Stickbow Target Archery Forums

any of you guys get spin wings to fly well off the shelf? or do you use an elevated rest? If you use an elevated rest, do you have any thoughts on what kind of rest puts the arrow closest to your bow hand so that you still have a little of that 'point and shoot' feel?

I've shot spin wings off the shelf with success, wouldn't recommend it though. If you do shoot them off the shelf you need to make sure that the arrow is flexible enough to allow the tail of the arrow including the spin wings to clear the shelf without contact.

The mylar of the spin wings are suseptible to damage if they are creased, and once they are creased it is tough to get them back to the shape they were.

Most of the fancy rests are dependent on the plunger hole tapped into the riser. Therefore if you want to go low to the shelf you should go with a hoyt super rest that was custom trimmed to allow placement as close to the shelf as possible. You could also try a custom made rest with Rob's instructions.

Another nifty rest that would allow you to get close to the shelf is a feather rest. They aren't that common to buy one off the shelf, but I have made my own copied from a couple old feather rests I got out of old bow collections.
Good luck,n
Larry

I've had no problems shooting mylar vaned carbons and alums off my longbows' shelves (lined with fuzzy Velcro or thin leather). Prep the shaft well with naphtha on a paper towel (keep finger oils off!) and adhere the vanes properly - you must use the lining tape to secure the fore and aft ends of the vanes and then use a tiny droplet of CYA super glue (I use Krazy Glue "Advanced Formula" in the large red capped applicator, found most everywhere) over the cut end of the lining tape.

FITA shooters tell me that when they select shafts, they err a tad on the stiff side -- better to be too stiff than too weak.

My personal experience has been that when my bareshafts are right on (maybe an inch or two stiff -- that is, to the left of center at 20 yards), I have a clearance problem shooting spin wings off the shelf.

Sounds like the opposite approach would be better to ensure clearance -- err a tad on the weak side. Is that right?

The problem with shooting a weak shaft, is that it is more likely to fly inconsistantly than a stiff shaft, which will fly consistantly left (for a right handed archer) I would rather go too stiff than too weak. (Better to get the spine right though!)n
Dan