Have you ever wonder why you can

Have you ever wonder why you can't seem to group well at long yardages? You group well at yardages less than 40 but at 50, 60, or even 70, your grouping is off. You've tried several remedies. You concentrate harder, you force yourself to relax, you ensure a clean release, but still, your grouping is off. The trouble could be incorrect arrow balance. Think of this for a moment. How does your arrow achieve its speed? As the arrow leaves the bow, it is being pushed by the force of your bow. All the energy is stored in the fletch-end of the arrow. As the arrow continues through flight, that energy is transferred to the front of your arrow and the arrow begins to pull itself by the arrow's point weight. So, if you are using tips in your arrow that are too light, your arrow becomes a slave of the elements - wind.

So, what is arrow balancing. Balancing the arrow is nothing more than ensuring enough weight is toward the front of the arrow to optimize arrow flight characteristics. What you are trying to achieve is 10 to 15 percent of the total weight of the arrow to be on the point end. So, how do you determine this.

Step #1

Measure the length of your arrow from the point at which the knock and arrow come together to the point at which the tip and arrow come together. See drawing below. Write this length down on a piece of paper.

Step #2

Divide the measurement from step #1 in half and place a mark on your arrow at that measurement to find the center point of your arrow. See drawing below.

Step #3

Find the balance point of your arrow. This can be done by balancing your arrow on a sharp sturdy surface. Once found, mark this point and write down the measurement from the front of the arrow. See drawing below.

Step #4

Find the ratio of weight on the front of the arrow to that of on the rear of the arrow. Do this by measuring the distance between the arrow's center and the arrow's balance point. This value is called the difference value. Now, divide the difference by the length of the arrow and multiply this value by 100. See drawing below.

Typically, you'll want a ratio of something between 10 and 15 percent for optimum flight. If you calculate the ratio of your arrow as described above and find that your ratio is outside this range, you can add more weight to the front of the arrow or take weight off the rear. Good luck.

Step #1	Measure the length of your arrow from the point at which the knock and arrow come together to the point at which the tip and arrow come together. See drawing below. Write this length down on a piece of paper.
Step #2	Divide the measurement from step #1 in half and place a mark on your arrow at that measurement to find the center point of your arrow. See drawing below.
Step #3	Find the balance point of your arrow. This can be done by balancing your arrow on a sharp sturdy surface. Once found, mark this point and write down the measurement from the front of the arrow. See drawing below.
Step #4	Find the ratio of weight on the front of the arrow to that of on the rear of the arrow. Do this by measuring the distance between the arrow's center and the arrow's balance point. This value is called the difference value. Now, divide the difference by the length of the arrow and multiply this value by 100. See drawing below.