Helical Fletching Question(s)

[mojorider]

To me, it makes sense that a helical fletching would result in better grouping, but what says TBH'ers?

I kind of think of it as a barrel rifling for an arrow. Also, does it matter if you're fletching right versus left? I've heard that right handed shooters should fletch with a right helical, left for left.

As always, any insight is appreciated.

[popup_menace]

It doesn't matter which way you fletch. You are spot on about why it works. It's all about centripetal force. The faster the spin, the harder it is to de-stabilize an arrow in flight

[bphillips]

Yep the point of it is better stabilization. Left or right doesn't matter just make sure if you shoot a single bevel head it is left or right bevel to match the fletching

[LloydMcCoy]

Football spiral more accurate
Spinning frisbee more stable

I agree. Helical should be better

[thorshammer]

Helical will make for tighter groups. I read an article that Ulmer posted that stated you need to find out which way your bow naturally "turns" the arrow and fletch for that. Pick up the latest issue of Bowhunting, there's a great write up on fletching and the effect on flight.

They tested 5 different brands that spun from 72rpm's to 2,422 rpm's. The difference in accuracy at 20 yards was 1.31" and at 45 yards was 2.47".

I've always been a believer in more helical, but this confirms it for me.

[mojorider]

Helical will make for tighter groups. I read an article that Ulmer posted that stated you need to find out which way your bow naturally "turns" the arrow and fletch for that. Pick up the latest issue of Bowhunting, there's a great write up on fletching and the effect on flight.

They tested 5 different brands that spun from 72rpm's to 2,422 rpm's. The difference in accuracy at 20 yards was 1.31" and at 45 yards was 2.47".

I've always been a believer in more helical, but this confirms it for me.

That's great info. If you don't mind me asking, what brand of flectching had the most RPMs?

[thorshammer]

[ATTACH]622703[/ATTACH][ATTACH]622704[/ATTACH]

[bphillips]

[ATTACH]622703[/ATTACH][ATTACH]622704[/ATTACH]

Second slowest also had second best groups so maybe it just depends on the setup?

[little john]

a drastic decrease in overall arrows speed is an unfortunate side effect of more spin on the arrowcausing longer distance shots to be more difficult

[konalehmann91]

It doesn't matter which way you fletch. You are spot on about why it works. It's all about centripetal force. The faster the spin, the harder it is to de-stabilize an arrow in flight

Way to use the correct term for the force. Most people would have said centrifugal </nerd>

Reminded me of this comic http://xkcd.com/123/

[Cropduster]

As a right hand shooter, I really like left helical better then right. It just may be my imagination, but I feel that it tends to make for better flight. I know one thing, don't mix right and left on the same shaft. Been there done that. (LoL)

[Fishndude]

I wish I shot well enough for it to matter.

[Aggie_bowtech]

Yes, I shoot a real hard helical and fletch them myself.

They are more accurate and slower than regular or feathers.

Also, one last reason I switched was because it was before a trip to Colorado and I read that the helical will make the arrow fly straighter in windy areas. Thus it's even more accurate on the wind. It's a win-win!

[BO-N-ARO]

Been shooting helical fletch longer than a bunch of you have been alive. I have tried many of the latest and greatest over years and always go back to helical.

[mojorider]

Great info....thanks again for all the input.