recurve nocking point

[brian]

just wondering where you guys place your nocking point on the string when shooting off the shelf. do you reckon about 1/2 inch above square is usually best or what?

[HOOD]

Thats about the best starting point Brian then just play around with it to get it perfect.

Hood 8)

[humphrey]

ive been told between 1/4 and 1/2. mine is set 1/4 above square and arrow flight seems to be fine.

[Axe]

Brian, it varies with bows & shooting techniques.

May I suggest that you loosely attach the nock set (tight enough so it doesn't fly off when you shoot) high (say 1/2" or more) then you bare shaft test (spine shafts) until you've got the fishtailing (nock left / right ) sorted.

When that's done slowly move your nocking point down by about 1/8" at a time, until there is no "nock high"at the target (a little nock high is ok) you may find the "sweet' spot could be greater than 1/2" or as low as 1/8" off 90 degrees. :D Not only important for arrow flight but also helps quieten bow "harmonics" :)

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT USE B HEADS FOR BARE SHAFTING. AS BARE SHAFT TESTING IS DONE WITHOUT FLETCHING, IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH FIELD POINTS ONLY AROUND THE SAME WEIGHT AS THE INTENDED B/H TO BE USED

[Sparra]

Gaday Axe...when you say to stop left/right arrow movement..Is this just determined by arrow spine weight???

[brian]

thanx guys for the good advice. yeh i think i've found that sweet spot axe - bout 1/2 inch pretty much does the trick.

[Axe]

Yeah Sparra,
Shoot at about 20m, if the arrow flys with the nock end to the left, spine too weak, if to the right too stiff. Opposite for left handers.
The idea of 20m is so as you can get a good look at the flight. It's the flight you should watch, because once it hits the target the arrow my lay either way, that may not be related to spine but to the surface the arrow hit. The reason for sarting nock high is to make sure that you clear the shelf so as not to give a false spine reading. :D

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT USE B HEADS FOR BARE SHAFTING. AS BARE SHAFT TESTING IS DONE WITHOUT FLETCHING, IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH FIELD POINTS ONLY AROUND THE SAME WEIGHT AS THE INTENDED B/H TO BE USED

[Reece]

Gaday Axe...when you say to stop left/right arrow movement..Is this just determined by arrow spine weight???

This is Archers Paradox. The arrow needs to bend around the bow and finish its flex pointing at the target. Too stiff then the arrow doesn't flex enough and flies to the left (for right handed archers); too soft and the arrow over flexes and straightens to far to the right.

I hope I explained it properly...

I just tuned my target recurve today :D

[Axe]

When Reece says flies to the left or right, it should not be taken that this means to the left or right of the target, if in fact the spine is out enough it is possible for the shaft to hit the target sideways. For right handers it means when bare shafting the stiff spine flies down range with the point pointing left & the nock pointing right \ thus. A weak spine will have point pointing right & nock pointing left / thus. Top of lines indicate point. :)

[Reece]

Thanks Axe :)