Nock Tuning. If you don't...you should.

Nock tuning is a pretty simple task. It can take some time. Trust me though, the time is well spent.

Nock tuning is a great way to help you spine index your shafts. In order for all of your arrows to fly the same, the stiffest part of each shaft needs to be in the same position when fired from the bow (preferably the 12 o'clock position). Shooting bare shafts through paper and adjusting the nock to the arrow flight until you achieve a perfect bullet hole will accomplish this task.

Here's how to do it: (this is assuming your bow is tuned properly)

Make sure each shaft has the insert weight and tip weight you plan to hunt/shoot with. The shafts should not be fletched. Insert your nocks. At this point it doesn't matter how they are positioned. You can use the index mark on the nock (the little bump/line on one side of the nock) or you can use a sharpie to mark one side of the nock. I mark the side with the bump, basically doing both. I just find it easier to quickly locate the mark that way. A silver sharpie usually works better because it will show up good when you eventually make a mark on the shaft.

Set up paper with a target behind it. The target needs to be far enough behind the paper to allow the arrow to completely pass through before hitting the target. I stand 12-15 feet away from paper. Some say 6 feet, some say 21 feet. anywhere in that range should work.

Now the fun part! Shooting. You will be shooting and tuning one shaft at a time...that is the time consuming part. Shoot one of the bare shafts. Look at the hole in the paper. If it doesn't look like a bullet hole you need to turn the nock before the next shot. The easiest way is to actually turn the arrow while it is nocked to the string. I try to turn mine 45 degrees at a time. Shoot again. If you have a bullet hole move on to the next one. If not, turn it again. You will see how the tears in the paper change as you turn the nock. You may have to turn the nock back the other way and split the difference when you get close. When you have your bullet hole make sure to mark the shaft in correspondence with the nock index mark. Now you know that mark represents the 9 o'clock position for your shaft, and the spine is at 12 o'clock. Keep this in mind when you fletch your arrows. Now repeat 11 more times!

Please do not be intimidated by this process! It really isn't hard once you get started. Just plan some time and make it happen. I usually only do 3 or 4 shafts at a time.

Shoot straight,

Arrow Junkie