Post by BT on Dec 26, 2006 21:35:50 GMT -5
I haven't seen this in such a long time I just forgot to go over it 
In the many threads that have been posted here as pertains to setting up a bow or fixing it , I have never mentioned the fact that your bows sight should be the first indicator of possible tuning problems
Now for those who have been around awhile.... we can all remember the bow sights which came with pins that allowed for independent windage adjustment.
Remember seeing those pins stacked like steps?....running on a vertical line within someones pin guard
Well those sights are pretty much a thing of the past because they allowed people to tune the pins to the bow rather than tune the bow.
Expandable hit the market as the hot fix for those people who tuned the pins to their set ups ;D
It wasn't long afterwards that the expandable wars broke out on forums and people began to learn that it wasn't that expandables worked so well but it was that their bows were in such poor working order
Soon afterwards people wouldn't be caught dead with these sights on their bows for fear of being called a novice
Following , the manufactures stopped producing windage adjustable pins.
(Thank God)
And so we now rarely hear of questions pertaining to vertical sighting.
The norm used to be questions such as ....why dont all my pins line up?
Today the question is.....why do my Arrows track off with brand X broadhead?
The fact is that todays novice is far ahead of their forefathers of 20 years ago (or more) only because of the lack of ability to screw things up due to design.
The sight today makes you tune the arrow to the pin but still does not allow you to tune totally off the pin.
This is why some people choose to shoot a stiffer arrow...because it does allow the tuning of the arrow to the pins to allow more true error.
In Truth , the stiffer arrow is no more tuned than the lighter spined arrow when either is out of tune.
The stiffer arrow just reflects less error due to it's ability to hold a better line.
Today , the shops are pushing stiffer shafts to compensate for their inability to properly set up a bow or perhaps in the case of just lacking time to do so.
Should you follow this advise?
It really depends on what your total view is.
If you are using the spine as a tuning aid then I think you are shorting yourself and opening yourself up for failure at some point.
If your using the spine to enhance stability alone than I think your playing it smart
The fact is that spine should never be used as a tuning aid
Now....on to the next issue of the sight.
Just as that vertical line used to be a tale tale sign of incorrect arrow spine or rest tune , the pin gap is also an indicator of timing issues or rest tune issue.
Pins that do not have the same matching gap through out the count indicate issues
Pins that increase in gap from top to bottom show that the arrow is either tuned rest low or that the top limb is coming to rest before the bottom limb.
Both cases will drive the arrow downward.
The opposite is true as well.... but is harder to see on the pins as natural drop of the arrows masks this fact on the pins as a whole.
It can be seen however if you look for it.
The first two pins gap will be greater than the remaining.
Dont be quick to point out the latter fact to someone you meet on the 3-D trail because it may well be intentional
Adding float to an arrow will show up on the top pins and is desirable but only on 3-D....not hunting situation
So.....
Just keep this in mind when you are with friends and maybe you can help them out with their tuning issues.
( which they may not even be aware of )
In the many threads that have been posted here as pertains to setting up a bow or fixing it , I have never mentioned the fact that your bows sight should be the first indicator of possible tuning problems
Now for those who have been around awhile.... we can all remember the bow sights which came with pins that allowed for independent windage adjustment.
Remember seeing those pins stacked like steps?....running on a vertical line within someones pin guard
Well those sights are pretty much a thing of the past because they allowed people to tune the pins to the bow rather than tune the bow.
Expandable hit the market as the hot fix for those people who tuned the pins to their set ups
;DIt wasn't long afterwards that the expandable wars broke out on forums and people began to learn that it wasn't that expandables worked so well but it was that their bows were in such poor working order
Soon afterwards people wouldn't be caught dead with these sights on their bows for fear of being called a novice
Following , the manufactures stopped producing windage adjustable pins.
(Thank God)
And so we now rarely hear of questions pertaining to vertical sighting.
The norm used to be questions such as ....why dont all my pins line up?
Today the question is.....why do my Arrows track off with brand X broadhead?
The fact is that todays novice is far ahead of their forefathers of 20 years ago (or more) only because of the lack of ability to screw things up due to design.
The sight today makes you tune the arrow to the pin but still does not allow you to tune totally off the pin.
This is why some people choose to shoot a stiffer arrow...because it does allow the tuning of the arrow to the pins to allow more true error.
In Truth , the stiffer arrow is no more tuned than the lighter spined arrow when either is out of tune.
The stiffer arrow just reflects less error due to it's ability to hold a better line.
Today , the shops are pushing stiffer shafts to compensate for their inability to properly set up a bow or perhaps in the case of just lacking time to do so.
Should you follow this advise?
It really depends on what your total view is.
If you are using the spine as a tuning aid then I think you are shorting yourself and opening yourself up for failure at some point.
If your using the spine to enhance stability alone than I think your playing it smart
The fact is that spine should never be used as a tuning aid
Now....on to the next issue of the sight.
Just as that vertical line used to be a tale tale sign of incorrect arrow spine or rest tune , the pin gap is also an indicator of timing issues or rest tune issue.
Pins that do not have the same matching gap through out the count indicate issues
Pins that increase in gap from top to bottom show that the arrow is either tuned rest low or that the top limb is coming to rest before the bottom limb.
Both cases will drive the arrow downward.
The opposite is true as well.... but is harder to see on the pins as natural drop of the arrows masks this fact on the pins as a whole.
It can be seen however if you look for it.
The first two pins gap will be greater than the remaining.
Dont be quick to point out the latter fact to someone you meet on the 3-D trail because it may well be intentional
Adding float to an arrow will show up on the top pins and is desirable but only on 3-D....not hunting situation
So.....
Just keep this in mind when you are with friends and maybe you can help them out with their tuning issues.
( which they may not even be aware of
)
