Martin Archery Martin Compound Bow - Manual (Page 16)

Fishtailing
Fishtailing relates to the arrow rest adjustment and the stiffness of your
arrow. Just as before, start at about ten to fifteen yards and shoot three fletched arrows
into your target. Using the same aiming point, follow them up with two bare shafts. After
you get the shafts to impact with the fletched shafts, you may want to try shooting them at
a longer distance for a finer indication of arrow flight.
If your unfletched shafts impact to the left of your fletched shafts, your arrow is too stiff.
There are two things that you can do to correct this problem; you can select a weaker ar-
row, or you can decrease the cushion plunger tension. Increasing the peak weight of your
bow or increasing your point weight will also make your arrow act a bit more limber.
If your unfletched shafts impact to the right of your fletched shafts, your arrow is too
limber. There are two methods you can try that will correct this problem; you can select a
stiffer arrow, or you can increase the cushion plunger tension. Decreasing the peak weight of
your bow or decreasing your point weight will also make your arrow act a bit more stiff.
To fine tune your setup further, step back to twenty or thirty yards and repeat
the above procedures. Small flight disturbances will show up better as you get far-
ther from the target. Your Martin bow is essentially tuned when your bare shafts hit
together with your fletched shafts. Keep in mind that if you continue and complete the super
fine tuning methods in this manual, it is not uncommon for your bare shaft impact to change.
Even with your bow shooting its best, it is common for a perfectly tuned bow to shoot a bare
shaft a bit low and right or low and left. Perfect arrow groups are the goal when completing
these exercises. NOTE: Left-handed shooters should follow instructions in reverse.
Left handed shooters should follow instructions in reverse.
Stiff Arrow- bare
shafts fly to left.
Limber Arrow-bare
shafts fly to right.
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