Bow: The Beginning
Richard White, Bow's creator and first editor, reminisces
Point weight affects the front of centre balance (FOC) of an arrow; it determines the parabolic shape of the trajectory to the target, especially at the longer distances.
Too heavy a point will cause the arrow to drop quicker. For archers shooting lighter draw weight bows, this can have a dramatic effect on the ability to get a good sight mark, as the arrow has to be aimed higher, exposing it for longer to the elements, thus reducing the accuracy of the arrow. The point weight required to achieve a good FOC will be slightly different for each archer. Arrow length and the specific components used all form part of the equation, hence the suggested values for recurve target archers using carbon shafts to be between 9% and 12%. Aluminium shafts would be around 7%.
The basic definition of FOC is the percentage difference between the midpoint of the arrow's length and the centre of gravity (balance point) of the arrow (as compared to the total length). You can find an easy way to calculate your FOC on the Easton website: https://eastonarchery.com/2014/06/foc/
There are also online calculators which
IS THERE A WAY TO DETERMINE WHAT POINT WEIGHT YOU SHOULD BE USING IN YOUR ARROWS WITHOUT THE TRIAL AND ERROR, AS THIS CAN GET COSTLY WHEN USING SNAP-OFF POINTS?
make the process easier.
The biggest mistake is to shoot too heavy a point because you are reluctant to break off 10 grains from a set of expensive tungsten points, and/or you feel it will reduce wind drift.
The recommendations for point weight quoted by arrow manufactures are a very good guide and keep the FOC within guidelines. Archers should not need to stray from these if they have taken the care to select the correctly-spined shaft.
For serious archers, point weight evaluation will always form part of the longer overall bow tuning process to gain those extra few points.
ANDREW SMITH
Thanks to reader Scott Gibson for this question