Arrow Spine Explained: How to Choose the Right Arrow
Static vs dynamic spine, how to read a spine chart, and how length and point weight change everything. Get this right and your groups shrink.
By the Archery Care Editorial Team
Spine is the stiffness of your arrow shaft, and matching it to your setup is essential for clean flight and tight groups. Lower spine numbers mean a stiffer shaft.
Static vs dynamic spine
Static spine is how much a shaft flexes under a fixed weight on a bench. Dynamic spine is how the shaft actually behaves when shot from your bow — affected by draw weight, draw length, point weight and the bow itself.
Reading a spine chart
Manufacturers publish charts that cross your draw weight and arrow length to a recommended spine. Always start there.
- Cutting a shaft shorter makes it stiffer (effectively lower spine number).
- Adding point weight makes the dynamic spine weaker.
- Higher draw weight needs a stiffer (lower-number) spine.
Why it matters
The wrong spine flies erratically and groups poorly. A shaft that is far too weak for your setup can even be a safety risk. When in doubt, consult a pro shop with your exact draw weight, draw length and intended point weight.