Why Are My Arrows Hitting to the Right?

Question: I am working on setting up my new compound bow and zeroing my bow sight.  My arrows keep hitting to the right when I’m shooting the bow.  What is the problem?

If your arrows are consistently hitting to the right of where you’re aiming, there are a few potential reasons worth investigating. This issue can arise from a combination of factors related to your equipment setup, shooting technique, or both.

Let’s break down the most common causes:

1. Bow Alignment and Grip: If your bow isn’t properly aligned when you shoot, or if your grip is causing the bow to tilt, your arrows can veer off course. Ensure your stance and grip are consistent and you’re holding the bow vertically.
2. Arrow Rest Position: The position of your arrow rest might need adjustment. If it’s too far to the left for a right-handed shooter (or too far to the right for a left-handed shooter), it can push your arrows to the right. Check that your arrow rest is correctly aligned with the bow’s centerline.
3. Sight Adjustment: Your sight might not be properly calibrated. If you’re consistently hitting to the right, try moving your sight to the right (for right-handed shooters) or to the left (for left-handed shooters). This counterintuitive move actually aligns your aim with where your arrows are landing.
4. Arrow Spine: Shooting arrows with a spine (flexibility) that’s not matched to your bow’s draw weight can cause erratic flight patterns, including drifting to the right. Ensure your arrows have the appropriate spine for your bow setup.
5. Release Technique: Inconsistent release technique or torquing the string can also send arrows off course. Focus on a smooth, consistent release with each shot.
6. Fletching Contact: If your arrow’s fletchings are making contact with the arrow rest or the bow itself during the shot, this can alter the arrow’s flight path. Inspect your setup to ensure there’s no fletching contact.

Addressing arrows hitting to the right often requires a process of elimination. Start by examining these areas one by one, making small adjustments, and practicing to see if the issue is resolved. Sometimes, a combination of minor tweaks rather than a single change is what’s needed to get your arrows flying straight and true.

If that doesn’t work:

When your arrows keep shooting to the left as you’re trying to zero your bow sight and shoot in your new compound bow, there are a couple of extra steps you can take to figure out what’s going on and fix it: paper tuning and nock tuning. These methods help make sure your arrows fly straight and hit where you’re aiming.

Paper Tuning: This is like a detective tool for seeing how your arrow flies right after it leaves your bow. You shoot an arrow through a piece of paper set up a few feet in front of you. The tear in the paper shows if your arrow is flying straight or if it’s wobbling. If the tear shows that the arrow went through the paper at an angle, it means something’s off. By adjusting your bow based on the kind of tear you see, you can get your arrows to fly straight and hit the target right where you want.

Nock Tuning: This involves slightly turning the nock (the part of the arrow that attaches to the string) and shooting again to see if there’s an improvement in how the arrow flies. Sometimes, just a small adjustment to the nock can make a big difference in correcting the arrow’s path. It’s all about finding the best position for the nock that makes the arrow fly true.

Both paper tuning and nock tuning are about making small changes and testing the results. They help you understand exactly how your arrows are flying and what you can do to improve their accuracy. It’s a bit like solving a puzzle – each adjustment gets you closer to having your arrows fly perfectly straight.

If you’re new to these tuning methods, it might be helpful to ask for advice from someone experienced or look up some tutorials to guide you through the process. With a little patience and practice, you’ll be able to fine-tune your bow and arrows to shoot accurately and consistently hit your target.