Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting someone please explain an arrow to me

so i used to assume an arrow was an arrow. grab one and shoot it. since i have joined this forum i keep hearing about stiffness, weights, matching to your bow draw weight, etc. can someone explain to me what stiffness does, how it relates to the way your arrow shoots, how to match weight and stiffness to your bow and broadheads, and about anything else that is handy to know when choosing arrow/bow/broadhead setups? im shooting an unknown model of reflex at aprox 60# with ics bowhunter 400 and 125 grain muzzy mx-3. the arrows have the factory fletchings, i believe 4". im sighted in, shoot good groups, but wouldnt dare throw a field point in in fear of missing the target. i assume that broadheads and fieldpoints should fly the same yes? am i too heavy or to light or what? if i can get answers to my questions i will feel alot better and not feel so left out lol! oh, final question, what are some good books about archery...history, modern, arrows, just everything about it. thanx everyone!

Good resource is the "Easton Arrow tuning guide" a must read for all archers. It can be found on the Easton website [I think under downloads]

And as I recall there is some info pertaining to this on bowjackson.com

Your best Archery resource:

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=1

Ask away........

Depending how long your arrows are you should be ball park with the setup described above. Spine is the amount an arrow deflects from straight with a weight haninging in the middle at a 28" span. The spine and or deflection allows the arrow to bend upon release, absorbing the energy from the bow and transfering it to the arrow. Arrows with too weak of a spine bend more than necessary and are not as efficient as possible and do not provide the best accuracy. Arrows too stiff are better than too weak, but also do not provide the most efficient setup. Remember that an arrow is pushed by the nock until the nock releases from the string, then it is pulled through the air by the point. This is where Front of Center becomes involved.....whole 'nother can of worms. - The Easton Tuning Guide is a great resource, read it, even if you don't understand it all at first. Wait a couple weeks and read it again.......It will soak in. Till then, keep shooting and have fun.