Fine Tuning Your Compound Bow
After completing the basic setup procedures, you are ready to fine tune your setup for the Best accuracy possible. There are four tuning methods described in this section. Some of these methods may not apply to certain styles of shooting. Read the introduction to each method carefully to make sure it applies to your shooting style.
Bare Shaft Planing Test
The Bare Shaft Planing method of tuning works best when using a finger release. To begin the Bare Shaft Planing test you will need three fletched arrows and one or two bare shafts. You will also need a target that will catch the arrows without allowing the arrow to kick as it stops in the target. This test will help you establish the correct nock and rest position, and it will tell you if your arrow is the correct spine. Porpoising and Fish Tailing describe the different flight disturbances you may encounter while tuning.
Porpoising
Porpoising is identified by an up and down kick during arrow flight and relates to the nock point adjustment. It is important to correct porpoising first because small left and right disturbances could be nock point related. Start at about ten to fifteen yards and shoot three fletched arrows into your target. Using the same aiming point, follow them up with a bare shaft. After you get the bare shafts to impact with the fletched shafts, you may want to try shooting them at a longer distance for a finer indication of arrow flight.
If the bare shafts impact below the fletched arrows, your nock point is too high. Move your nocking point down in small increments until the bare shaft strikes with the fletched shafts. If the bare shafts impact above your fletched arrows, your nock point is too low. Raise your nock point in small increments until your fletched arrows and your bare shaft impact together.
Repeat the above steps from a longer distance to make sure you have completely corrected the nock point. Shooting from a longer distance will make minor disturbances more apparent.
Fishtailing
Fishtailing relates to the arrow rest adjustment and the stiffness of your arrow. Just as before, start at about ten to fifteen yards and shoot three fletched arrows into your target. Using the same aiming point, follow them up with a bare shaft. After you get the shafts to impact with the fletched shafts, you may want to try shooting them at a longer distance for a finer indication of arrow flight.
If your unfletched shafts impact to the left of your fletched shafts, your arrow is too stiff. There are two things that you can do to correct this problem; you can select a weaker arrow, or you can decrease the cushion plunger tension. Increasing the peak weight of your bow or increasing your point weight will also make your arrow act a bit more limber. If your unfletched shafts impact to the right of your fletched shafts, your arrow is too limber. There are two methods you can try that will correct this problem; you can select a stiffer
arrow, or you can increase the cushion plunger tension. Decreasing the peak weight of your bow or decreasing your point weight will also make your arrow act a bit more stiff.
To further fine tune your setup, step back to twenty or thirty yards and repeat the above procedures. Small flight disturbances will show up better as you get farther from the target. Your Martin bow is essentially tuned when your bare shafts hit together with your fletched shafts. Keep in mind that if you continue and complete the super fine tuning methods in this manual, it is not uncommon for your bare shaft impact to change.
Even with your bow shooting its best, it is common for a perfectly tuned bow to shoot a bare shaft a bit low and right or low and left. Perfect arrow groups are the goal when completing these exercises.
Paper Tuning
Paper tuning will work for all styles of shooting. As you are going through these steps keep in mind that paper tuning is not chiseled in stone as the law of archery. It is a guideline for clean arrow flight. Many shooters find that their setup shoots most accurately when achieving less than perfect tuning results. For example, some target shooters set their bows to tear slightly high through the paper. They feel this makes their arrow flight less likely to be influenced by outside variables like wind or rain and helps arrow clearance when using a shoot-around type rest such as a blade or pan type launcher.
To begin paper tuning, set up a frame or rack with paper suspended from the frame. Position the frame far enough away from your backstop so the arrow can completely clear the paper. Stand about ten feet from the paper and make sure your arrow is level as it flies through the paper. Fire a test shot and read the results.
Compare the holes you have made in the paper to the diagrams below.
Procedures for correcting the tear are listed next to each diagram. Please note that tuning procedures recommended for finger shooting often differ from those used for release shooting. You will find that the arrow spine reaction is different for fingers and release, therefore, the procedures for correcting the different disturbances vary. Follow the instructions carefully for your particular shooting style.
Hight Tear (fletching tears above point)
This tear may signal:
Low Tear (fletching tears below point)
This tear may signal:
Right Tear (fletching tears to the right of point)
This tear may signal:
Note: If you are left handed follow these instructions in reverse.
Fingers:
This problem is cured using one or more of the following methods:
a. Increase peak weight.
b. Use a heavier point.
c. Select a more limber arrow.
d. Lighten cushion plunger tension, or use a weaker spring on shoot around rests.
e. Make small incremental rest adjustments towards the bow.
Release:
Either Style:
Note: If you are left handed follow these instructions in reverse.
Fingers:
This problem is cured using these methods:
a. Reduce bow weight.
b. Use a lighter point.
c. Select a stiffer arrow.
d. Increase cushion plunger tension or use a stiffer spring on shoot around rests.
e. Make small incremental rest adjustments away from the bow .
Release:
Either Style:
Arrow is not properly clearing cables: Rotate cable guard for complete fletching clearance.
Irregular or inconsistent shooting form: See a qualified archery coach or professional and have them check your technique.
Arrow rest clearance problem: See that arrow has adequate fletching clearance through or over the arrow rest.
Multidirectional Tear
This tear may signal:
Perfect Hole
This pattern shows clean arrow flight. The point and fletching impacted the same location. Your bow is now ready to shoot or you may want to continue and try some of the super fine tuning methods.
After Adjusting
After you have completed these steps and have achieved good paper test results, it is best to try it at fifteen and twenty feet just to make sure you did not get a false reading. A good rule to go by when paper tuning is to move your nock point or arrow rest opposite the tear when using a release. In some rare cases if this does not clear up your tear you may need to move your accessories in the same direction as the tear.
Superfine Tuning
Paper Tuning
Short range group tuning will work with any style of shooting. Best results are achieved when this method is used after completing the Bare Shaft Planing or Paper Tuning tests. This is a good ultra fine tuning method when space will not permit long range shooting. After completing the following steps you will have very clean arrow flight and a well tuned, accurate setup.
To begin the short range tuning method, you will need a piece of cardboard, or a target face. Make a broad line through the center of the paper on the blank side, making sure the line is thick enough to see from twenty yards. Start at about 10 to 15 yards from the target. Use your tuning target and position the line vertically when you are tuning the arrow rest and position the line horizontally when you are tuning the nock point.
Vertical Impact
Position your line horizontally and shoot six arrows at the line. Concentrate on keeping your pin on the line. Don’t worry about left and right hits, just try to keep your shots on the line. Shoot two good groups, Discarding any rough or bad shots, and note the vertical impact of the arrows and their relationship to the line. All adjustments are made with the nock point during these steps. If your arrows are not consistently grouping on the line, make small 1/32" adjustments up or down with the nock point and shoot two more groups. Continue making nock adjustments in small increments. If all of your arrows begin to hit on the line you are correcting the nock position. In the event that your groups widen, move your nock back to its original location and make small adjustments in the opposite direction.
Horizontal Impact
After achieving a nice, straight, horizontal pattern, rotate your target so your line will appear vertical. Just as before, shoot two good groups, discarding any rough or bad shots, and note the horizontal impact of the arrows and their relationship to the line. All adjustments are made with the arrow rest during these steps. If your arrows are not consistently grouping on the line, make small 1/32" adjustments left or right with the arrow rest and shoot two more groups. Continue making rest adjustments in small increments. If all of your arrows begin to hit on the line you are correcting the rest position. In the event that your groups widen move your rest back to its original location and make small adjustments in the opposite direction.
Flight Tuning Broadheads
Broadhead tuning will work for all styles of shooting. After you have completed one or more of the tuning procedures described in this manual, you can proceed with this final test to get your new bow ready to hunt. You will need three fletched arrows with field tips and three with broadheads that weigh the same as your field tips.
Before you begin shooting, you will need to check your broadhead equipped arrows. After installing your broadheads, make sure they are perfectly straight on the shaft. This can be done by spinning the arrow on a flat counter while checking for any broadhead wobble. You can also use a commercially made spin check tool that is available from your dealer. After all of your broadheads are spin-checked and straight you are ready to begin.
Set up a broadhead target at twenty or thirty yards and shoot three arrows with field tips. Make sure you are properly warmed up and you are shooting to the best of your ability. Next, shoot three identically aimed arrows with broadheads. WARNING: NEVER SHOOT BARE SHAFTS WITH BROADHEADS ATTACHED. THE FLIGHT WILL BE EXTREMELY UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS. Once you have shot the best group you can shoot, compare the position of the broadhead group to the field tip group. Compare the groups to the diagram below and make very small incremental adjustments as described next to
the broadhead group that corresponds to your arrow pattern. Note: make very small 1/32" adjustments. A small adjustment will greatly change your broadhead flight.