Victory Spine Alignment Up or Down. Does it matter??

[Dylan Sluis]

Ok before I get started I don't want your opinions on if shooting spine alignment matters. or anyone saying that victory's marks aren't always right. Because a while back podium archer shot 12 victory arrows bareshaft, 6 on the spine alignment marks, and 6 on the spine he marked and tested. And victories marks were by far more consistent. I just genuinely what a conversation about my question. Rant over.

Does shooting with the mark up or down matter. I know victory recommends you shoot with it up. But the spine alignment is typically the stiffest spot in the arrow. I obviously want it straight up or straight down so when my arrow bends its up or down and not side to side. Have any of you tested shooting the marks down vs up. Just genuinely curious. Thanks.

 

[5MilesBack]

I always nock tune after assembling my arrows, and the spine lines on my Victory's end up all over the place when I'm done. Pretty sure they cover every part of a clock on a dozen arrows.

 

[Billy Goat]

How they may shoot without fletching, doesn't mean they will shoot the same with fletching.


Since you don't want to hear it, I just won't say it.

 

[sndmn11]

What if the bow shoots better with the spine aligned left? Or right? Or kinda left down? Or one way with a right helical and a different way with a left helical?

Go test them all out and write up your findings here.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I always align. Less concerned I with the direction as long as they are all consistent. Then they can be tuned to the bow.

 

[wapitibob]

static spine means nothing, shoot 'em and rotate to get the same tear

 

[Dylan Sluis]

static spine means nothing, shoot 'em and rotate to get the same tear

See that's what I thought to. But podium proved shooting off their marks is the most consistent way to do it.

 

[sndmn11]

See that's what I thought to. But podium proved shooting off their marks is the most consistent way to do it.

Did your tests find the same results?

 

[Billy Goat]

Here's what I do, I'll go ahead and put it out for others who might read it.

I shoot vtac 23's for 3d arrows, I shoot them 3 fletch. The vtacs have 2 spine alignment marks, 180 apart. I'll fletch the marks in alignment with my bowstring, vane straight up because I use a blade rest.

I'll then label shafts, and shoot out of a shooting machine, usually 40 yards, but sometimes only 25 or 30. I'll shoot the dozen, usually 4-5, maybe 6 hit the same hole. They all hit close, but not same hole. I'll then rotate the nock on the shafts that don't hit in the hole, until they do. I only get 3 choices for where I can rotate the nock, because of my rest choice, but I can usually get 10 out of 12 in same hole. The alignment marks haven't seemed to matter, maybe they are 20% better than just fletching at random.



I don't think it hurts to fletch on the marks, but in my experience I wouldn't do it and think you dont need to nock tune.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

i have not found nock tuning rip tko's necesary with the few dozen i've had, they've all grouped as well as i can shoot with the factory spine mark up. at the same arrow weight, out to 80 yards, fletching configuration has also not mattered. 4 fletch left offset tac drivers hit the same POI as 3 fletch left helical aae max stealth.

when i shot pierce platinums I could change POI at 20 yards by 3-5" via nock tuning, so it definitely can make a difference.

 

[CowboyD]

Just buy American made Easton arrows and you don't have to worry about spine alignment due to their carbon weave process.

 

[roosiebull]

Here's what I do, I'll go ahead and put it out for others who might read it.

I shoot vtac 23's for 3d arrows, I shoot them 3 fletch. The vtacs have 2 spine alignment marks, 180 apart. I'll fletch the marks in alignment with my bowstring, vane straight up because I use a blade rest.

I'll then label shafts, and shoot out of a shooting machine, usually 40 yards, but sometimes only 25 or 30. I'll shoot the dozen, usually 4-5, maybe 6 hit the same hole. They all hit close, but not same hole. I'll then rotate the nock on the shafts that don't hit in the hole, until they do. I only get 3 choices for where I can rotate the nock, because of my rest choice, but I can usually get 10 out of 12 in same hole. The alignment marks haven't seemed to matter, maybe they are 20% better than just fletching at random.



I don't think it hurts to fletch on the marks, but in my experience I wouldn't do it and think you dont need to nock tune.

The couple dozen victories I’ve used had to be nock tuned, the spine marks didn’t mean anything that I could tell

 

[tdoublev]

My experience has been similar to Billy Goat’s. I will 3 fletch on the spine marking to start, then shoot them for consistency. Just shooting by hand I won’t notice a big difference until I throw a fixed blade broadhead on and then you’d start to think my arrows weren’t straight given how far off some of them fly. At 50 yards I can get them grouping well again by starting to knock tune, and I’d say only 25% will stay lined up with the spine marking from Victory. Only had 1 or 2 that I couldn’t group well with the 3 fletch and fixed blade, but those are fine for target arrows. They also could have had bent half-outs since I shoot the 4mm VAPs.

To your question, I don’t think it matters a great deal. There will be flexing in the arrow at the release point, but not a significant amount if you are spined correctly (in terms of stiffness) and the arrow will oscillate once off the bow. Because it oscillates back and forth, I don’t believe starting up or down would matter to any measurable degree.

Edit: and no one can KNOW for certain. Your tune and timing of the cams is going to be more important spine up or down.