Bowhunt America

Article Topics

Walk-Back Tuning

By Michael Corrigan

It is vital to have a well-tuned bow before switching from field points to broadheads.

As you go through the tuning process with field-point-equipped arrows, be sure to place an emphasis on centershot. Centershot is the relationship between the arrow rest, the bow’s riser and the bowstring’s nocking point. A well-adjusted centershot allows the arrow to exit the bow square to the static bowstring and parallel to the bow riser. By adjusting centershot, we are trying to get the arrow to fly “straight” to the target. In cases where centershot is poorly set, arrows fishtail and/or porpoise in flight.

Try standing a few feet directly behind a shooter at your local pro shop and visually scrutinize his arrow flight. If his centershot is poorly set you may detect erratic arrow flight. However, even if arrow-flight characteristics seem adequate to the naked eye, it does not necessarily mean that centershot is adjusted perfectly. And we all want our equipment to perform perfectly, don’t we? To be sure that centershot is adjusted to the finest degree, a simple methodical procedure called walk-back tuning can be used.

Before you begin, first consult the arrow selection chart and be sure that the arrows you have will accommodate your draw length, bow’s draw weight and cam design. An arrow that is too weak or overly stiff can result in unrelenting grief as you go through the tuning process.

Next, paper-tune your bow to establish a rough centershot. Shoot a few arrows through paper with your field-point-equipped arrows and observe the tear pattern created by each pass-through. Work until each arrow shot is producing a clean, three-point, star-shaped tear through paper when shot at incremental distances between 5 feet and 5 yards from the paper. A more detailed paper test involves removing vanes or feathers from the arrow and replacing them with a wrap of lead tape that weighs the same amount as the material removed. Then the bare shaft is shot through paper. Achieving a perfect bullet hole through paper is the goal. Elongated tears are corrected through adjustments made to the arrow rest or nocking-point location until a bullet hole is achieved. Arrows that fishtail or porpoise out of the bow will be difficult to correct through the walk-back tuning process, so be sure to paper-tune before you begin.

A bullet hole through paper indicates that the arrow is flying straight right out of the bow. But this is a close range test and “straight” is a relative term. If the nock end of the arrow follows the point end of the arrow a mere fraction of an inch to the left or right of center, paper-tuning may not reveal the discrepancy. Walk-back tuning will uncover that discrepancy.

First set up a large bag or block target. Stacking up two block-type targets works well for this exercise. Next, place a 3-inch bull’s-eye near the top of the target. Using a straight edge with a bubble level, draw a straight line from the middle of the bull’s-eye all the way to the bottom of the target face. If you don’t want to leave a permanent line on your target, clear packing tape works well. Some suggest using black electrical tape, but a line that is nearly invisible makes it easier to concentrate on the bull’s-eye for this exercise.

Standing 20 yards from the target, use your 20-yard sight pin and aim at the middle of the bull’s-eye. If you’re sighted-in correctly for that distance, your arrow should hit the mark. Next, move to 30 yards and again take aim at the same bull’s-eye using the same 20-yard sight pin. Your arrow should strike noticeably lower. This is to be expected. What’s important to note is the impact point of the arrow in relation to the vertical tapeline. Is the arrow dead center on the tapeline or is it to the left or right side of the tape?

As we walk back to further distances and shoot more arrows, the goal is to achieve arrow impacts that are on or very close to the vertical tapeline. More than likely you will observe arrow impacts that hit the target further and further to the left or right of the vertical tape line. This makes perfect sense. If your centershot is not perfect, arrows will continue to drift further left or right of center with increased shot distance.

If the trend shows left-of-centerline impacts, move your arrow rest 1/16-inch or less to the right and repeat the exercise. For right-of-centerline impacts, move your arrow rest to the left.

At a distance of 30 yards or more from the target, it is a good idea to shoot three-arrow groups to rule out poor shooting form. Continue making minute adjustments to arrow-rest position and repeat the exercise until arrows strike reliably on or very near the vertical tapeline. In the end, you may need to make a minor windage adjustment to your sight to achieve dead-center bull’s-eye impacts at all distances.

With perfect centershot, both arrow flight and accuracy will improve.

Enjoy this article? Share it!