Complete arrows: A short explanation about types, optimal length and spine

Fiberglass arrows

Fiberglass arrows are the perfect arrows for beginners since they are durable and do not bend. They can break though, which is why every arrow should be examined before shooting. For experienced archers, who want to improve their groupings and skill continously, fiberglass arrows are not suitable.

Aluminium arrows

Aluminium arrows offer a broad array of quality and prices and because of that, they are suited for beginners as well as advanced archers. High-quality aluminium arrows are also an excellent choice for competitions. Unfortunately, aluminium arrows tend to bend when hitting harder objects due to the soft material. Because of that they should also be examined before every shot. Even a slightly warped arrow should not be used anymore since its trajectory is not predictable in this condition. Furthermore, they can sag when releasing, which can lead to severe injury.

Carbon arrows

Carbon arrows are a good choice for beginners as well as advanced archers due to the broad quality- and price array. They distinguish themselves with higher durability compared to aluminium- or fiberglass arrows. While carbon arrows cannot bend, they can break. This is the reason, why every arrow should be examined before shooting, which is done by light flexing besides the ear. If you can hear crackling sounds, the arrow should not be used anymore due to damaged fibers in the shaft. High-quality carbon arrows are well-suited for competetive archers due to their precision. They excel in high straightness and a virtually non-existent weight difference.

Aluminium-carbon arrows

Aluminium-carbon arrows are the best arrows on the market. They are the perfect combination of the advantages of aluminium- and carbon arrows. They are suited for experienced archers and experts. Even affordable arrows of this type like the Cartel Striker shine with remarkable flight characteristics. They are divided into the groups ACC and ACE. Both arrows consist of a combination of carbon fibers and an aluminium core. The difference is that ACE arrows are barreled, which means that the arrow has a larger diameter in the center than at the ends, which results in lower weight and less air drag.

Apart from these types of arrows, you can also find flu-flu arrows at our shop.

Complete arrows: The right arrow length

Determining the right arrow length is crucial. If your arrow is not long enough chances are that the arrow slips off the arrow rest when drawing the bow and causes injury. If your arrow is too long it can be that the bow is overdrawn. Particularly in the case of wooden bows in the leisure sector, this can lead to problems since these bows often break due to overstressing.

Determining the correct arrow length is fairly simple. You have to stretch out you arm and clench into a fist. Then only the distance between the jaw and the front of your fist has to be measured. This figure tells you your matching arrow length for the initial purchase. There are also measuring arrows for determining the exact draw length. This tool will tell you how far the respective person draws the bow. Typically, you measure from the front of the bow. Since the arrow length is usually measured in inches, you might have to convert: 1 cm is 0.39 inches, 1 inch thereby is 2.54 cm (see chart).
 

Inch Centimeters Inch Centimeters
22.00 55.88 28.50 72.39
22.50 57.15 29.00 73.66
23.00 58.42 29.50 74.93
23.50 59.69 30.00 76.20
24.00 60.96 30.50 77.47
24.50 62.23 31.00 78.74
25.00 63.5 31.50 80.01
25.50 64.77 32.00 81.28
26.00 66.04 32.50 82.55
26.50 67.31 33.00 83.82
27.00 68.58 33.50 85.09
27.50 69.85 34.00 86.36
28.00 71.12 34.50 87.63
For beginners, we recommend buying the first arrows approximately 2cm longer than stated in the chart. Advanced archers can test their minimal arrow length gradually.

The right spine for complete arrows

The spine is how far the arrow can be flexed. It also states how stiff it is. When releasing the arrow, various influences are transfered onto the shaft. First of all, when releasing the string, the arrow receives a slight movement sideways. Furthermore, the arrow is clinched by the string causing it to swing. This is the reason why the spine should be matched to draw length and draw weight so that the arrow can clear the bow properly. The higher the draw weight, the stiffer the arrow should be.

In the case of aluminium arrows, the higher the spine is, the stiffer the arrow will be. This is very simplified and does not count for all manufacturers. The spine of aluminium arrows consists of four digits. The first two state the arrow´s diameter in 64th inches, the last two state the wall thickness of the arrow in 1000th inches. In the case of carbon arrows, the lower the spine is, the stiffer the arrow will be. This does not count for all manufacturers either. In the case of wooden arrows, the spine pretty much tells you exactly, what draw weight the arrow is matched for perfectly.

For beginners in particular, the spine difficulty seems very complex. For longtime-archers, it is of course important to understand the topic. Numerous manufacturers offer different schemes, with which it is relatively easy to understand, what arrow is suitable. Of course, our expert employees will be very happy to help as well.