Fletches scratching the back of the hand

[shewolf]

Treemarks just asked me how he can avoid his hand to be scratched by the feathers when shooting.

First of all the nocking point must be higher then the arrow resting on your hand. On a long bow an angle of 90 degrees to the string plus 5 mm lowering on the bow handle is fine. For a horsebow shot when galopping I recommend the following solution:



Here my arrow has an angle of 90 degrees plus 10 mm lowering on the bow handle. Such a low arrow rest will prevent scratching even on horseback.

Second the feathers should be secured. Treemarks suggested tape or nylon. I dug out some pics to illustrate, perhaps some of you others have examples as well. Here is cotton string:




And here my favourite, because easy & fast, sanitary hemp with carpenters glue:



Tape should also be fine, but I have never tried it.