So, you have decided to take up the sport of archery. After choosing your bow, whether it be a modern (compound) or a traditional (recurve or longbow), you may be asking yourself what kind of arrow should I use? The type of arrow to use is mostly just personal choice. Yet, there are a few factors that should be considered when choosing your shooting arrow. These include the type of bow you are using, modern or traditional, and whether you use your bow for hunting or target shooting. There are four types of arrows that archery participants can choose from, these are:

Cedar or other wood - Aluminum - Carbon Arrows - or Carbon/Aluminum hybrids

A cedar, or wood, arrow is usually chosen for its look and for nostalgia. Wood shafted arrows are reasonably durable, heavy, quiet - both when shot and when carried in a quiver, and are reasonably affordable. These types of arrows are fine to be used in a traditional bow, but compound bows really should not use a wood shafted arrow. The main disadvantages to this type of arrow is it is not as durable or straight as others, and that it can have a tendency to warp because of the outdoor elements.

The aluminum shafted arrow has been around since the 1970's. This type of arrow is extremely straight, durable, lightweight, generally cost effective, and are unaffected by the weather. They have high speed and flatter trajectories than the wood shafted arrow. However, aluminum shafted arrows can be noisy when carried around, and have a tendency to break and bend.

Carbon arrows are more recent to the archery market, only having been around since the early 1990's. These arrows are strong and lightweight, as well as quiet and durable. They can be broken with enough force, but bending in this type of arrow is almost non-existent. Carbon arrows are on the more expensive side, but as more archers use them the cost is beginning to drop.

Carbon/aluminum hybrid arrows are simply an aluminum core with a carbon wrapping. They combine each of the advantages and disadvantages of both the carbon arrow and the aluminum arrow. These hybrid arrows are reasonably durable, lightweight, and extremely straight. However, due to their aluminum core, bending and breaking is still common. They are also the most expensive commonly used arrows, but are the fastest, and have the flattest trajectories, of all the options.

Now, choosing an archery arrow is always your personal choice; but spending some time comparing prices and durability will always benefit you in the long run. And remember if you are shooting with a traditional bow, you may use any arrow; but with modern bows it is best to stick with aluminum, carbon, or hybrid arrows.

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