Arrows seem like very simple, even crude artifacts of humanity’s more primitive past, only used today by those who still hunt for their food or those who enjoy target shooting.
However arrows are incredibly complex, and we’re not only talking about modern arrows either.
Even the most basic arrows used in human history required a lot of skill to make, and the difference between a well-made arrow and a poorly made arrow was often the difference between going hungry or not or defeating a foe in combat.
A single arrow can change the course of history, and they have done this on many occasions, such as when King Harold Godwinson was struck in the eye and killed by an arrow at the famous battle of Hastings.
Arrows are made up of several different parts, most simply comprising the arrowhead, arrow shaft, and the fletching of the arrow.
In this article, we’re going to look at fletching in particular, as this is an often overlooked but crucial part of arrow design and construction that can make a huge difference to the quality, distance, and accuracy of your shots, regardless of the bow you’re using.
All the different components of an arrow are important, and if any of them aren’t correctly made or fitted, it will often result in a missed opportunity. However, when it comes to fletchings, this is even truer.
The fletching on an arrow is what helps the arrow fly straight, making it accurate, aimable, and predictable.
In historic times the fletchings on an arrow would’ve been made of feathers, however, in modern times, they can be made of various materials depending on the type of arrow and its intended use.
Fletchings help the arrow fly straight by using its shape to create drag in the air or wind, which helps keep the arrow level and give it much more stability in the air and make it much more accurate.
Some fletchings can even cause arrows to spin, increasing their distance dramatically and further increasing their accuracy much like how rifled barrels on guns help make bullets and shells more accurate.
Usually, fletchings are configured in three sections which are spaced evenly around the rear end of the arrow shaft, however, there are several configurations for fletchings that can have dramatic impacts on arrow performance, accuracy and flight characteristics.
These individual sections of the fletching are often called vanes, due to the fact they help catch and direct the air much like a wind vane.
Where does the fletching go on an arrow?
The fletchings on an arrow are typically located at the rear of the shaft, just before the nock, which is the small indent or notch in the rear of the arrow shaft that the bowstring fits into and where the arrow is seated when it’s about to be fired.
Fletchings typically sit at the rear of the arrow as this is the best place to stabilize the arrow as it travels through the air, giving optimal flight characteristics regardless of the type of fletching used or how it is actually arranged on the arrow itself.
Usually, there are three separate vanes that form the fletching of most arrows, and these are placed in different positions around the edge of the shaft depending on the type of arrow being used and how you want the arrow to perform.
Is helical fletching better than straight?
While most fletchings are positioned in the same place on the arrow, they aren’t always arranged in the exact same way.
Altering the way these fins or vanes are positioned will have a huge impact on how the arrow flies and it is one of the key ways archers can tailor their arrows to give them better performance for different types of archery.
One common type of fletching is known as helical fletching, and this configuration is designed to give the arrow significant spin as it is fired and traveling through the air. The spin on the arrow will help to stabilize it and improve accuracy, which is why this configuration is often used by hunters and target shooters who want to ensure that their arrow flies as true as possible and strike exactly where they’re aiming it.
This is a more modern type of fletching, and before this, the most common type of fletching for arrows was straight fletching, which as you may be able to guess, involves positioning the vanes straight along the shaft, unlike the helical configuration which has the fletching fins curve with the shaft of the arrow slightly to cause the arrow to spin.
While straight fletchings are often seen as a much simpler type of fletching and it doesn’t offer the same rifling or spin effect as helical fletchings, the big benefit of straight fletching is that there is less wind resistance and drag on the arrow which can allow the arrows to fly much further, and in some scenarios, particularly during historic warfare, a greater distance on your arrow volley could make a huge difference to the outcome of a battle.
If range is still important for you today, straight fletching may be the best option for you, however, you do of course sacrifice the accuracy that helical fletchings will provide you.
Which arrow fletching is best?
It’s hard to say which arrow fletching is best, and it really comes down to the type of archery you’re doing and how you want your arrow to behave when you fire it.
If accuracy is very important to you, a helical fletching configuration is definitely going to help you in this department. However, if range is more important to you, then straight fletching may help you add a few extra yards to your shot.
While using the right fletching will make your life a little bit easier while shooting, nothing beats practice and perseverance, but experiment with both to find what works best for you!
