Looking to purchase a new arrow rest but not sure whether you should get a capture rest or a drop away rest, here is a brief discussion to help you when choosing an arrow rest.

[caption id="attachment_5781" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Looking to buy an arrow rest? Here are some things to consider.[/caption] Arrow rests. Are they important? As the last piece of equipment that touches your arrow during its release, you better believe they are important. In the beginning arrows flew off the bow itself, or the hand off the archer. Today's compound bows make that all but impossible and modern archery requires the use of some type of rest system. The two most popular rest systems today are the capture (or cradle) rests and drop away rests. Both of these styles offer advantages to archers, and both have some take aways. By understanding the basic differences you can make the best purchase when choosing an arrow rest for your hunting and shooting needs.

Capture Rests

Rests that fully enclose, or capture, the arrow are called capture arrow rests. The most popular capture rest on the market has to be the Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit. This rest accompanies some of the most accomplished bowhunters in America on their hunts. One advantage of a whisker biscuit is the arrow will surely stay in place no matter what you are doing. I've done plenty of crawling around through brush, over rocks, and crept through trees, and very seldom have I had a problem with my biscuit losing my arrow. Also, if you are the type of person who likes to keep things simple, this is a great option. With no moving parts it's likely you won't have any problems. The major disadvantage of capture rests, including the whisker biscuit, is all the contact your arrow will have when it leaves the rest. If you are a tournament shooter, or looking for absolutely precision accuracy, this might be a concern. Check out this video to watch the whisker biscuit in slow-mo action. https://youtu.be/WqJgaZxREf0

Drop Away Rests

Another option to consider when choosing an arrow rest is the drop away rest. These rests hold the arrow in place before the shot, but "fall" away the instant before the arrow leaves so there is no contact as the arrow leaves the rest. In days gone by, these rests had the problem of arrows falling off, but manufactures have solved this problem by allowing the arrow to be locked in. One top quality option here is the QAD UltraRest. One great advantage of shooting a fall way rest is knowing your arrow will have zero contact as it leaves your bow. This will lead to better accuracy and preferred by tournament shooters. One con of these types of rests is that as you add moving parts to anything, you increase your chances of something going wrong. Not to say these are unreliable, only to say that as complexity increases so does the chance of failure. Check out this video to see this rest in slow-mo action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TCVOXSf3RA In the end, choosing an arrow rest comes down to your personal preference. You'll always be giving something up, as well as gaining a mental advantage by choosing the right rest.