Right VS Left Helical?

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dhill1520
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:22 pm

Right VS Left Helical?

#1 Post by dhill1520 »

Anyone have any input on which is better for a RH shooter? I have heard some say it doesnt matter and some say LH helical for RH shooter and RH helical for LH shooters.
Blacktail Elite 62" 64# @ 30"
D/H Super Diablo 60" 57# @ 28"
Pearson Rogue 58" 50# @ 28"

bbrooks
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:38 am

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#2 Post by bbrooks »

I am a right handed shooter and shoot left wing feathers. I only have left wing jigs, which I purchased 30 plus years ago. This is OK as long as the quills(meaty part) is orientated to clear the window and shelf without direct rubbing contact. Some people with this set up, put one feather bisecting the area where the rest and shelf meet, and the other two following that orientation. This provides better clearance. So if you have jigs use them-with some tweeking
If going to buy jigs I would get right for left and left for right jigs---this eliminates the need to adjust the clamps to avoid the meaty part of the quill rubbing therefore effecting arrow flight. The aforementioned is for three fletched arrows. Four fletched don't have as much of a clearance issue as three. Also if the quills are hand stripped--(as for primitive arrow making) the clearance issue is not an issue. Hope this helps. I'm new to this site, but an old time archer.

Bowferd
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:13 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#3 Post by Bowferd »

I'm also a right hand shooter and use primarily LW helical as that was the advice given to me years ago by Dan Quillian when I was setting up arrows for the Longhunter which I'd purchased from him.
Some say it makes no difference and I agree. I've used both RW and LW and haven't noticed any flight characteristic difference.
I will add that when fletched RW I have had quills cut the index finger of my bow hand because of more contact, but that problem can be resolved by adding an extra drop of glue at the leading edge of the feather.

cyberscout
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:39 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#4 Post by cyberscout »

My experience Mirrors Bowferds, I am right handed and shoot left/W helical as standard. I have seen no difference in grouping for me. Although as Bowferd mentioned Right/W Helical fletch would hit my bowhand [off/on] and made a minor cut. Of course that helps insure proper hand placement --haha
Scout.

TJK68
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:49 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#5 Post by TJK68 »

Thanks guys, that helped me out also.

dhill1520
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:22 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#6 Post by dhill1520 »

After talking to Ted at Raptor, I decided to go with right helical mainly because the jig I had was right. Ted said it really doesn't make a difference which you use. I shot all wood arrows, but Ted also mentioned an other interesting point. With Right helical if you are using aluminium arrows with screw in points, the points are less likely to loosen with right due to the direction of rotation. It actually promotes the tips to tighten, where as left tends to loosen. I used to shoot aluminium and while they did loosen I didn't realize this would help.
Blacktail Elite 62" 64# @ 30"
D/H Super Diablo 60" 57# @ 28"
Pearson Rogue 58" 50# @ 28"

Bowferd
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:13 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#7 Post by Bowferd »

Right wing for a right hand shooter does tend to tighten the points. When I was shooting carbons and aluminums with LW, I was always checking points to see if they were backing out.
I always used parafin wax, soap from a bar, or loctite in order to keep them tight.
Now I use nothing but woodies or bamboo with glue on points and BH's and haven't noticed a problem (yet).

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Hawk
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:33 am

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#8 Post by Hawk »

Makes no differance

Greywolf
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2013 6:35 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#9 Post by Greywolf »

I break the rule, I use right wing feathers in a left hand jig and do a "width of the quill" off set left.
Which is, draw a line center of the arrow, put a right wing feather in the jig, then I put the front right side of the feather on the left side of the line..... and do the reverse on the back of the feather.
it bends the quills backwards just a little and makes it stand "Proud" and gives a little more air resistance with out the helical.

And yes, the right helical does tighten the points. I just do what ever, just because someone wrote a book and said do it this way, don't means it can't be done the other way too.

Plus, I get a lot of comments on my arrows, They just can't figger out what I did.
You never get a second chance to make a first great shot.

LIBERTY
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2013 8:17 pm

Re: Right VS Left Helical?

#10 Post by LIBERTY »

I use Grizzly broadheads and it is recommended that right wing feathers be used with them. I also understand that a lot of the new single edge broadheads including Grizzly that you can buy use the bevel on either side and you can buy what you need to match the twist of your feather. If your using double edged heads it really doesn't matter which feather you shoot. FRJ

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