Best Arrows for a Compound Bow

Fletchwise guides are independent and hype-free – we are not sponsored by any archery brand.

Spine is the stiffness of the shaft, and it must match your setup. A spine that is too weak or too stiff for your draw weight and length will not recover cleanly off the cams, so the arrow porpoises or drifts no matter how good your form is. Every shaft maker publishes a spine chart that cross-references draw weight, arrow length, and point weight – start there, every time.

• Length – cut to your draw length (plus clearance past the rest). Note that cutting shorter makes the arrow behave stiffer.
• Total weight (GPI) – lighter flies faster and flatter; heavier penetrates better and is quieter. Hunters usually lean a bit heavier. Whatever you land on, do not go under roughly 5 grains per pound of your draw weight – most manufacturers state that as the minimum finished-arrow weight for safe, warranty-covered shooting, not just a penetration preference. See our arrows and broadheads guide for how point weight factors into that total.
• Point weight – commonly 100 gr; it affects spine and front-of-center balance, so factor it into the chart.
• Straightness – .006″-.003″ is plenty for hunting; tighter for competition.
• Components – matched inserts, points/broadheads, and nocks complete the arrow.

Vanes are glued on one of three ways, and the difference is how much spin they put on the arrow. Straight fletching runs parallel to the shaft and costs the least speed, but generates only a little spin. Offset angles the vane slightly to one side, adding more spin for a small speed cost. Helical curves the vane around the shaft and produces the most spin of the three, at the biggest speed cost. Spin matters because it stabilizes the arrow in flight – and it matters a lot more with a fixed-blade broadhead, since those blades generate steering (planing) forces the instant they catch air. A helical fletch spins the arrow up to speed fast enough to overpower that planing before it can drift the shot off line, which is why fixed-blade hunters lean helical while target and mechanical-broadhead shooters can often get away with straight or a light offset.

The nock is the smallest component on the arrow and the easiest to overlook, but a poor fit at the exact point where the arrow meets the string compromises every shot before it starts. Too loose, and the nock can pop off the string mid-draw or even during the shot – which for a compound bow means an unintended dry-fire, the same bow-damaging failure covered in our shooting guide. Too tight, and the nock can crack under repeated stress, while the string also hangs onto it a fraction too long at the shot, bleeding speed and consistency – and in the worst case dragging the string forward into your arm. The fit test: clipping the nock onto the string should give a soft click, not a loud snap, and once seated you should be able to rotate the string freely inside the nock throat without it falling off.

Most compound shooters use carbon arrows for their strength, consistency, and durability. Aluminum is a budget option; carbon-aluminum hybrids are premium. For hunting and serious target work, carbon is the go-to.