HELICAL FLETCHING

When we start out in archery arrows are just seen as necessary components, and they all just have fletchings on. Even beginners with limited technical knowledge understand the function of fletchings, but don't really pay much more attention to them beyond selecting the size, shape and colour. As time goes by archers start to see subtle differences on colleague's and competitor's arrows, and eyes get opened to the fact that there's multiple types and ways of applying fletchings to a shaft. In this article, we're going to be taking a look at the very popular option of helical fletching.

Helical fletching settles an arrow faster by offering an increased amount of gyroscopic stabilisation via a higher drag factor. The word helical is derived from the word “helix” and means to have a helix or spiral twist. In terms of fletching, the feather or vane is literally spiralled