By: StickemArchery.com Staff

Now that you have paper tuned your compound bow, you can check your broadhead flight. Don’t be surprised when you see your Broadhead hit the target in a different place than that of your field point. Having the correct set up such as; proper bow weight, arrow and tip weight combination should help ensure you are not be too far off from your field points.

If you are not grouping your arrows well, here are a few adjustments you can make to your bow. If you followed the paper tune, these adjustments will be very slight and have an insignificant or minimal effect on your field points. In order for this to work effectively your arrows need to be properly spined or slightly overspined. If your arrow is underspined, broadheads become extremely difficult (if not impossible) to tune.

1.  Broadhead hits below the field point, move the string nock down.

2.  Broadhead hits above the field point, move the string nock up.

3.  Broadhead hits left of the field point, move your rest right, or soften the  cushion button spring tension.

4.  Broad head hits right of the field point, move your rest left, or stiffen the cushion button spring tension.

Most of the time the minor adjustments you make for broadhead tuning will have very little effect on field point flight.  Once you have gotten your broahead tuned and it is grouping where you want it to.  Practice, Practice, Practice.  You have heard us talk about confidence in the field with your equipment.  Knowing your broadhead is going to hit where you aim is vital.

If you are still having problems, go to your local archery pro shop for help.  They will be happy to help. They can check the following things – Shaft spine / Tip Weight / Tiller / Center Shot / Wheel Timing.

For more information visit our Online Archery Shop or if you need any Archery Equipment or Bowhunting Equipment.  We have added new platforms in our Archery Store.

Understanding Arrow Front of Center %

F.O.C. stands for Front of Center balance point. This measurement results from the relative weights of the components used in the arrow: shaft, insert, head, fletching, and nock. Let’s talk about how to come up with the F.O.C. calculation:

Step 1. Overall length:

Measure the total length of the arrow from the nock groove to the tip of the arrow with the point you plan on using.

Step 2. Balance Point:

Install the tip you will be shooting. If you are testing stability for 3-D shooting put your field point into the arrow. Of course, for hunting install your broadhead. Find the arrow’s balance point by sliding it back and forth along a fairly sharp edge. You’ll find the spot where the arrow just balances. Next measure in inches from the bottom of the nock grove to balance point.  Then measure in inches the length of arrow from the nock grove to the edge of the arrow shaft (not the insert-also known as the cut length).  Mark it carefully. Now measure from the point of the arrow to the balance point and enter the distance above.

Step 3. Determine F.O.C.:

To find the F.O.C. (which is always expressed as a percentage) divide the overall length by two. This should produce the physical center of the shaft. Now subtract this number from the balance point and divide by the overall length. Multiply by 100 to express the fractional value as a percentage.  A projectile’s flight is most stable when most of the projectile’s mass is positioned Front of Center or F.O.C..  Based on this, and arrow should be heavier in the front than in the back.  By how much is the question?

This is another hotly debated issue among archery enthusiasts. Some claim that F.O.C. makes little or no difference, others swear that F.O.C. has a profound effect on accuracy. Even the industry experts don’t seem to agree, as the ballistic physics for F.O.C. include some rather elastic variables that make finding an “mathematically optimal” F.O.C. very difficult to declare and prove. To make matters worse, we even see a variation in how F.O.C. itself is calculated, depending upon which “expert” you ask. So while we have no interest in the fine points of the debate, we will agree that the tricky issue of F.O.C. is at least worth considering when purchasing a new set of arrows.

With all that said, it is generally believed that an arrow with a high F.O.C. will fly well, but with premature loss of trajectory (nose-diving). While an arrow with a low F.O.C. will hold it’s trajectory better, but it will fly erratically. So again, another trade-off for you to consider.

To learn more about arrow Front of Center and how to Calculate your arrows FOC %>>Click Here.

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