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Arrow shaft selection- Understanding the arrow
By Troy Basso*

Walk into any good archery pro shop and you will be confronted with a myriad of arrow shafts to choose from. Buried somewhere between the space age coatings and technology worthy of a space shuttle mission there are two basic materials. First is good old-fashioned aluminum and second is carbon or carbon composites. Regardless of what the shaft is made of they all have the same basic components. Starting at the string end of the arrow you have the nock, this is the device used to hold the arrow on the string. Some nocks glue directly onto the end of the shaft, some slide into the shaft while others use an insert. The insert is an aluminum or graphite adapter that is glued into the shaft.

Next are the fletchings. They are the wings that help keep the arrow stable in flight. These also come in two basic materials. First and more traditional are feathers. Second are synthetic vanes. Feathers are a little faster at closer ranges since they lay down on the shaft when shot but they are also more sensitive to moisture. Vanes although a little slower are a more durable choice. They both come in different lengths but four inches seems to be the most versatile for the bowhunter. If you are planning on using a large cut on impact broadhead and a light shaft you may want to consider five-inch feathers or vanes.

Next on the business end of the shaft will be either an insert, glued into the shaft, or an outsert, glued over the shaft. This is where you screw in your field point or broadhead.

When choosing your arrows the most important consideration would be the spine of the arrow. Spine is the term used to describe the stiffness, or resistance to bending, of the shaft. The exact size you need will depend on three factors. First is your draw weight, second is your arrow length and third the type of cam . It is best to consult a pro shop or visit www.eastonarchery.com for a chart to get you in the ballpark as to which shaft will be best for your set up. The numbers on the actual shaft tell you a lot about its spine. Every arrow manufacturer has its own set of numbers so I will stay with a standard Easton aluminum shaft. Take a 2413 shaft; the first two numbers (24) are the shaft diameter in 64ths of an inch. The second two numbers (13) are the actual wall thickness of the shaft in thousandths. So a 2413 has a larger diameter than a 2117 but the 2117 has a thinner wall thickness.

Now you are wondering about the choice between carbon and aluminum. The best thing about a carbon arrow is that it is either straight or broken, no worries about bent arrow shafts. Carbon is also lighter, so therefore it is faster. The increase in speed equals a flatter trajectory over a longer distance. The down side to all of this is the loss of weight does gain you speed but in turn it reduces the "punch" or kinetic energy. The recommended minimum arrow weight for most hunting applications is six grains of arrow weight per pound of your draw weight. To find the kinetic energy for your set up you need your arrow speed or velocity, and your arrow weight in grains. The formula is velocity x velocity x arrow weight in grains divided by 450,240.

Hopefully you now have a good understanding of modern arrows and can make a very informed purchase on your next visit to the local pro shop.

*Troy Basso is a freelance writer and instructor for the National Bowhunter Education Program.

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