Archery Plunger - Adjustable Center Shot and Tune | Archery Basics Explained

The basic guide to archery plungers! In this video, I unravel the black magic surrounding this essential archery tool, also known as the Berger button. Discover what a plunger is and why it's a must-have for your bow setup. Learn how to adjust and fine-tune your plunger for optimal performance, center shot alignment, and arrow tune. Whether you're a beginner archer wondering if you need a plunger or an experienced shooter looking to enhance your accuracy, this tutorial has you covered. I aim to answer your burning questions and demystify the secrets of the archery plunger.
Plunger used in this video: collabs.shop/rbftka
Beginner Plunger: collabs.shop/ve0tiq
Tuning for Performance: jakekaminski.com
Links to items used in the video**:
Tuning for Performance (amazon): amzn.to/3XLcvlH
Limb Alignment Blocks: amzn.to/3pEROv9
Allen Wrenches: amzn.to/3NR4w1B
Plunger: amzn.to/3NHm00k
Chapters:
00:00-00:29 Intro
00:29-1:37 Basics of the Plunger
1:37-3:24 Adjusting Center Shot
3:24-5:32 Spring Tension and Tune
5:32-7:20 Things to Look-Out For
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[@bambuwuzled]

4:00 the light reflecting off the grip makes a little smiley face

[@dracus6877]

Finally, someone has the balls to explain correctly what a plunger does. And how to set ur center shot when having non easton x10 arrows. Thank you so much jake

[@jennifergibson128]

Appreciate the info and how you broke it down. No longer shoot with a plunger, but will reference this to aid other archers and their setups. Thanks!

[@cavetroll]

Perfect timing. Just before bed and the new video appears 😂

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

You're Welcome! haha

[@cavetroll]

@@JakeKaminskiArchery it's like a good bedtime story. ,😜🤣

[@TheNomadDon]

Snap!

[@48JF]

Perfect bed time video 😂👍 … your videos are still the best in the word of archery 🏹

[@UndulatingOlive]

Thankyou, very straight forward, not a long video, almost exactly what I need

[@allanjgray1]

Thanks for this one Jake.

[@beaurasmussen5675]

No you always for the great share as this something that I've been looking at adjusting but wasn't too sure on how best to go about it 👍

[@popsworkbench4364]

Good explanation, thanks.

[@PJb-qd1hl]

Thank you very much for great tutorials. I am new to archery, and your video helped me a ton. I find your YT clips even more helpful if I watch them again after trying few rounds of shooting with new accessaries like stabilizers, plunger and etc.

[@AriefLatif]

Great content as usual. Thank you Jake from this beginner barebow archer from Indonesia

[@danielbear3802]

Thank you for this video i found it after watch 20 videos with people holding them but not showing what it does or even where it goes.

[@RainbowArcher252]

Thank you for the video! I'd love a video on shooting in a new string. Covering things like the brace height changing because the string is settling in.

[@adyaelrivera6803]

Thank God I was already wondering when the new video will come out

[@mysticnathan]

Thanks Jake.

[@gedog77]

Just what I needed.

[@lordcarnorjax8599]

Two plunger videos in two weeks, awesome work. After the previous video I had a look at my Beiter plunger and realised that the centre shot adjustment ring wasn't tightened down and the tension was about as low as it could go (5 clicks from coming undone). I've probably been shooting with it like that for 7 months since I get the new plunger with my new rise. SMH. Oddly enough been shooting better than ever up till a couple of weeks ago where I got a minor injury and didn't listen to my body. When it was first a bit sore, I kept shooting and now having to take a longer time off, so I hadn't been able to test my changes with the plunger but still had to check the centre shot so this this video was perfect timing.

[@jaap82]

Another great video. Right at the moment i was start doubting my plungers functionality! I take your tips right to the field tomorrow and see how it will work out. Advanced last week from the 18 to the 30 meter target after doing archery for 3 weeks now. Todays topscore was 6 out of 12 in the yellow 3 in the red and 3 well lets say... they hit the target somewhere else... Every day i try to shoot for at least 1 hour and if possible up to 3 hours. I love it more every day and starts to become allmost an addiction. Hope to enjoy it for a long time to come as well as your informative videos for newbies like me. Got my first bruise today when the string somehow went behind my protector. Guess i didnt turn my arm the right way. Lesson learned.

[@peterxyz3541]

Seeing only hands, I’m reminded of the YT engineering channel THIS OLD TONY 😂😂😂👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@gtptvanbuuren3795]

Thank you.

[@Mic2701M]

Hey Jake, Thanks for this short Video for tuning the center shot. I tuned my Bow with your long tuning Videos and i like this short ones much more. I would like to see videos about your training as active archer. Like how did your days Look. Strength, cardio, cordination and All the stuff you did beside shooting. And how did the shooting Training look? Warm up, shooting, cool down. And on what did you fokus on your shooting?

[@fervensmortis]

Great info and video! Would it be possible to do a video on types of arrow shafts? You mentioned barreled arrows in this video

[@Gamer-fz7bw]

awesome thanks a lot.

[@Arwndr]

Thanks, Jake! ☀️🌿✨ Can you make video for clicker explanation? And why some adjustments for berger plunger can do that effect of hiting clicker? Thanks!

[@alantolinez]

Great video! Suggestion: since in Archery we handle a lot of information, do you know any app or program to keep this information organized? Also tell us your experience with some archery devices like bowdometer, etc. thank you.

[@48JF]

Danke!

[@ddeboy002]

just bought a new hoyt bare bow. Arrives tomorrow. Of course string won't arrive for another week.

[@colingregory7464]

You tune arrows for a trad bow by canting the bow or removing spine from the wood or changing a pile as per recurve and comp

[@philipchurchill4164]

Hi Jake. I've recently taken up archery, late in life (57). I've been shooting about a year now and have reached the 50yd mark. I'm now interested in tuning. The bits in need are on there way. Do you have content to follow for the process? Or is your book the best option. I'm a UK archer and shoot barebow. Many thanks for the great content. 👍

[@krozoarchery]

Thanks for great video, usefull info. Could You please explain difference betwen limb lenghts? I`m shootin 68 inch bow, but for me it could also be 70 inch bow. so whats the main difference, and also there is some myths what need to be busted.

[@HenrikHermannKristiansen]

Thanks alot for this video, got my first bow about 3-4 weeks ago and the guy said he tuned the bow for me. But my arrows keep flying left (the nock heads right) - so i am definately going to adjust my plunger spring and see if it does any difference. These videos are great for people (like me) who have a long day at work and a family at home, which makes it impossible for me to go to any archer club. Nice simple and straight explanations with confidence 👍

[@gjb8981]

Thanks for another great video Jake. One query I have is, does it matter where the plunger tip rests up against the arrow shaft? I’ve heard it should be against the centre (widest diameter) of the arrow but how does that work for ACE, X10 and VXT types of arrows where the diameter against the plunger tip changes as you draw the bow? I.e.: should it be set for the resting or full draw point of the arrow?

[@carlaroseli]

Valeu!

[@PatrikHagenvald]

Thanks Jake..=) Helped alot. Gonna do the tuning next time out on the shooting range. But if my grouping is good and bareshaft is hitting higher, what´s the problem or is there a problem..? Right know my bareshaft is hitting high to the right.( my grouping is inside yellow but bareshaft at 1 a clock on 2 points). Cant find the reason for it to go high.

[@healthfullybydr.hagarabdel5209]

Could you please send me a link for the micro adjustment for the plunger?

[@yasnas]

If the plunger needs tuning i.e. arrows are flying stiff, should you adjust the center shot or the plunger tension first?

[@cameronsenay882]

Hey Jake, would it be possible in theory to tune out bow torque, or at least mitigate it, by changing center shot, perhaps during a walk back tune?

[@sweetjamhit]

Thanks Jake. Plungers!! One frustration I've found is there's no definitive or scientific STARTING point for tuning the plunger (which in a precision sport baffles me somewhat!)... Everybody seems to have their own 'secret sauce'! If you do find a way to definitively quantify plungers you will have solved a long standing mystery!

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

Working on it…

[@InFerrumVeritas]

For a starting point, use a kitchen gram scale to measure how much pressure you need to start to move the plunger stem. You want to start somewhere between 8 and 12 g x your draw weight (in lbs). So you're looking at 280-420g. Start with the spring that will give you that range, set it somewhere in the middle, and tune from there.

[@sweetjamhit]

Hi @@InFerrumVeritas , thanks for the info. Yes tried this and 'Tuning For Tens' matchstick plunger tune - quite different approaches. With my fuzzy logic I felt that the Matchstick approach allowed me to get my arrows tuned to the bow with one less variable (the plunger tension). Plunger then set to medium and then onto logging groups to find the sweet spot for the plunger (which ended up 15g x Draw weight... so not a million miles away from the scales variation) - it also felt like it got me to group tuning quicker. It would just be nice to know, definitively and scientifically, what is the best place to start from so it takes out any guess work. Thanks again.

[@TheRedEyeChannel]

Off topic question. I remember you mentioned before that you can't buy performance and talked about a video where an archer with a more basic bow outshot an archer with a more expensive bow. Do you still have the video link? I lost it.

[@slimedwards8845]

how much spring tension chould i use on a ilf recurve wen im not using a arrow clicker{ setup for bare bow }

[@fredcarter7003]

Where can I find a target like the one you are using?

[@esnevip]

If the plunger tension also influences arrow tune, how does one know where to set it for it to be 'neutral' to conduct arrow tuning with bow weight/point weight/arrow length without chasing ones tail?

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

I default to medium spring or one it came with and a middleish setting, adjust all other parameters of the bow and arrow first to get the tune as good as possible and then adjust spring tension for fine tuning from there.

[@InFerrumVeritas]

Classic recurve tuning methods use a stiff plunger to bareshaft then use the plunger tension to adjust for finger release and walk-back tune. Tuning4Tens, the Tone method, etc. For barebow, Eccentric Arrow Archery has an interesting, detailed article on how to figure it out.

[@yodhanhunter]

Talk about timing. My plunger comes tomorrow

[@brawlerbren1]

Speaking of arrows, I am looking into getting myself new arrows and not sure if spending the money on the highest end arrows like ACE's or x10's is worth it for the level I am at. I do want something higher quality than Carbon One's which I have been shooting and have been trying to look outside of Easton for new arrows but feel it is hard to find good reviews and more importantly good comparisons for target archery. Do you have much experience with shooting non-easton arrows?

[@InFerrumVeritas]

Not to "well actually," but Norm Pint invented the plunger button in the 1960s. Vic Berger was a well known archer who made his own version of this, marketed as a Berger Button. Because these were better marketed and sold so well, the name became synonymous with all cushion plunger buttons. Dick Tone (whom I'm sure you know of or personally know) has a pretty detailed article about the history of this on his website.

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

Cool, good to know. Never heard of Norm

[@ThomasRaimbault]

Hi, tks for the video 👏 On the new Revo plunger from Wooooojack Factory (French startup 🇫🇷), you can adjust the center shot with micro-clicks too. What do you think about this feature, adjusting center shot without having to unscrew your plunger ?

[@InFerrumVeritas]

A friend of mine has an early production model. It's very nice, although also very large. I like it much better than the Zniper Zextant. That said, I think the Wifler MP2 has a better centershot adjustment than either.

[@johndenver6648]

Hi! I have a tuning problem. My arrows always go to the left and my bareshaft goes right. I have no explanation for it 🤔. Does someone have an idea?

[@paulknol]

Hi Jake, is the plunger you have in the video a beiter plunger? Looked at the linked plunger but it did not seem to look like the same one. Shopping for a plunger with micro adjustable clicks.

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

The one in the video was an AAE Gold Micro clicker

[@paulknol]

@@JakeKaminskiArchery Thanks so much

[@juancarlossegadecanosa67]

I never understood the history of the plunger quite well, a guy from Iowa named Norman L. Pint patented it during the sixties and sold it under the name of Panic Button. Shortly after, the famous Victor Berger from Springfield Ohio began to sell a simpler design with his name, the Berger Button, and made the thing famous. But I've never found a patent under Berger's name, did he buy a license from Pint? or he didn't have to because of his simpler design? If someone knows the answer, please tell me.

[@donaldvonlintig8445]

Hi Jake, Just was wondering in your explanation of, "Arrows acting weak, bareshafts hitting to the right of fletched shafts, increase plunger tension" Does that just apply to Right handed shooters,(I'm assuming) since, your showing a right-handed bow. Would a Left-handed shooter use opposite instructions ? Thanks.

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

Yes that’s for a right handed shooter

[@donaldvonlintig8445]

Thanks Jake, just wanted to verify. Excellent information in your tutorials .@@JakeKaminskiArchery

[@map117]

Wait, Easton A/C/E's are not Barreled, just the X10's, or did i mishear Jake?

[@JakeKaminskiArchery]

I thought I said ace and x10s are the only barreled shafts

[@brookvalleylife724]

Hey Jake, I just did this same thing on my channel , Take a look and see what you think. Great to get some feedback from an expert archer. Have a great day.

[@LeeValentine001]

I can't un-see the creepy smily face in the middle of your riser. Looks like SCP or Slenderman or something 😅

[@georgehaydukeiii6396]

Don't buy cheap plungers from China. They look cool, but the tolerances are so bad that they don't work. Spend the money once, and get a good plunger.

[@adyaelrivera6803]

Hey kaminski one thing, I was looking at some bows that are a copy of the most recent hoyt bows I would like to know your opinion on those bows since they are an extremely cheap copy. I saw them on the page of chn.archery