The time between hunting seasons is a great opportunity to tune arrows for maximum accuracy. Paper tuning is one way the achieve good arrow flight.

[caption id="attachment_6297" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Paper tuning is a good way to get an idea for how your arrows are flying.[/caption] Having properly tuned arrows is essential for shooting accurately. This begins with selecting arrows of the correct spine to suit your bow. Arrow length and point weight also contribute to a properly tuned shaft. Additionally there are factors on your bow that can contribute to proper arrow flight as well. Whether you shoot a traditional bow or compound bow determines what you need to look for. In a previous post we discussed bareshaft arrow tuning as one way to reveal the flight of your arrows. I've personally used this strategy in the past and think bareshafting is a great way to shed light on your arrow flight. Bareshaft tuning is good, but the most popular method for tuning an arrow shaft is paper tuning. Simply explained, paper tuning is when you shoot a fletched arrow through a sheet of paper to show flight characteristics. Watch this brief video to get an idea of what to look for when paper tuning. https://youtu.be/l8Io7DuHtB4 If anyone is qualified to explain paper tuning, it is Levi Morgan. This video shows is how to identify problems with your arrow flight, but doesn't address how to fix those problems. The first step to tuning arrows is to make sure there are no faults in your shooting form. Bow torque or and improper release will always cause erratic arrow flight, and needs to be addressed before you start tuning. Once you are confident your shooting is up to snuff here are some of the basic fixes you can make as describe by the book Archery; Steps to Success by Kathleen M. Haywood and Catherine F. Lewis. Stand away from the paper at around three yards. Make sure your target behind the paper is far enough away your arrow will contact the target only once is has completely passed through. Shoot through the paper and check the tear. Here are the basic diagnosis for problems. Tear High: Move your nocking point down Tear Low: Move your nocking point up For right-handed shooters (Reverse for left) Tear Right: Arrow spine is too stiff. Either try a weaker spined arrow, or increase the point weight. You can also try moving your rest away from the riser. Tear Left: Arrow spine too weak. Either try a stiffer spined arrow, or decrease the point weight. You can also try moving your arrow rest toward the riser. If you are have shot through paper and are still not getting the arrow flight you desire, it would be best to see a pro shop and get their insight. Archery pros generally can spot a shooting flaw or equipment flaw easily and will get you or your bow shooting better in no time. Follow the author through his facebook page or on twitter. NEXT: ARROW TUNING; THE BASICS