What makes any assessment of arrow "wind drift" difficult is that apart from the relative behaviour
between two arrows depending on the specific two arrows being compared it also depends on the distance shot
and the wind conditions under which the comparison is made.
It needs to be emphasised that with any discussion about arrows the requirements for an Olympic recurve bow
and a compound bow are very different. Many arrow "wind drift" discussions happily mix comments from recurve
and compound archers about experience with different specific arrows. This is comparing apples with pears and the
result is very confusing. Everything on this page (in fact this site) relates to the olympic recurve bow only.
Comparing arrow performance, in terms of grouping, with no wind or with a constant wind is relatively straightforward.
The more difficult area is comparing arrow performance under tournament conditions where the wind strength is
variable. The usual comparison in this situation is often between a forgiving (i.e. good grouping) arrow with
high speed/high FOC etc. and a heavier arrow shaft with lower speed/lower FOC which is (usually) less forgiving
but "expected" to be less affected by wind and changes in wind strength. It is this comparison, done using a
simple flight simulator, about which this page attempts to say something useful.
As ever the "results" of a comparative simulation to some degree depend on which two arrow shafts you choose to
compare. The wind drift comparison for the constant wind case compared ACE and X10 shafts. In this case the forgiving
arrow (ACE) had greater wind drift in absolute terms then the heavy shaft (X10). Have to keep up with the times so
in this evaluation the comparison is between a new generation all carbon arrow as the forgiving arrow and the X10
as the heavy shaft arrow. The difference is the new generation of Nano/McKinney all carbon shafts although they
represent the "forgiving" arrow class, on paper and from what testing has been done, they appear to equal or better
the X10 in absolute wind drift performance.
The following is no attempt to say arrow X is better or worse than arrow Y. The simulator results in qualitative
terms, as normal, should be taken with a pinch of salt. The only way to evaluate arrows is objective testing by
shooting them for real.
The Compared Arrows
The following screen dump gives the characteristics of the two arrows being compared. The Mckinney 500 represents
the "forgiving" arrow class and the X10 410 represents the heavier shaft arrow class. Bareshaft arrows are
used in the simulations. The nominal wind condition for all simulations is a 4 metres/second cross wind
(at 90 degrees). In all the flight simulations the McKinney is presented as the Blue line (forgiving arrow) and
the X10 is presented by the Red line (the heavy shaft arrow).
Absolute Wind Drift at 75m - 4 m/s wind
The wind drift with zero windage adjustment on the sight is represented. In this case the "forgiving" arrow has
less wind drift then the heavier shaft arrow. With different shafts and properties the reverse might be the case.
Remember we are only trying to look at behaviour, not comparing specific arrows.
Windage Adjusted at 75m - 4 m/s wind
The sight windage for both arrows is now adjusted so that with a perfect shot both arrows hit the target centre.
The archer from now on keeps this windage setting - no aim off or windage adjustment is made.
Perfect Shot at 75m - But wind speed has increased to 7 m/s
With the archer making a perfect shot the wind, without any aim off or sight adjustment, has increased to 7
metres/second. The result is the heavier shaft hits nearer the centre then the forgiving arrow. The reason I
think is that the forgiving arrow is fishtailing faster than the heavy shaft arrow. At 75m concidentally the heavy
arrow is drifting towards the target centre (near minimum) while the forgiving arrow is drifting away from the
target centre (near maximum). If you repeat the simulation with fletchings on the arrows the fishtailing frequency
is higher and the result is the forgiving arrow hits nearer the middle. The inevitable conclusion is that with
variable winds the fletching selection is critical for any specific instance.
Perfect Shot at 75m - 1 m/s wind
With the archer making a perfect shot the wind, without any aim off or sight adjustment, has decreased to 1
metres/second. In this case I believe the absolute wind drift is the driving arrow characteristic determining the
relevant shaft positions. As the forgiving arrow has the lower absolute wind drift it hits nearer the middle than
the heavy shaft arrow.
Poor Shot hitting downwind at 75m - 4 m/s wind
The archer makes a poor shot (same for both arrows) which results in both arrows heading and hitting down wind of the
target centre. The forgiving arrow hits nearer the target centre than the heavy shaft. (by definition it
is more forgiving to archer error).
Same Poor Shot Hitting Downwind at 75m - But wind speed has increased to 7 m/s
The unnoticed increase in wind speed pushes both arrows further downwind - but not by the same amount.
The heavier shaft arrow is relatively less affected then the lighter arrow.With different arrows/different change
in wind strength then the forgiving arrow could end up further from the centre than the heavy shaft arrow.
Same Poor Shot Hitting Downwind at 75m - But wind speed has decreased to 1 m/s
The unnoticed decrease in wind speed acts in the archers favour as it offsets some of the damage done by the
poor shot. The reverse of the previous case occurs. Now the forgiving arrow benefits more from the wind change
then the heavy shaft arrow. The forgiving arrow moves more towards the target centre than the heavy shaft arrow.
It is this effect that for me largely nullifies the heavy shaft argument. Assuming changes in wind strength are random
(increasing/decreasing), then sometimes you win sometimes you lose as regards the heavy shaft and over a lot of
arrows wind variation gains and losses will more or less cancel out so you're overall better off going for the
more forgiving arrow.
Wind Drift Assymmetry
Once we have a wind, which is assumed to come from a specific direction then there is no longer a symmetry
between those arrows that go upwind and downwind so the above simulations need to be repeated for the arrow
going upwind situation.
Poor Shot hitting upwind at 75m - 4 m/s wind
The "poor shot" has the same (shot) value as the downwind case, it is just the reverse in terms of the arrow direction.
Poor Shot hitting upwind at 75m - But wind speed has increased to 7 m/s
The increase in wind strenght blows both arrows back towards the target centre acting to offset the consequences of the
poor shot. The forgiving arrow benefits most from this, but again this probably results mainly from higher fishtailing
rate of the forgiving arrow with only a marginal direct benefit from the arrow's lower mass (though the higher fishtailing
frequency is a consequency of the lower shaft mass/higher FOC).
Poor Shot hitting upwind at 75m - But wind speed has decreased to 1 m/s
The drop in wind speed combines with the direction of the poor shot to increase the displacement of both arrows
from the target centre. The arrow with lowest wind drift in absolute terms is least affected by this combination.
Wind Drift behaviour with Distance
Relative wind drift behaviour will vary with target distance as how the arrow fishtails and the consequent side to
side motion of the arrow will affect where it hits. The relative hit positions of the two arrows will to some degree
depend on the relative phases of the two arrow's fishtailing at the point of target impact. The above simulations are
therefore repeated at a 30 metre target distance where this effect is reduced.
Absolute Wind Drift at 30m - 4 m/s wind
The forgiving arrow has the lower lateral displacement at 30 metres. I don't think this has anything to do with
wind drift per say but is the result of the better stabilisation characteristics of the forgiving arrow. Simulation
of the this situation where the heavy shaft arrow has the least absolute wind drift still results in the more forgiving arrow
having the lower lateral displacement.
Windage Adjusted at 30m - 4 m/s wind
The sight windage for both arrows is now adjusted so that with a perfect shot both arrows hit the target centre.
The archer from now on keeps this windage setting - no aim off or windage adjustment is made.
Perfect Shot at 30m - But wind speed has increased to 7 m/s
The heavy arrow is offsest more than the forgiving arrow by the increased wind speed. Again I believe this effect
occurs mainly with the better stabilisation and faster fishtailing of the forgiving arrow rather than anything to do
with arrow mass or absolute wind drift properties.
Perfect Shot at 30m - But wind speed has decreased to 1 m/s
The forgiving arrow is less affected by the wind speed drop. Again I don't think absolute wind drift has
much to do with this.
Poor Shot hitting downwind at 30m - 4 m/s wind
Again wind drift properties of the two arrows are considered to be irrelevant.
Arrow stabilisation (forgiving characteristics) are are regarded as the main player.
Same Poor Shot Hitting Downwind at 30m - But wind speed has increased to 7 m/s
Again wind drift properties of the two arrows are considered to be irrelevant.
Arrow stabilisation (forgiving characteristics) are are regarded as the main player.
Same Poor Shot Hitting Downwind at 30m - But wind speed has decreased to 1 m/s
Again wind drift properties of the two arrows are considered to be irrelevant.
Arrow stabilisation (forgiving characteristics) are regarded as the main player.
Poor Shot Hitting Upwind at 30m - 4 m/s wind
In this case the higher mass arrow (heavy shaft) is the better performer. This may be the effect of the
heavy shaft arrow, having a lower speed, requiring a larger windage aim off angle.
Same Poor Shot Hitting Upwind at 75m - But wind speed has increased to 7 m/s
Better performance of the forgiving arrow put down to it's faster, lower amplitude fishtailing.
Same Poor Shot Hitting Upwind at 75m - But wind speed has decreased to 1 m/s
The following screen dump gives the characteristics of the two arrows being compared. The Mckinney 500 represents
the "forgiving" arrow class and the X10 410 represents the heavier shaft arrow class. Bareshaft arrows are
used in the simulations. The nominal wind condition for all simulations is a 4 metres/second cross wind
(at 90 degrees). In all the flight simulations the McKinney is presented as the Blue line (forgiving arrow) and
the X10 is presented by the Red line (the heavy shaft arrow). 
The sight windage for both arrows is now adjusted so that with a perfect shot both arrows hit the target centre.
The archer from now on keeps this windage setting - no aim off or windage adjustment is made.
With the archer making a perfect shot the wind, without any aim off or sight adjustment, has increased to 7
metres/second. The result is the heavier shaft hits nearer the centre then the forgiving arrow. The reason I
think is that the forgiving arrow is fishtailing faster than the heavy shaft arrow. At 75m concidentally the heavy
arrow is drifting towards the target centre (near minimum) while the forgiving arrow is drifting away from the
target centre (near maximum). If you repeat the simulation with fletchings on the arrows the fishtailing frequency
is higher and the result is the forgiving arrow hits nearer the middle. The inevitable conclusion is that with
variable winds the fletching selection is critical for any specific instance.
With the archer making a perfect shot the wind, without any aim off or sight adjustment, has decreased to 1
metres/second. In this case I believe the absolute wind drift is the driving arrow characteristic determining the
relevant shaft positions. As the forgiving arrow has the lower absolute wind drift it hits nearer the middle than
the heavy shaft arrow.
The archer makes a poor shot (same for both arrows) which results in both arrows heading and hitting down wind of the
target centre. The forgiving arrow hits nearer the target centre than the heavy shaft. (by definition it
is more forgiving to archer error).
The unnoticed increase in wind speed pushes both arrows further downwind - but not by the same amount.
The heavier shaft arrow is relatively less affected then the lighter arrow.With different arrows/different change
in wind strength then the forgiving arrow could end up further from the centre than the heavy shaft arrow.
The unnoticed decrease in wind speed acts in the archers favour as it offsets some of the damage done by the
poor shot. The reverse of the previous case occurs. Now the forgiving arrow benefits more from the wind change
then the heavy shaft arrow. The forgiving arrow moves more towards the target centre than the heavy shaft arrow.
It is this effect that for me largely nullifies the heavy shaft argument. Assuming changes in wind strength are random
(increasing/decreasing), then sometimes you win sometimes you lose as regards the heavy shaft and over a lot of
arrows wind variation gains and losses will more or less cancel out so you're overall better off going for the
more forgiving arrow.
The "poor shot" has the same (shot) value as the downwind case, it is just the reverse in terms of the arrow direction.
The increase in wind strenght blows both arrows back towards the target centre acting to offset the consequences of the
poor shot. The forgiving arrow benefits most from this, but again this probably results mainly from higher fishtailing
rate of the forgiving arrow with only a marginal direct benefit from the arrow's lower mass (though the higher fishtailing
frequency is a consequency of the lower shaft mass/higher FOC).
The drop in wind speed combines with the direction of the poor shot to increase the displacement of both arrows
from the target centre. The arrow with lowest wind drift in absolute terms is least affected by this combination.
The forgiving arrow has the lower lateral displacement at 30 metres. I don't think this has anything to do with
wind drift per say but is the result of the better stabilisation characteristics of the forgiving arrow. Simulation
of the this situation where the heavy shaft arrow has the least absolute wind drift still results in the more forgiving arrow
having the lower lateral displacement.
The sight windage for both arrows is now adjusted so that with a perfect shot both arrows hit the target centre.
The archer from now on keeps this windage setting - no aim off or windage adjustment is made.
The heavy arrow is offsest more than the forgiving arrow by the increased wind speed. Again I believe this effect
occurs mainly with the better stabilisation and faster fishtailing of the forgiving arrow rather than anything to do
with arrow mass or absolute wind drift properties.
The forgiving arrow is less affected by the wind speed drop. Again I don't think absolute wind drift has
much to do with this.
Again wind drift properties of the two arrows are considered to be irrelevant.
Arrow stabilisation (forgiving characteristics) are are regarded as the main player.
Again wind drift properties of the two arrows are considered to be irrelevant.
Arrow stabilisation (forgiving characteristics) are are regarded as the main player.
Again wind drift properties of the two arrows are considered to be irrelevant.
Arrow stabilisation (forgiving characteristics) are regarded as the main player.
In this case the higher mass arrow (heavy shaft) is the better performer. This may be the effect of the
heavy shaft arrow, having a lower speed, requiring a larger windage aim off angle.
Better performance of the forgiving arrow put down to it's faster, lower amplitude fishtailing.
Increased deviation of the two arrows similar.