Archery | Why Do Arrows Bounce Off The Target?

[@bowman321123]

"It's nice when they go in. But sometimes they don't". I love it, this should prominently displayed be in every archery club and archery shop as well.

[@LordSquee]

"It's nice when they go in. But sometimes they don't.". If you ever needed a slogan for a 'Come and try' day, that's probably exactly the one you want. Maybe along with a free shirt picturing a target with arrows scattered around it :)

[@duchi882]

They usually bounce off because the target is protected with Plot Armor

[@Psiredem]

You see Ivan, when arrow bounce off target, the enemy is fooled because he think I missed, but then I catch arrow and shoot target again.

[@stephaniewu132]

"It's nice when they go in, but sometimes they don't". Your videos have been really helpful and informative, and very welcoming to newcomers. I just got into archery this week as a new hobby during lockdown, and I'm trying my best at home. I found an old archery forum and everyone was so mean to each other in there. Thank you for making your content!

[@Sk0lzky]

I've noticed it usually happens when a target is badly shot up and the arrow slows down immensely going through the first few layers of loose foam (which aren't enough to squeeze it in place) so when it finally reaches the solid piece or even backstop it's as you say - it lacks the energy to go through. It's often enough to fly back a few meters so I have to search for it in the grass tho x)

[@ARTCHILD]

I’m so ridiculous! I didn’t realize my rounded tips where part of the bounce back haha thanks again my friend.

[@rosehep3301]

I just started learning archery, and put a decent sized teddy bear in the backyard to use as a target. In one set, I hit the darn thing in the head three times and once in the "I

[@cshairydude]

I've mostly had arrows bounce because the target (made of foam sheets) was worn and there was a bit of a gap where the arrow happened to hit, so the material didn't have enough structure to take and grip the arrow.

[@cloudrouju526]

There is one more factor that I think was missing in the video. Arrows seldom bounce off brand new targets. It occurs more on older targets, This could be because the missing material for older targets. As arrows are extracted from the target, some material are pulled out along with the arrows, creating pockets of air. This in turn cause the target to have uneven distribution of material, which can cause an unexpected energy distribution upon arrow impact. The missing material can also lead to some flapping parts on the target, when arrows hit these flapping parts, energy is partially absorbed, therefore reducing the impulse exerted on the target. This is how arrow catching nets work.

[@adamzappia2213]

Cloud Rouju agreed. Also, dependent on the type of target, there may no longer be a tight surface that will hold the arrow - such as in the shot out bag target that I have. My arrows now hit the loose internal foam and often bounce out despite me having roughly covered the surface with cardboard (now that is also shot out) and an old sheet.

[@foreverjim5240]

This happens to me quite alot actually. I shoot a 47lb recurve at around 185fps. My target points are fairly blunt and at 30 yards to 40, I have arrows jump off the bag quite alot. One of my targets has a thick canvas bag and is pretty hard to punch through. With a broad head, I've never had one not stick. but a large target bad can absorb a huge amount of force and kick some pretty fast arrows away. Very cool video

[@petrapredovan473]

Hey Nu, I'm around 6 months into archery and am shooting with a 24# club bow. I plan on buying my own bow when I'm less broke, but I want to build more strenght for a higher draw weight. What would be an "ideal" draw weight for an olympic recurve?

[@sirpentineplays5560]

45# to 55# probably but you should never go from 24# to 45#

[@elixa562]

Hey vro im starting out with archery and i find your videos super helpful! Keep teaching, youre really good at it!

[@theonetrueeggroll4252]

hey, what's the music at the beginning?

[@DerekBartlettBeorn]

Ah man, dude, that's happened to me A LOT. My bow is 25-30lb and my target's not that tough so it seems pretty weird. Sometimes they'll land nock-first in the mud, so call it motivation to pull back to full draw.

[@LinuxAus]

I have had an arrow bounce our of the target from just 30 metres with my 40# bow. Not a heavy bow but with bullet points which were new and quite sharp it still happened.

[@shamux4043]

Strange... My 45# compound shoots into a rubber wall fine at 18m/20yds, but sometimes the arrows bounce.

[@ericschultz3895]

Just a heads up to my fellow archery hunters out there. Try to avoid solid cardboard targets. I spent $30 on one from field n stream, and not only did my arrows barely penetrate, but often got stuck in the layers even though my inserts and practice tips are flush with the arrow shaft. Also. DO NOT shoot any sort of broadhead into one. The cardboard will rip both the broadheads and inserts right out of your arrows if you do.

[@GaryLiseo]

I’ve seen this a few times from arrows bouncing back from hitting other arrows at low draw weights or using a stiffer target which did not allow for as good penetration

[@chrisgorman1652]

For us, when our layered foam targets wear, the arrows from lower poundage bows can hit a sheet of foam that has had adjoining sheets shot out, and acts like a springboard.

[@onthatdirtroad]

Using arrows that are too weak might also cause poor penetration.

[@mooface7830]

When shooting at short range with a poor release or poorly set up bow the arrow may not be perpendicular to the target face when it reaches the target. Could this also result in arrows bouning off?

[@SkyChaosify]

that is a possibility, i have seen that happens a few times when new archer shoots.

[@onlyKentrop]

Absolutely. The concept is that the arrow doesn't have enough energy *in its current vector* to penetrate the target. Give the arrow enough energy, and it'll penetrate the target even if the arrow is side on, instead of point on. The arrow only has a certain amount of energy, if it's impacting off of perpendicular, it increases the amount of energy needed to penetrate the target material.

[@Killerean]

Just tested my new arrows and hell I have no problem with my bow lacking power now! They are disappearing in the target all the way to the fletching :D They are Core Recreation 30" fiberglass arrows and they are a hunk of an arrow compared to wood. I think they are like two maybe three times heavier then my wooden arrows, which I'm not mad about since it's winter here and it's windy as hell. And considering the poor quality of my wooden arrows, these fiberglass arrows are definitely an improvement. So much so, today I have doubled the distance I train at, since my groups began to be a bit too close together and the arrows were slamming in to one another.

[@adamzappia2213]

Killerean extra weight should help reduce wind drift, and if they are smaller diameter than your wood arrows this will also be beneficial in the wind. Wait... I just reread what you wrote and I guess this is why you are finding the new arrows beneficial. Increased weight also increases momentum (unless they are travelling way too slow), so not surprised you are getting plenty of penetration into the target.

[@nair.127]

What would the equation be to calculate the energy transfer from the bow to the arrow? Or would it be better to calculate the impact pressure? Mmmm. I need to look up equations? Cheers

[@alexanderflack566]

Efficiency varies significantly depending on bow design and arrow weight (heavier arrows result in higher efficiency but lower arrow speed). It's much easier to use Hooke's Law to calculate (or approximate) the amount of energy stored by the bow, and measure how much energy the arrow has by using a chronograph, weighing the arrow, and doing a basic kinetic energy calculation. For energy stored in a longbow (E) (or approximate energy stored in a modern style recurve; the real value for this will probably be 10% or so higher), you need to find the length of the power stroke (x) (which is draw length minus brace height) in meters and the draw weight (F) in Newtons, and use this equation: E = 0.5*F*x For kinetic energy (K) of a moving arrow, you use mass (m) in kilograms of the arrow and velocity (v) in meters per second: K = 0.5*m*v² After this, efficiency in percent form is just: (K/E)*100

[@garywixson8852]

NUSensei, Would it be safe to say/assume that a 15# longbow at my draw length of 28” assuming I have a good quality target in good condition that the arrows will stick in the target at 15 yards or less? And a 20# longbow @28” will stick at 20 yards and less? And a 25# longbow @ 28” will also be good to go at 25 yards and less? Thanks, Gary.

[@j.j.kuiper22]

yeah they will stick easily! i have shot 18# at 30 meter or around 34 yards and they stick a 25# longbow will stick easily at 40-60 meters it also depends on what kind of arrow u use

[@garywixson8852]

Thefriendlyman Thanks for answering. The reason that I ask is because my first bow will be a Bodnik longbow either a 15#,20#, or a maximum 25# pull. Bearpaw/Bodnik have the Penthalon carbon slimline arrows. They have 1600 spine for 15# draw, 1300 spine for 20# draw, and, 1000 spine for 25# draw. I want a bow just to shoot and won’t be hunting with it. Starting out with a low pound weight will insure that I’ll be able to develop my form and also be able to have long shooting sessions without tiring.

[@j.j.kuiper22]

@@garywixson8852 not to be rude but what is your age and length? Because 15# is indeed a starting bow but in my experience its so low that you can better start with 20# or 25# (depending on age length and your strength) so you can experience how a heavier bow will feel With a 15# you wont really get any more muscle and this way if you get a new bow you will need to get used to it more

[@garywixson8852]

Thefriendlyman I’m 65. When you ask me my length I’m not sure what you’re referring to? If you mean my height, I’m 5’7”. Their is an archery shop about 15 miles from me which has an indoor range and qualified instructors. I’ll try out some longbows that they have in stock with different poundage. I do know for certain that I don’t want a bow over 25# in draw weight to start out with. I read an article once years ago by a very experienced archer & instructor who advised people starting in archery not to go anything over 25# in draw weight. His reasoning was because you need to develop your form, good release, etc. first before you move up in poundage. He said to many people start out overbowed and pick to high of poundage for their first bow and quickly get discouraged and give up the sport. That makes a lot of sense to me.

[@j.j.kuiper22]

@@garywixson8852 yeah you dont want to go above 25# but i think 15# is a bit to low especially is you go for a longbow/recurve cause those are most of the time more easy to draw then horsebows cus of the length Indeed go to a shop and try a lot of bows so you get an idea of what u want

[@cjbottaro]

What distance were you shooting at in the beginning of the video? Wish I could do that!

[@Milanv0908]

Soo its about the draw weight i only dont understand 1 thing why do younger people have 14 pound bows im a junior and i'm schooting a 28 pound compound bow

[@NUSensei]

"Junior" can apply to a large age range, but also remember that you shoot *compound*. Junior shooters often do go for 30lb compound bows because the holding weight is closer to 14lb once you get past the let-off.

[@mrnice752]

To put that into perspective, I started recurve at 25. I'm 6'4" male and pretty average build. The first bow I shot with was 28lb(more like 32 at my DL), and to me that felt 'heavy'.. When you don't have the right form even 28lb's is a lot of weight to hold. After a couple of sessions I actually understood how to draw and hold properly, and easily jumped to 36lb (40 OTF). The point is proper form is essential in archery, and you can't learn it if you are "over bowed" and can't hold the draw weight easily. The let-off on compound bows essentially allows you to learn on whatever bow you can draw, and makes up for any form errors when learning.

[@Milanv0908]

@@mrnice752 thanks for the tips but i can pull my bow verry easy and i dont feel allot of preasure

[@mrnice752]

@@Milanv0908 Most compounds have 50-85% let-off in the "valley". You will only be holding 10-14lb while aiming at full draw.

[@braingasim]

Has this ever happened during the Olympics? At 70m, I would think it could happen.

[@chrisgorman1652]

www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012/2012/8/2/3215117/archery-gif-khatuna-lorig-megal-update - although it was because they put a camera in the centre of the target.

[@Sk0lzky]

Oh, btw it's never happened to me when I fucked up my technique and it was slightly tilted when hitting the target, it's probably a coincidence since it rarely happens but if there's another reason for it I'll gladly hear it :v

[@Tooadie]

Can any help me! How do i know if i need a left bow or right bow!

[@Feeshyenjoyer]

Cocke what hand do you pull the string , that is the hand that you should buy your bow in

[@Tooadie]

@@Feeshyenjoyer iam right handed dominace and left eye dominace i did try to put a string on a stick the se the pull when i holding the bow in right hand and pull with left i can do it easy now shaking but when i heve the bow in left hand andd pull with right hand i heve just problem to add arrow to the stick and shaking the bow? 🤔

[@social3ngin33rin]

The world may never know NuSensei: hold my quiver

[@ferrymarshall5346]

Bounced, because target was sloped 45 degrees

[@BodaciousWench]

Cz the darn target is made with tyvek

[@cloudrouju526]

It's not the larger surface area of the blunt arrow tip dissipating the energy on the target, energy dissipation was done by air resistance, which is more or less the same for sharp point and blunt point, rather, it was the larger surface area reducing the impulse exerted on the target.

[@social3ngin33rin]

35# limbs: We're going to throw you into that target brooooo Arrow: I'm ready bro! *bounces off target* Target: Nah bro

[@cyropower7808]

Thank you for this video! 😃

[@gizmonomono]

I'm surprised someone can't figure this out by themselves. It's painfully obvious :D

[@sebastienraymond3648]

Yup, it's like learning that pancakes are called Pancakes because they are cakes made in a pan .. :-/

[@NUSensei]

I might be able to offer an explanation. The layperson doesn't understand how bows actually work (we're talking people who assume that the power comes from the string). So in everyday logic, arrow = pointy, so when it gets shot into something, it should be stuck in the target. As an everyday instructor, to most people a bow is a bow and an arrow is an arrow. They don't comprehend that bows can have different draw weights and arrows move at different speeds. It's like how people treat guns as bullet dispensers but have little understanding of propellant loads, muzzle velocity and ballistics.

[@gizmonomono]

@@NUSensei Makes sense. I don't wanna be a dick, but it's a fact that most people can't use logic properly 😁

[@sebastienraymond3648]

@@NUSensei We say that for fun. Obviously my opinion is biased, since I have been practicing archery for several years and this video subject seems obvious to me. :-)

[@adamzappia2213]

Always interesting to contemplate why someone might ask a question that seems simple because we take the answer for granted. I’ve actually had this issue lately myself - same bow and arrows and same target. They rarely bounced out in the past, but in my case it is degradation of the bag target I’m using. There isn’t a good “solid” surface later to provide tension and catch the arrows. Generally speaking I’d say momentum is the biggest factor in an arrow bouncing out. Light bow/light arrows produces very little momentum. A slow arrow with some weight to it can still hit reasonably hard, and puncture. This is a factor I don’t think a lot of archers would give a lot of thought to unless they hunt, where momentum is important to increase arrow penetration.

[@jaykay8295]

Because they're made by Gaijin