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Helical vs offset?

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bebloomster:
Is there really all that much difference? I shoot a 45 pound 68" longbow at targets mostly under 50 yards. Wood arrows (either cedar or sitka) spined in the 40 to 45 range. I can generally hit an 8" paper plate if I take my time. I have been using LW feathers slightly angled to the left... 5" Pope and Young cut. Would going to a helical fletching really make much difference?

Pat B:
Helical imparts a bit more spin to an arrow. I have always used a slightly off set straight fletch with good arrow flight. I tried helical but they were noisier, slower and I just preferred the offset fletching.

Hillbilly:
Helical makes a lot more difference when you put a broadhead on that arrow, or when your bow isn't close to centershot, or if your arrows aren't matched exactly to your bow. I would rather have my slower arrow hit what I am aiming at than go zipping by it at a high rate of speed a foot to the left. (translation: I can put helical fletching on my arrows and usually shoot them with a bunch of different bows, even if the spine isn't exactly matched instead of making a different set of arrows for every bow I might make, or I can shoot the same arrows with broadheads or field points and they will shoot much the same.) Others will disagree. It's just a personal preference.

Timo:
They both work well,but I think helical shoot better also. I also shoot a parabolic cut feather,so that helps to hide some noise. I need all the help I can get :)

Fletcher the Arrow Maker:
All of my fletching for custom arrow is done with full elngth feathers and burned to shape.  I use a shield shape for the classical look.  True it may be a bit noisier than parabolic or this new goes bananas shape.

For a heavy bow with broadheads I think a helical is nearly a must.  I can also trim the height of the feather down a touch with the burner wire shape.

The key to arrow stability is the spin, and that is produced by the total feather surface and the angle of attack to the air.  The helical allows a compostie angle that produces spin faster than a straight angled fletch.

This spin speed also allows recovery to straight flight a bit faster off the rest.

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