Clock tuning shafts.

[Larry Jones]

I recently started clock/rotation tuning my arrow shafts to determine proper fletching for my target arrows. I have used two different types of shafts on three different bows, and am a little perplexed on my results.

It seems the shaft rotation is entirely dependent on the bow. The kicker is, when I tried my D loops tied on the opposite way for each bow, my results changed slightly.

So I ask, what are other people seeing from this? Does D-loop orientation change how the arrow comes off the bow for other people?

 

[OR Archer]

More than likely it’s the center serving. Not all manufacturers twist and serve their strings the same so that can influence the results.

 

[Larry Jones]

Have you tested this? I'm assuming the main influence would be nock tension created by slightly different serving size and strand count.

Anyone out there clock tune arrows with same bow and two different sets of strings? Diffs?

 

[doverpack12]

I am a big believer in nock tuning arrows but my arrows are built for each of my bows and I do not interchange them.

I would question if it’s actually your arrow nock orientation or if it’s how each bow is tuned and if you are absolutely 100% identical and consistent with grip placement, pressure and release arm/hand execution and bow draw lengths. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the arrows did react slightly different when shot from each bow but I would think the bow tunes could be adjusted to the arrow if you wanted to use one set of arrows for 3 bows. I know it doesn’t take much variation at all in my shot to make a confirmed correctly oriented arrow/nock combination tear differently or alter my bareshaft impact and angle.

Pretty interesting question and I’m curious to see what others come up with.

 

[OR Archer]

I am a big believer in nock tuning arrows but my arrows are built for each of my bows and I do not interchange them.

I would question if it’s actually your arrow nock orientation or if it’s how each bow is tuned and if you are absolutely 100% identical and consistent with grip placement, pressure and release arm/hand execution and bow draw lengths. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the arrows did react slightly different when shot from each bow but I would think the bow tunes could be adjusted to the arrow if you wanted to use one set of arrows for 3 bows. I know it doesn’t take much variation at all in my shot to make a confirmed correctly oriented arrow/nock combination tear differently or alter my bareshaft impact and angle.

Pretty interesting question and I’m curious to see what others come up with.

What he’s doing is seeing the natural rotation of the arrow and fletching in the direction of the rotation. This is done at close range. Actual nock tuning can be done after that.

 

[Larry Jones]

One detail I left out, I did spine all of the arrows used in my explorations. I made sure I shot the arrows with same spine Orientation, which is part of my personal arrow building process regardless. Beyond the rotation of the shafts, I have definitely noticed increased consistency when spining and shooting shafts at the same spine orientation.

 

[Larry Jones]

Thanks for clarifying OR Archer.

 

[OR Archer]

Have you tested this? I'm assuming the main influence would be nock tension created by slightly different serving size and strand count.

Anyone out there clock tune arrows with same bow and two different sets of strings? Diffs?

I don’t do this so no. It’d be interesting to test if it helps accuracy at distance.

 

[doverpack12]

What he’s doing is seeing the natural rotation of the arrow and fletching in the direction of the rotation. This is done at close range. Actual nock tuning can be done after that.

Well I wrote a very long response on the complete wrong subject. I have shot my arrows to determine what direction they are rotating naturally as they come off the string. Both my bows rotate left and I have always fletcher right helical or offset. I bought a left helical clamp and plan to experiment with fletching size, helical offset amount and direction to see if this will make a difference in my shooting. Arrows are fletched up in groups of 3 with my various combinations and just waiting for the weather to cooperate.

 

[Brendan]

I'd bet it differs due to the tune, and what vertical and horizontal nock travel you get during the power stroke.

 

[Larry Jones]

Brenden, you very well could be right.

I think that the serious dot shooters tune first and shoot every shaft to determine rotation and fletch individual arrows based on rotation. That seems like a time sink that will never go away and was hoping to at least find more rhyme to reason so I could make educated guesses.

 

[NYSKIER]

I'd bet it differs due to the tune, and what vertical and horizontal nock travel you get during the power stroke.

I would second this as well as well the it would be very difficult to get everything the same to have the nock travel the same thus the differences you are seeing. Whenever I nock tune it's one set of arrows one bow

 

[wapitibob]

It got a boost in publicity when Hanson saw a slow mo clip from world archery where he saw his arrow stop turning then reverse rotational direction. It's become more of an it "can't hurt" kind of thing.

 

[Larry Jones]

WapitiBob, I too have seen this arrow rotation switch in person.

An individual at our 3d league was have consistency issues after trying a quick fletch heat shrink. He noticed a couple of his arrows where acting funny. After a couple hours of debate and inspection, we called my buddy with a high speed camera, took some footage of the shots, and observed the exact same thing. The arrow was coming out rotating counter clockwise, pausing, and then when the fletching decided to kick in, turning the shaft in the opposite direction. The fletching wasn't stabilizing the arrow until 8 yards(ish) due to this switch. It was this instance that actually sparked my interest in clock tuning.

 

[mechahayai]

The reason an arrow comes off the string rotating counterclockwise most of the time is because most strings have a clockwise twist with center serving going the same direction. Rogue does a counter clockwise twist with corresponding serving direction and arrows come off their strings going clockwise. I believe it is only the center serving that determines the rotation of the arrow. I had a couple strings made up with CCW twist and my arrows rotate CW off of them both. I don't think it really matters at all, but I like that my arrow, broad heads and fletchings are all on the same team. I suppose I could try serving one string in the CW direction to see if a CCW string w/CW center serving will still rotate CCW off the string.

 

[Billy Goat]

The reason an arrow comes off the string rotating counterclockwise most of the time is because most strings have a clockwise twist with center serving going the same direction. Rogue does a counter clockwise twist with corresponding serving direction and arrows come off their strings going clockwise. I believe it is only the center serving that determines the rotation of the arrow. I had a couple strings made up with CCW twist and my arrows rotate CW off of them both. I don't think it really matters at all, but I like that my arrow, broad heads and fletchings are all on the same team. I suppose I could try serving one string in the CW direction to see if a CCW string w/CW center serving will still rotate CCW off the string.

I have rogue strings on a bow and the arrow still comes off CCW. Although not nearly as fast. Or else it is turning CW 4 times faster than anything I have ever seen before, and consistent shaft to shaft. But it has served nocks top and bottom in d-loop and is a 37 ata bow.

 

[mechahayai]

What way is your center serving done?

 

[Billy Goat]

Haven't looked yet. I'm assuming however rogue normally does it.

 

[Billy Goat]

On my rogue string looking from behind the bow at the riser the serving climbs to the left. On my others it climbs going to the right. Don't know if that makes it CCW or CW. But it is not only an opposite twist string but serving is opposite as well.

 

[RosinBag]

I think nock clocking is a fad, just like FOC became a fad. FOC is overrated and I think nock clocking is the same.

The best scores in every event in Target archery have been around for years. Even Hanson shoots the same scores, he didn’t get any better and I don’t think but 20-30% of the pro’s do this.

Consistent dynamic spine is the most important factor hands down. I think nock tuning is the easiest way to find that unless you have a shooting machine.