arrow spine

[burkenashu]

i was watching ryan gills spine video he says that spine doesnt matter in primitive archery thoughts

[sleek]

Id be interested in watching that video, would you post a link?

[WhistlingBadger]

Ryan used to show up on the forums once in a while.  I miss seeing him around here--he seems like a good guy.

If I remember right, Ryan shoots over-spined arrows with very light, stone points.  He talks about it at some length in one of his books.  I don't remember the whole point, but there is more to it than "spine doesn't matter." 

[burkenashu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzRMKhxBU9w

[Pat B]

If I remember, Ryan used cane and possibly natural hardwood shoots for arrows. With the natural taper of the cane and shoot shafts the spine has a range of poundages it can work well with. Longer arrows also helps.

[burkenashu]

ok i was just curious what yall thought

[bjrogg]

Spine might not matter in the physical sense. You can as Pat says use longer or shorter shafts. Lighter or heavier points.

What really matters is clean arrow flight. And the only way I know how to get that is by coming up with the right combination of stiffness, length and point weight to match the preferred dynamic spine of the arrow, for the bow and archer.

Bjrogg

[Pappy]

Don't know what I am doing wrong but it matters with my arrow. of course you can make them longer or shorter or add and take away weight but that all changes the spine. 
 Pappy

[Wyrda]

This is pretty much nonsense. Spine is just as, if not more important for bows without a cutout. You may be able to get away with overspined arrows to some degree, but I know underspined arrows shoot like crazy from my English longbow.

[archeryrob]

Like said above me, Physics doesn't change because its primitive. I've argued with these guys for 20 years that get into archery and suddenly know it all. They use long arrows that shoot dynamicaly the same as shorter arrows spined.

The latter half of this I wrote explains a lot of it.
https://boweyrsden.wordpress.com/2016/01/01/the-proper-spine-for-primitive-arrows/

https://boweyrsden.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/5-shaft-reduction-and-spine-qualities/

[WhistlingBadger]

I think you're all correct; spine does matter.  But I would add that Ryan Gill isn't some newby know-it-all.  He has probably forgotten more about primitive archery than I will ever know, killed dozens of animals with primitive gear, from small game up to bison, is consulted by university anthropology departments.  When he makes a claim I sit up and take notice, even if I don't understand it or it goes against what I know. 

I certainly wouldn't dismiss anything he says as nonsense without at least watching the video.  There's a lot more to it than "arrow spine doesn't matter."

[Chumash]

The important word is "SOMETIMES" and Ryan explains in the video what this "SOMETIMES" is, for him and his experiences.