Whistling Arrows

[Evil Dog]

I grew up watching Richard Greene every week in "The Adventures of Robin Hood"..... yes, I am that old.  When ever it was necessary to deliver a message in the forest, it was often attached to an arrow and the arrow would whistle while in flight (isn't Hollywood wonderful).

Then a couple of days ago I was visiting one of the other archery boards and noticed a posting concerning "whistling arrows" that had been made with a ping pong ball at the front of the arrow.  What the heck, ping pong balls are dirt cheap so decided to give it a try... the worst that could happen is that it wouldn't work and I would be out a buck and a half for a half dozen ping pong balls.

The general idea was to cut 3 or 4 triangular holes in the ball with the base of the triangles being aligned along the seam line of the ball, the point ont he triangle being faced towards what would be the point of the arrow.  Two small holes are then cut in the ball for the arrow to pass through.



Believe it or not, this actually works.  The arrow whistled quite loudly while in flight !!!!  I'd expected the ping pong ball to shatter when the arrow struck the woven mat target, but it just slid back along the arrow shaft none the worse for wear.  Managed to get 8 shots out of the same ball before it started to crack and break.

Haven't really had a chance to play with this much yet, but so far the larger the holes the louder the whistling sound.  Can't say as it does a thing for enhancing accuracy, but it sure as heck is fun to play with.

[Dutch/AL]

Neat idea Evil Dog! Got any ideas about flaming arrows? I hear kerosene burns cleaner than diesel.

[HWooldridge]

You could shoot whistling ducks with them...

[Bob/FLA]

Very Cool!
What kind of distance are you getting with them? What is the max distance?  Also, what happens if you move the ball to the rear of the arrow?  It might not affect accuracy so much if the ball is closer to the fletching.

[Evil Dog]

So far I've only played with them in my front yard, max range about 25 paces.  I use a 36" diameter rolled foam target/backstop and usually manage to keep it in the central 12".... accuracy could be a bit problematic though as normally I will be within the central 5" at the same range.  It could probably be improved by making sure that the arrow passes through centered in the ping pong ball rather than occasionally off center.  I can't see placing the ball nearer the fletching as it seems to me that it would hit up against the bow when shooting.... could make for some really interesting fish-tailing.

If nothing else it is sure a heck of a lot of fun to play with.

[Bob/FLA]

You know...sometimes it takes seeing the ridiculous in print before the 2x4 smacks me in the head :-D

Also, what happens if you move the ball to the rear of the arrow? It might not affect accuracy so much if the ball is closer to the fletching.

[myronman3]

booger up the fletching on an arrow and it will whistle, too.  maybe no as loud; but loud enough to spook a deer as the arrow is headed that way.