How fast does an arrow rotate?

Crossbow Hunting

Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude

Post Reply
User avatar
DuckHunt
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:07 pm
Location: Harpers Ferry, WV

How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by DuckHunt »

Re: Image
DuckHunt wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:13 pm
nchunterkw wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:26 pm
ON those open blades it would be interesting to try to calculate the rate of spin you are seeing too. In the first pic you can clearly see how the blades rotated from paper 1 to paper 2.
Glad to see I wasn't the only one to notice that. It somewhat suprised me because we're only talking about 3.5" of travel and it certainly rotated. And this was from a Proflight arrow that has way less spin than most of us shoot on custom arrows. It might take more distance between the paper to calculate the actual spin. Then shot distance might matter. How far does it travel before reaching maximum rotation speed? You, well anyone else, could test that alone for days. :lol:
Some may recall my premature opening test with the Micro 400 Suppressor from a couple months ago where calculating the rate of spin was mentioned. Well, since I'm still stuck at home I've finally got some time. :lol:

I contemplated exactly how I could capture the angle of change between the two pieces of paper in the test setup above. :eusa-think: Then it hit me that I was making it harder than it really was. :eusa-doh: Simply place both pieces of paper with the sides aligned perfectly with the top board and I'll be able to measure the angle relative to the side of the paper on each piece. Calculate the difference between the two and wallah, your rate of spin, albeit over only 3.5" of travel.

Since arrow speed shouldn't be a factor, I chose my Micro 335 as the test platform because its way easier to dig arrows out of the target. Then I grabbed a cheap Chinese-made 2-blade Rage clone and removed the band and started with it fully deployed. Using a 2-blade will make it easier to keep track of the rotating blade. I fired shots with the three different arrow/fletching combinations that I have and measured the results.

First Arrow: A stock 18" Diablo
Raw Data: 7° change in 3.5"
Twist Rate: ~1:180"
I'm an engineer so you might want to double check my math. :lol: Another way to think of it is 4 revolutions in 20 yards. Of course it would be somewhat less than 4 rotations, because it will take some distance to achieve maximum spin rate.

Second Arrow: A stock 16.5" ProFlight
Raw Data: 9.1° change in 3.5"
Twist Rate: ~1:138"
5.2 revs in 20 yards

Final Arrow: A 16.5" Spynal Tap fletched helical with 2" Blazers using E-Z Fletch Bolt
Raw Data: 32.5° change in 3.5"
Twist Rate: ~1:38.8"
18.5 revs in 20 yards

The helical Blazers certainly crank up the spin. Of course the increased accuracy comes at the expense of a few FPS of speed. I guess it comes down to a personal preference if you're chasing speed or accuracy. Personally I'm happy with the accuracy of the helical Blazers.

:eusa-think: Why don't arrow manufactures advertise the spin rate of their arrows? Depending on how they fletch them, it should be easy to calculate. Then customers can select the solution that suits their needs. Having that info up front when buying a fletching jig would be handy as well.
Micro Wolverine/Matrix 350 SE
Recovering Excalaholic :lol:
User avatar
janesy
Posts: 4721
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:20 pm
Location: Beavertown. Ont

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by janesy »

Very cool! :thumbup:
Blackout BD-Axe "Hatchet340"
Suppressor 400TD
Assassin 400Extreme
flightattendant100
Posts: 4795
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:06 pm
Location: Ft. Worth, Texas

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by flightattendant100 »

Don’t ask him what time it is!😁
User avatar
Boo
Posts: 14299
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: Newtonville, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by Boo »

What time is it? :eusa-popcorn:
Some people just like stepping on rakes
User avatar
janesy
Posts: 4721
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:20 pm
Location: Beavertown. Ont

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by janesy »

But... does it spin the other way in Australia? That is the question.
Blackout BD-Axe "Hatchet340"
Suppressor 400TD
Assassin 400Extreme
User avatar
AJ01
Posts: 2468
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:09 am
Location: Deep in the Heart of the East Texas Piney Woods!

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by AJ01 »

:eusa-doh: :wtf:
That makes my head hurt!!! :lol:

I really was wondering about spin rates and how they compare with that of a vertical compound!!
Great info.... :thumbup:

But ain't it time to go fishing or something???? :D :lol: :lol: :D :mrgreen:

AJ
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming "Wow, What a Ride!
User avatar
DuckHunt
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:07 pm
Location: Harpers Ferry, WV

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by DuckHunt »

Boo wrote:
Wed May 27, 2020 6:57 pm
What time is it? :eusa-popcorn:
AJ01 wrote:
Thu May 28, 2020 10:23 am
But ain't it time to go fishing or something???? :D :lol: :lol: :D :mrgreen:
OMG it's certainly time for fishing or something. I just found out that I get to return to work on Monday for the first time since March. :eusa-dance: The extent of my outdoor enjoyment over the past two months has been outside in my yard. I refurbished and repainted my boat and trailer and I'm itching to get it on the water. Trail cams need checked and new stands need hung. Its time for this phase to end for me.
Micro Wolverine/Matrix 350 SE
Recovering Excalaholic :lol:
flightattendant100
Posts: 4795
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:06 pm
Location: Ft. Worth, Texas

Re: How fast does an arrow rotate?

Post by flightattendant100 »

DuckHunt wrote:
Thu May 28, 2020 11:31 am
Boo wrote:
Wed May 27, 2020 6:57 pm
What time is it? :eusa-popcorn:
AJ01 wrote:
Thu May 28, 2020 10:23 am
But ain't it time to go fishing or something???? :D :lol: :lol: :D :mrgreen:
OMG it's certainly time for fishing or something. I just found out that I get to return to work on Monday for the first time since March. :eusa-dance: The extent of my outdoor enjoyment over the past two months has been outside in my yard. I refurbished and repainted my boat and trailer and I'm itching to get it on the water. Trail cams need checked and new stands need hung. Its time for this phase to end for me.
Now we are talkin’
Post Reply