Archery Accessories: Arrows

But just like bows, there are also many varieties of arrows on the market. A quality arrow made with premium materials will always be better than others. An arrow that doesn't match your bow will fly erratically and will surely affect your shots. Would you like to know more about this accessory? In this article, we focus on arrows.

What is an arrow made of?

Generally, an arrow consists of 4 elements:

• The shaft: made of wood, aluminum, or carbon fiber, it's considered the heart of the arrow. The shaft length is determined according to the archer's draw length.
• The point: it's a parabolic-shaped element. Generally made of steel, the point is glued to one end of the shaft. It's located opposite to the fletching. It can also be made of wood. The point must be heavy enough to ensure arrow power but light enough to limit arrow flight.
• The nock: it's glued into the other end of the shaft opposite to the point. Made of plastic, the nock allows the arrow to clip onto the bowstring.
• The fletching: glued to the shaft, the fletching ensures arrow stability during flight. Indeed, they help prevent and limit arrow oscillation. The fletching can be natural or synthetic. The set of fletching on the arrow is called: "fletching."

What are the different types of arrows available on the market?

In the market, you'll find wooden arrows, aluminum arrows, carbon arrows, and carbon aluminum arrows.

Wooden arrows are made for traditional bows. They have the advantage of being flexible, light, and biodegradable. You could customize your wooden arrows (ink, paint, etc.) However, note that wooden arrows don't reach great distances unless you shoot with high power.

Aluminum arrows have a relatively heavy, flexible, and resistant shaft. They are mainly used indoors by archers who use compound bows with high power. This type of arrow is highly appreciated for its durability and resistance to heat and solvents, making it easy to degrease before gluing the fletching.

Carbon arrows are very efficient and popular because their shaft combines lightness, speed, and flexibility. This is the ideal type of arrow for long-distance shots. Carbon arrows allow beginners to evolve easily and professionals to refine their techniques. They are also highly appreciated for their flexibility and durability. However, they must be replaced immediately in case of wear or abnormality, as breaks can be dangerous.

Carbon aluminum arrows are widely used by archers worldwide because their shaft combines rigidity, good velocity, and high durability. Thanks to its composition, the advantages of aluminum and carbon offset the drawbacks of these two materials. It's therefore a shaft that gains in resistance but loses a bit of speed. With its increased weight, it requires a minimum power to shoot effectively at long distances.

Finding the right arrow length: how to do it?

Regardless of the bow type, the correct length of an arrow is the distance between the nock groove and the end of the shaft. Don't include the insert and point in this measurement. To do this, mark the arrow at least 2.50 cm in front of the arrow's contact point on the arrow rest. The measurement found corresponds to the ideal length of your arrow and constitutes the cutting point of the shaft.

How to choose your arrows correctly.

To correctly choose your arrows, several points need to be considered:

• your draw length: to determine it, use a graduated reference arrow. Then, get into shooting position. Next, with the help of another person, draw a line on the arrow 2.5 cm in front of the plunger button axis. Your draw length is the distance between the mark on the arrow to the bottom of the nock.
• your bow's power: you could use a bow scale called a draw weight scale.
• the type of bow used: for longbows, choose wooden arrows. For hunting recurve bows, you could shoot with aluminum or wooden arrows. For classic bows, it's preferable to use carbon arrows for outdoor shooting and aluminum arrows for indoor shooting. For compound bows in target shooting, opt for carbon arrows outdoors and large-diameter aluminum arrows for indoor shooting. If you shoot with a compound bow in field archery or 3D, we recommend choosing a carbon arrow with a not too small diameter preferably.
• the different parameters: material, diameter, shaft thickness.

It should be noted that the choice of point, fletching, and nock will depend on the discipline being practiced.

Where to buy your arrow?

There's nothing more reassuring than buying your arrows from your usual archery stores. But you could also order online from online shops or sales sites like Amazon, eBay, C discount, etc.

Regarding arrow prices, beginner models sell for about 4 euros per unit. However, if you want to go for high-end arrows made of carbon or aluminum, expect to pay around fifteen euros per arrow.

Is it possible to customize your arrow?

Yes, you could decorate and customize your arrows with special arrow crestings or wraps. This will also help you distinguish your arrows from those of other archers.