is it bad for the bow when the arrow kinda falls off to the left of your bow?

[mattd]

i made a few arrows out of birch shafting, but when i shot my new warbow for the first time the arrow kinda said "mneh" and fell off to the left and cut my face. i dont really care about my face but i was worried about my bow. no cracks or anything so i'm just wondering if that counts as a dry fire?

[killir duck]

Well if the bow was left handed and it fell to the left, that means your bow is broke      but I'm assuming it's right handed so my best guess is that your arrow slipped off the bow string just before you released, was the arrow knock busted after the shot? So Ya that's pretty much a missfire

[mattd]

its a english warbow.  like i said i made them, i suspect my nock was to wide for the string, i really have no clue what i'm doing. i can shoot but as far as making stuff i'm very very very inexperienced. it happened twice. but no cracks or anything like that in the bow so i'm guessing its ok? or do i have to worry for the rest of the bows life that something inside is all kinds of screwy now? its 107lbs at 32 inches.

[TRACY]

Build up the string serving at the nock point and check for a secure fit with the arrows you plan to shoot with the bow UNSTRUNG. Sounds like you should have tried lower poundage/smaller bow first and then worked up to the war bow, especially if you have no clue. Safety brother


Tracy

[bowtarist]

KD asked if your nocks busted. Did they? Make sure you have wrapping around the shaft right below the arrow nock. Did you hold the arrow w/ your left index finger as you drew the bow and by doing so, unstrung the arrow in the process? I've seen that happen before. And, as far I as I tell, yes it was a dry fire.  dp

[JW_Halverson]

IF you are right handed shooting a bow.  AND IF the arrow is falling to the left off your knuckle..

THEN you are curling your right hand fingers inward as you draw.  It is twisting the string to the left and likewise the arrow is being pushed off the shelf/knuckles. It takes some confidence to start to draw and actually "open" the curl of your fingers slightly to encourage the arrow to stay in place.

Try starting with your fingers a little deeper on the string, maybe even as deep as the first joint.

[JEB]

Pinch your nocks between your two fingers just enough to hold the arrow on when you draw back but not so much that the arrow wants to flop off the rest and to the left.  Sounds like your nock openings are way too big.  As mentioned build up your serving and maybe make your nocks a little deeper into the shaft.

To answer your question,  Your bow can break if you dry fire it.

[toomanyknots]

To answer your question,  Your bow can break if you dry fire it.

Damn straight. And make sure your arrows are heavy enough to shoot with a 107 pound bow. Shooting light weight arrows with a heavy weight warbow basically is dry firing. What spine are the arrows, and how heavy are they in grains? What is the diameter and length of the shaft?

[mattd]

nah the knocks didnt bust, the arrows are unspined 10mm birch with a long needle bodkin. the bowyer said i didnt need to worry about what they spined for just said 3/8ths is a bit light but ok, 1/2 inch is a bit heavy but ok said that 10mm should be just about right..

[toomanyknots]

nah the knocks didnt bust, the arrows are unspined 10mm birch with a long needle bodkin. the bowyer said i didnt need to worry about what they spined for just said 3/8ths is a bit light but ok, 1/2 inch is a bit heavy but ok said that 10mm should be just about right..

Sounds fine to me, I was just worried as sometimes people will shoot lighter arrows with heavier bows. I'm sure the arrows are fine for that bow, being over 3/8 and with the bodkin which typically the machined bodkins you find start out at 190 - 200 grains, so I figure your good to go. I would guess JW might be on point. I don't know how you cut your face though, other than a miss fire sent the arrow back at you somehow? I think I am kinda confused.  You might try a heavier point if it is going to the left due to spine, which would mean it is too strong for the bow. If you under draw the arrow it can seem like it is stiffer spine than it is too.

[Marc St Louis]

There's an easy fix if your arrow nocks are too big.  Just get some masking tape and wrap around the string till you get the right diameter

[mattd]

it fell off as i released the arrow, spun around and the needle bodkin cut my cheek. coulda been much much much worst. the masking tape idea is great, i dont know how i didnt think of that. long as my bow doesnt have internal cracks that will just grow and grow i'm happy.  i paid way to much for that thing to break it cause i'm stupid,.

[bubbles]

That happened to me once. But it was a 30# bow with a field point. Arrow slipped off the string and when I fired, it spun it around close my face. But with a warbow with bodkins-   Yikes man! Be careful,

[bow101]

IF you are right handed shooting a bow.  AND IF the arrow is falling to the left off your knuckle..

THEN you are curling your right hand fingers inward as you draw.  It is twisting the string to the left and likewise the arrow is being pushed off the shelf/knuckles. It takes some confidence to start to draw and actually "open" the curl of your fingers slightly to encourage the arrow to stay in place.

Try starting with your fingers a little deeper on the string, maybe even as deep as the first joint.

I hear ya, had that problem, I aslo found that canting the bow helped me in a big, big way......