Author Topic: How Should I Fletch Arrows For Left-hander? (Read 836 times)

Snareman · « **on:** September 20, 2007, 01:41:55 PM »

I'm going to set up some Easton Classics for a buddy of mine who shoots left handed. I shoot right-handed recurves and compounds, but know little of left-handed stuff.

I want to place 5" feathers on the shafts. Should these fleathers be in the left helical then?

I'm going to have a sporting goods store do them and want to make sure they set it up right.

Thanks,

Snareman

Slufoot · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:58:04 PM »

Hello Snareman, I shoot left handed and I have shot both right and left wing feathers. I prefer the right wing feathers and I use a Bitzenburger fletching jig with a right helical clamp.
Hope this helps!
Slufoot

Snareman · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2007, 06:00:55 PM »

Ok, now your answer confused me even more. LOL!

I'm expanding my question:

I forgot about left and right wing feathers. I was referring to the helical of the way the feather is attached to the shaft. Should the helical turn to the left or the right? I ask because one way is better for arrows riding on a shelf or similar arrow rest.

And am now asking if others use a right wing for their arrows?

I would need to know what helical goes with what wing style.

Thanks,

Snareman

jgalar · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2007, 06:03:13 PM »

It doesn't matter, but if you have your twist opposite of your bow hand the fletching will twist away from your bow hand and not tend to cut your hand upon release. In other words a left twist is/may be better for a right hander. On some of the longbows that I have made the shelf is right at my hand and right hand twist fletching (I'm right handed) will cut me. It doesn't make any difference with a recurve with a higher shelf.

Snareman · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2007, 07:44:54 PM »

Ok, this is starting to come back to me now. If I recall correctly, I recognized that one helical passed the shelf better and one kind(left or right wing) is pressed against the wind as it spirals. I know to get the kind of wing where the bottom lip is on that side as the arrow rotates. Make sense? It doesn't make a difference with vanes because they have a solid base on the bottom, whereas feathers have a stronger bottom/lip on one side.

Thanks,

Snareman

Slufoot · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2007, 12:20:15 AM »

Snareman
Use right wing feathers with a right helical clamp and use left wing feathers with a left helical clamp.
As jgalar stated the wrong helical can cut your bow hand. That's why I don't like a right helical they have made my bow hand bleed and I shoot a recurve.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

Snareman · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2007, 06:05:02 AM »

Ok! Thank you for the clarification. I think I got it now. LOL!

Snareman

Slufoot · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2007, 07:18:47 AM »

Hey Snareman,
I screwed up on my last post! All this left and right stuff must have ran together.

I meant to say,
That's why I don't like a left helical they have made my bow hand bleed and I shoot a recurve.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:37:07 AM »

Try both...this is the easiest way of actually seeing 1st hand which shoots better for him...I shot right hand/right fletched for many years...but got to try right hand/left fletched 20 years ago and haven't gone back..It's all in the arrow spine and string tension where is changes things..

Mac

crash87 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2007, 03:07:48 AM »

In the late 80's it was still considered proper to fletch left wing for right handed shooters and vice/versa. It was surmised at the time that the arrow spin would be proper coming off the shelf and give proper arrow flight. Since then however high speed photography has shown that arrow flight is not affected by fletching direction coming off the rest as was once thought. I might add it was only theory then and was eventually proven false. None the less I prescribed to this theory and fletched left wing. 3 years ago I purchased 2 fletching jigs at a sportsman's rummage sale, right wing. My thought was to buy 2 left wing clamps. Well ,much to my surprise, the clamps added to the cost of the jigs gave me 2 full price fletching jigs, so much for the good deal. I fletched right wing and compared the two. Impact on the target did not change, in fact I could shoot both left and right, interchanging between the two at random and the group would not change. Nothing had to be changed i.e. nocking point, shelf, etc. I did not experience the fletching cutting my hand either, I think it must have something to do with hand position. I'll have to check that out today, just curious. A couple of things, it is written that you must fletch left wing with left wing feathers and right with right wing feathers and the only advantage I have with right wings is that if you use screw in points with right wing fletching your points will not loosen when impacting the target. For the record I shoot a 65# Martin T/D recurve and a 56# Fox longbow. Good Huntin' CRASH87

Slufoot · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2007, 04:21:52 AM »

crash87 wrote
"Impact on the target did not change, in fact I could shoot both left and right, interchanging between the two at random and the group would not change."

This is excactly my experience. My brother in-law who got me into this traditional archery stuff, had a dozen arrows that he sold me at less than half price. They were the exact arrows that I shoot, same brand, same length, only difference was they were fletched with a left wing-left helical. These arrows shoot exactly the same as my right helical arrows the only complaint I have with them is that every once in a while one will nick my bow hand. I shoot a Martin, Hatfield Takedown at 60#, a lefty.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot