Feather orientation...

[jerp]

Do you shoot cock feather in, or cock feather out? I've always shot with it out, with a hen feather lined up with the riser/shelf crease. I've read some debate about this, some claiming one bow or another prefers cock in vs out. Wouldn't that create more contact with the riser causing a kick? Or, if the arrow flexes around the riser and the feathers clear anyway, what difference can it make?

[RickBarbee]

Fletching contact generally occurs from the bottom hen feather making contact with the shelf area during pass.

Placing the cock feather in a 3 O'clock places the bottom hen feather closer to the outside edge of the shelf, which will allow it to clear more easily.

Since the cock feather in only has to clear the riser/strike plate, it takes less flex of the arrow to achieve it.

My opinion - Placing cock feather in is a way to achieve clearance when an arrow is to stiff. Properly tuned arrow paradox takes care of the clearance for you, and it does not matter whether in or out. That said - there are times when the shelf of a bow is just to wide for paradox to handle the clearance, and cock feather in solves that issue in most cases.

Rick

[RickBarbee]

P.S.

I shoot cock feather out, because I use it to touch my nose as one point of my multi point anchor. Otherwise I would shoot it in just to have the added ease of clearance.

Rick

[TRH]

I had never even considered shooting it in. Interesting.

[loco cacahuate]

I have shot both ways on all my bows and have seen no difference, with the exception of my selfbow, it definetly likes the cock feather out.

[TxAg]

I don't know if this is considered in out out, but all my feathers are the same color and I shoot with a 4,8,12 o'clock orientation

[RickBarbee]

I don't know if this is considered in out out, but all my feathers are the same color and I shoot with a 4,8,12 o'clock orientation

That is a cock feather up orientation.

Blackwidow recommends that for their recurves, although I never found it to make any difference on mine. They have a very narrow shelf, making it real easy to get complete clearance with any orientation.

Rick

[TxAg]

That is a cock feather up orientation.

Blackwidow recommends that for their recurves, although I never found it to make any difference on mine. They have a very narrow shelf, making it real easy to get complete clearance with any orientation.

Rick

Thanks Rick. Seems to work real well for me and it's easy to do in the dark.

[robert13t]

Just nock and shoot them! but seriously, I found that if I tune my arrows right then it doesnt seem to matter which way the cock feather goes. Then again all my feathers are the same color now

[tex-archer]

I shoot right handed with LW feathers, cock feather out. I believe its just whatever you'd prefer to shoot.