Complete arrows: Types, optimal length and spin value briefly explained
The various arrow types with complete arrows
Arrows are divided into 5 groups:
Wooden arrows
Wooden arrows usually are made of pine, spruce or cedar wood. Wooden arrows are among the cheapest when the shaft is not spinned. This makes the arrows popular starting arrows, especially for beginners in the hobby sector. Wooden arrows are also particularly popular with traditional shooters because of the originality of their material. Here, high-quality shafts are used that have been spined and balanced. Unfortunately, the natural wood material has a tendency to bend. Then it helps to lay them on a straight, stable surface, such as a table, for a few days. Wooden arrows should not be stored upright.
Fibreglass arrows
The fibreglass arrow is the ideal arrow for beginners. Fibreglass arrows are durable and do not bend. But they can break. Therefore every arrow should be checked before firing. Fibreglass arrows are not suitable for advanced shooters who want to continuously improve their hitting pattern and technique.
Aluminium arrows
Aluminium arrows offer a wide quality and price range and are therefore suitable for beginners as well as advanced users. High-quality arrows are also ideal for tournaments. Unfortunately, aluminium arrows tend to bend when fired because of their material. They should, therefore, be checked before each shot. Even a slightly curved arrow should no longer be used, as its trajectory can no longer be predicted. They can also bend completely when released and lead to serious injuries.
Carbon arrows
Carbon arrows are suitable for beginners as well as for advanced users thanks to the wide range of quality and prices. They are characterized by a better durability compared to aluminum or fiberglass arrows. Carbon arrows cannot bend. But they can break. Therefore every arrow should be checked before use. This is done by slightly bending in front of the ear. If crackling noises can be heard, the arrow should no longer be used due to damaged fibres. High-quality carbon arrows are ideal for tournament shooters because of their high accuracy. They are characterized by a high degree of accuracy and a lack of weight difference.
Aluminium Carbon Arrows
Aluminium carbon arrows are the best arrows the market has to offer at the moment. They form the perfect symbiosis of the advantages of aluminium and carbon arrows. They are suitable for experienced shooters and experts. Even inexpensive arrows have excellent flight characteristics, such as the Cartel Striker. A distinction is made between ACC and ACE. Both arrows are made of a combination of carbon fibres and an aluminium core. The difference between the two types is that ACE arrows are barreled. This means that this arrow has a larger diameter in the middle than at the ends. This results in lower weight and drag.
In addition to these arrow types, you will also find Flu-Flu arrows.
Complete arrows: The correct arrow length
Determining the correct arrow length is extremely important. If the arrow is too short, it can happen that the arrow slips from the arrow rest when it is pulled out and leads to injuries. If the arrow is too long, the bow may be overstretched. This leads to problems especially with wooden bows for amateurs, as the bow often breaks due to overloading.
The correct arrow length is relatively simple to determine. The arm is stretched out and a fist is formed with the hand. Then only the distance between the chin and the front of the fist has to be determined. This value results in a suitable arrow length for the first purchase. There are also dimension arrows for the exact determination of the pull-out. From this, you can see how far the person pulls out the arrow. We usually measure at the front point of the bow. Since the length of an arrow is usually given in inches, this value must still be converted: 1 cm corresponds to 0.39 inches, 1 inch, therefore, corresponds to 2.54 cm (see also table).
| Inch | Centimeter | Inch | Centimeter |
| 22,00 | 55,88 | 28,50 | 72,39 |
| 22,50 | 57,15 | 29,00 | 73,66 |
| 23,00 | 58,42 | 29,50 | 74,93 |
| 23,50 | 59,69 | 30,00 | 76,20 |
| 24,00 | 60,96 | 30,50 | 77,47 |
| 24,50 | 62,23 | 31,00 | 78,74 |
| 25,00 | 63,5 | 31,50 | 80,01 |
| 25,50 | 64,77 | 32,00 | 81,28 |
| 26,00 | 66,04 | 32,50 | 82,55 |
| 26,50 | 67,31 | 33,00 | 83,82 |
| 27,00 | 68,58 | 33,50 | 85,09 |
| 27,50 | 69,85 | 34,00 | 86,36 |
| 28,00 | 71,12 | 34,50 | 87,63 |
| Beginners are recommended to select the first arrows approx. 2cm longer than indicated in the table. More advanced shooters can then gradually approach their minimum length. | |||
The right spin value for complete arrows
The spin value is the degree of deflection of an arrow. It indicates how stiff an arrow is. When the arrow is launched, various factors are transferred to it. On the one hand, a slight sideways movement occurs when the string is released. On the other hand, the arrow is compressed by the string. This causes the arrow to swing. The spin value should, therefore, be adjusted to the draw weight and draw length so that the arrow leaves the bow cleanly. The higher the draw weight, the stiffer the arrow should be.
In simplified terms, the higher the spin, the stiffer the arrow. However, this does not apply to all manufacturers. The spin value of aluminium arrows consists of 4 digits. The first two indicate the arrow diameter in 64ths of an inch, the last two represent the wall thickness in 1000ths of an inch. For carbon arrows, the lower the spin, the stiffer the arrow. This also does not apply to all manufacturers. With wooden arrows, the spin value gives almost direct information about the optimal draw weight of the arrow.
Especially for beginners, the problem of spine seems extremely complex. In the long run it is important to deal with it. Many manufacturers offer various schemes from which it is relatively easy to find out which arrow is the right one. Naturally, our expert employees are also happy to help.