How to Align Arrow Fletchings to Hostage Rests

The Hostage arrow rest is a full capture rest that requires correct fletching alignment for proper arrow flight. Aligning the fletching is important because if the fletching contacts the wire brushes during the shot the arrow will not fly straight. Fortunately, it's easy to align the fletching correctly.

Things You'll Need

  • Hostage arrow rest
  • Bow
  • Arrow
  • Nock turner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mount the arrow rest to your bow according to the manufacturer's directions.

    • 2
      In this picture you can see the two fletching that are the same color. These are the "hen" fletchings.

      Hold the arrow in your hand and look at it from the nock end and locate the "cock" feather/vane. The "cock" feather/vane is typically the one that is a different color from the rest. If the fletchings are all the same color, locate the two feathers/vanes that are the closest together; these are the "hen" feathers/vanes. The "cock" feather/vane will be the other feather/vane.

    • 3

      Use a nock turner to rotate the nock until the slot in the nock is aligned with the cock feather.

    • 4

      Nock the arrow onto the bow string and place the arrow in the rest. Look down the arrow from the nock end and see where the fletchings are in relation to the wire brushes on the rest. The fletchings should not be touching any surface of the rest. If they are, rotate the nock using the nock turner until the fletching doesn't touch.