How to Tune Bows

Archers and bow hunters require precision and accuracy to make an effective shot on their targets. Whether the target is a prize buck or an Olympic round, the bow needs to be tuned properly to perform well. A common method for tuning a bow is known as paper tuning. One of more than 20 methods for tuning a bow, paper tuning is an effective way to learn how to correct your arrow flight.

Things You'll Need

  • Bow and arrows
  • Backstop
  • Paper target
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a paper target and an adequate backstop behind the target. Stand 6 feet away from the target. Nock an arrow and aim at the center of the paper. Fire the arrow.

    • 2

      Inspect the tear in the paper left by the arrow's fletching (feathers). Look for the fletching tear mark that is wider -- or significantly more torn -- than the rest. A wide fletching tear directly above the center-hole indicates a tail-low shot. A tail-high shot is a fletching tear directly below the center-hole. A wide fletching tear left of the center-hole is a tail-right shot. A wide fletching tear right of the center-hole is a tail-left shot.

    • 3

      Correct a tail-left shot by decreasing draw weight first, then test fire. If the tear is still the same, decrease your arrow point weight. If these two corrections still do not eliminate the tail-left shot, change to a stiffer arrow shaft.

    • 4

      Correct a tail-right shot by increasing the bow draw weight first, then test fire. If the tear is still the same, increase the arrow point weight. If these two corrections do not eliminate the tail-right shot, change to a weaker (less rigid) arrow shaft.

    • 5

      Correct tail-high shots by moving your arrow nock point down by 1/16 inch at a time, and test fire after each movement of the nock point. Move the arrow support arm up in small increments if the nocking point movement doesn't eliminate the tail-high shot.

    • 6

      Correct for a tail-low shot by moving the arrow nocking point up by 1/16 inch at a time while test-firing after each movement. Move the arrow support arm down in small increments if nocking point movement doesn't correct the arrow flight.