Arrow Fletching question

[Biggbear]

I am considering buying a jig and fletching my own arrows instead of paying to have them refletched all the time. My question concerns the direction of the helical twist. I am right handed and shoot a release, with fixed 3 blade broad heads. I have heard that because I shoot a release a helical turn is of no benefit, that you only need to spin the arrow to compensate for the string twist when shooting fingers. If a helical twist is recommended which direction for my shooting style is it a right or left hand helical twist? Thanks for any info you guys can come up with.

[captainhowdy]

Helical twist will help stablize the arrow/broadhead faster than an off set fletch... Same principal as rifleing... Twist in the fletch spins the arrow and reduces the "knuckleballing effect" of straight or offset fletch... This knuckleballing effect is exagerated even worse when you put feathers on the tip of the arrow AKA/broadheads...


Right or left helical is up to you... UNLESS your useing feathers...
There have been some past writings that suggest that right handed shooters should shoot left wing and that left handed shooters should shoot right wing. The theory behind this advice is that the arrow should spin away from the bow riser. Actually, it doesn't really matter and the choice is really a personal one. I currently have the remnants from two different sets of arrows in my back quiver. One set is fletched with left helical, the other with right helical. I really cannot tell any difference in how they fly or in how they are wearing. The one critical thing is that you do not mix left and right feathers on the same arrow.

Always fletch left wing feathers with a left wing fletching jig and right wing feathers with a right wing fletching jig. You can use a straight jig for either left or right wing feathers and then adjust the offset to the left or right (assuming that your fletching jig has this adjustment). So why is it that left wing feathers are cheaper to buy than right wing feathers? The most widely given explanation is that at the turkey farm one of the bird's wings is clipped to keep it from flying. Since most people are right handed and they grab the turkeys from behind, the right wing is the one that gets clipped. I can't verify the accuracy of this story, but it sounds plausible.

[GVDocHoliday]

Have you ever watched that 70's show? If you have then you know they have this thing called the "stupid helmet," that they would put on someone who did or said something stupid. Whoever told you that about helical fletching needs to put on the stupid helmet.

The more helical in the fletching the better. I have a bitzenburger with the right wing clamp...you want the right wing clamp because it will tighten down your points when shooting into a target as opposed to loosening them which a left wing clamp would do.

Most important thing to remember is that the entire base of the fletch needs to be in contact with the arrow...meaning you want the maximum amount of helical which still getting full contact...this will make adhesion to the shaft much better.

[Oct.1]

I’ll agree with Doc. A counter clockwise spin will loosen the broad head on impact or in flight if loose.
However make sure the fletching clears the rest.
I am left-handed and shoot left helical. The reason is because I use a shoot through arrow rest. Right helical makes contact with the rest. Time to get a drop away I guess.

[PITBULL]

I am right handed and shoot feathers Left helical. I havent had problems with heads loosening . But I make sure they are tight and put string wax on the threads to help keep them that way.

[Oct.1]

Never thought of uning string wax. I use blue lock-tight.

[bucknduck]

Ok, now I'm going to be thinking about this all day at work. Ever since I went with new arrows with new fletching, the heads occasionally come loose. Most of the time I can tell when the tip has loosened during flight by where it hits the target. Up until now, I have always tightened down the head and hoped that it was tight enough not to come loose again for awhile. Tonight when I get home, I will try some string wax on the threads. Thanks for the advice.

Rich