is unlikely that it will be straight enough that there will no be some spin.

[mizzat]

Which way do you off set the fletching for right handed shooter?