Which Arrow Rest Types Need To Choose According To Archer Traits?

When it comes to archery, selecting the right equipment is crucial for success. One often-overlooked but critical component is the arrow rest. The type of arrow rest you choose can significantly impact your shooting accuracy and overall performance. To make an informed decision, it’s essential to consider your unique archery traits. In this article, we will explore various arrow rest types and how to choose the one that best suits your individual characteristics and preferences.

What is an Arrow Rest?

Before we delve into the specifics, let’s understand the fundamentals. An arrow rest is a device mounted on the bow’s riser that supports the arrow. It keeps the arrow steady and in position until it’s released, ensuring a consistent and accurate shot.

Best Arrow Rest Types – A Comprehensive Selection Guide

First of all, there are 3 main types of arrow rests.

• 1. Shoot through/ Prong style arrow rests.
• 2. Capture/ Containment arrow rests.
• 3. Drop / Fall Away Arrow Rests.

The popular Whisker Biscuit is a containment arrow rest. In fact, all three classes have produced some very decent arrow rests. It is only fair that we look at everything from the lesser known Pressure Rests to the best Whisker Biscuit Arrow Rest out there. Let us begin by asking ourselves these two questions.

• i. What sets a good arrow rest from the rest? ( Pun intended)
• ii. What is the best type of arrow rest?

Do not be deceived, dear Archer. No single rest is perfect for all. What works for your hunting mate may be the worst addition to your hunting gear (though arrow rests are not the complimentary gear of hunting crossbow) . Arrow rests are as specific as hunting techniques. Shop for a rest that matches your shooting preferences. Do not follow reviews blindly. I, in fact, recommend that you read this guide-cum-review with that in mind.

Let us look at each type of arrow rest in more detail. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, let us explore each.

1. Shoot Through/ Prong Style Arrow Rests

Shoot through arrow rests are relatively cheap. For just under $20, you can get yourself a good rest. These rests lean forward and downward when arrows are shot. This move helps clear the arrow’s path. The spring loaded rest will then return to the starting position for another shot. They are also straightforward when setting up and using.

Simplicity is their biggest seller. Being a hand bow release kind of shooter, I did not enjoy the rig. I pitted the shoot-through against my drop-down. The shoot-through felt like a fall-away down-grade.

Advantages

• 1. The horizontal slots of the prongs are perfect to accommodate vertical flexing. The rigs are, therefore, perfect for mechanical release.
• 2. They come at very affordable prices.
• 3. The spring loaded prongs clear the path for arrows. The reduced contact improves the arrows flight.
• 4. The prongs are adjustable and can accommodate a wide range of arrow widths.

Disadvantages

• 1. They perform poorly on hand released arrows.
• 2. Arrow contact with the prongs is reduced but still there.
• 3. Keeping arrows on the prongs is an uphill task.

2. Containment/ Capture Arrow Rests

These rests hold the arrow in position before it is shot. Arrows do not fall away. This assurance allows hunters and marksmen to concentrate more on their aim.

The popular Whisker Biscuit is a full containment rest. Due to the Biscuit’s popularity, however, I find it necessary to discuss it on its own.

Let me just say that this rests actually tempted me to ‘cheat on’ my fall-away. I used it on my stand while hunting elk. You can actually shoot straight down with these rests. In fact, I think I will buy a whisker biscuit for my best hunting tree stand.

Advantages

• Arrows are well contained and do not fall off. This feature helps you improve your aim.
• 2. They work well with both machine and finger releases.
• 3. They can accommodate a wide range of arrow widths.
• 4. They greatly reduce the chances for error when shooting.

Disadvantages

• 1. They come in contact with arrows and may interfere with arrow flight.
• 2. They also magnify errors in shooting technique. A reduction in speed, for example, will be more damaging to your groups when using a Capture rest than when using a Prong Style Rest.

3. Drop Away / Fall Away Rests

Fall away rests are tweaked to fall away when an arrow is released. They are more mechanical than the rest of the rests (forgive the pun). They are also more efficient than the rest of the rests according to a majority of shooters ( me included). They are my personal favorites.

Their intricate design makes them the best arrow rest for target archery.

Mechanical failure was my biggest worry when I bought a fall-away rest. It is not as common as most reviews claim. My hunting partner uses a Whisker Biscuit. My fall-away is more consistent than his Biscuit. I only experienced a problem with my rest when I was starting out as a hunter. The rest did not give way to the arrow on release. It was, however, a setting up problem. Since I learned how to set up my fall away, it has worked like a charm.

Advantages

• 1. Fall away rests have minimal contact with the arrow.
• 2. Decent hold on the arrow. For improved holds, go for rests with deep notches.
• 3. Falling away makes these rests excellent for both vertical and horizontal flexes.
• 4. They improve accuracy by leaving an arrow’s flight fairly undisturbed. A Fall away is easily the best arrow rest for target shooting.

Disadvantages

• 1. They are very mechanical and can easily fail.
• 2. Are noisier than their counterparts. You need to tweak them to get rid of the noise before considering them for the best arrow rest for hunting.
• 3. Drop away arrow rest set up can be challenging.

The Whisker Biscuit

The Whisker Biscuit is a popular full containment arrow rest. It comes with bristles that enclose the arrow before it is shot. They are easy to set up. Their simplicity is their biggest challenge to Fall Aways. The rest accommodates a wide range of arrows.They, however, work best with feather fletchings. Feather fletchings do not resist the Biscuit’s bristles. The rest, therefore, lasts longer when used with arrows with feather fletchings.

Advantages

• 1. It is a full containment rig. Arrows do not fall off. They are, in fact, considered to be the best full containment arrow rests available.
• 2. They are not mechanical. Mechanical failures are unheard of on these rests.
• 3. They are very easy to set up.
• 4. They afford very decent groups.
• 5. Drop away arrow rest Vs Whisker biscuit comparisons show that the WB can go toe-to-toe with the much pricier drop away.

Disadvantages

• 1. Fletching contact with the bristles wears out both the fletchings and bristles. Feather fletchings protect the bristles from harmful friction.
• 2. Contact with fletchings influences arrow trajectory.
• 3. The groups may be decent but, still not as good as the groups offered by fall away rests. They are not the best arrow rest for target archery.

We have looked at the merits and demerits of each type of rest. Now, let us consider you as an archer. “What type of archer are you?” You need to understand your shooting preferences and find a rest that satisfies them.

If you are a hunter, what game do you hunt? Little details like this inform the choice of arrow rest. “What type of archer are you?” You should know about yourself and your shooting equipment before seeking out a rest. The question of, “what suits me?” is should come before “what is the best drop away arrow rest for hunting?”

Have you ever tried shooting another person’s bow? Chances are that you totally sucked! It is, usually, near impossible to attain the same group with another’s rig. Every archer sets up his bow with add-ons that favor his/her form of hunting. The differences between you as hunters cannot allow you to share rigs. At least not successfully.

Here are the most important archer traits that affect the choice of arrow rest.

What Type Of Archer Are You? And What Arrow Rest Types You Need?

• i. Competitive Archer VS Hunter.
• ii. Preferred Shooting Equipment.
• iii. Shooter Technique.
• iv. Financial Ability.

Competitive Archer VS Hunter

Demands to be met by the rest differ across different professions. The hunting arrow rest or best drop away arrow rest may be the worst arrow rest for the pro marksman. Angles supported by a rest is one such demand. Hunters require a wide range of angles. You will need a rest that can hold the arrow for a directly down shot.

When hunting from a tree stand, these angles are the most common. The arrow rest should also support right angled placements. This placement proves useful when hunting from the ground.

The best arrow rest for hunters must support very dynamic angles. The competitive archer, on the other hand, is less demanding on angles. All shots will be fired from the ground. Durability is another demand that sets the two shooters apart. An arrow rest must be durable to handle all the strains of a hunt. Bow fishing, for example, involves wrestling with prey.

The big game hunter and competitive archer do not have much concern for durability. Finally, the noise level is crucial to a hunter. Competitive archery raises no such concerns. Deer, for example, have learned to jump the rope. They tighten their muscles and crouch at the snap of the bowstring. This split second decision has ruined many a hunter’s shots.

The lower the noise, the higher the chances for a successful hunt. A noisy arrow rest will spook away game.

Preferred Shooting Equipment

What do you shoot? Every archer has a preferred arrow and bow. Some archers, like yours truly, are all about compound bows. Others are die-hard recurve fans or best crossbow fans. I even met a long bow enthusiast who managed pretty decent groups. The last decade or so has seen a lot of growth in the arrow rest industry. There is now a rest tailor made for every bow out there.

Arrows also come in different weights and widths. When you go for full containment rests, make sure they can accommodate your arrow’s width and weight.

You should also look for rests tailor made to suit your preferred bow. Different bow types exhibit different arrow flexes when shot. Using a bow specific arrow rests can greatly improve your accuracy.

Another factor to consider is your preferred side of the shot. If you are a left side shooter, go for rests that are built for left side bows and vice versa.

Finger shooters and mechanical shooters also have different requirements.

Finger shooters have better results when they use shoot-around rests.

These arrow rests are best suited to counter the horizontal oscillations associated with finger releases.

Use a spring rest or standard flippers if you prefer older bows without a center shot cut away. These arrow rests have more horizontal arrow accommodation.

The older bows have much more horizontal flex and standard shoot around rests may not accommodate the flex.

N.B.: Shoot Around Rests are also known as Pressure Rests.

IF you are a newbie shooter and want to practice consider to buy best archery targets

Shooter Technique

The only way to know for sure if a rest is good for you is to try it out. Even top rated arrow rests disappointment to some. The best arrow rest types are the ones that suit a hunter’s technique.

Have this in mind; an arrow rest purchase is not meant to be eternal. If the chosen rig under-performs, move on to another.

If you find one that improves your groups, keep it. Do not listen to other people’s ideas of what rest would be better.

Stick to what you have found to work for you specifically. The shooting technique is as diverse as hunting gear. Some moves are minute and impossible to point out.

An old hunting partner instinctively lowered his bow as he fired. We only became aware of the fact when we watched his shots in slow motion. When I recorded myself, I saw that my bow remained relatively stationary after shooting.

I cite this as the perfect example to show the diversity of technique. He was a full containment type of guy. The rest nullified the influence his bow drop had on his arrow’s flight. I was always of the opinion that his groups would improve if he used fall away rests. The advice had worked for every hunter before him. He was the first exception. Fall way rests were no good for him.

They did not sufficiently reduce the impact of his bow drop. So, you see, an arrow rest may work for everyone else but fail you miserably. The best arrow rest for you is just that, the best type FOR YOU. You cannot impose it on another.

Pricing

The price range of arrow rests is very wide. Some rests go for under $ 10. Others are well over $ 100. It is important to know what features you cannot do without and how much you are willing to pay for them.

If you are desperate to improve your groups, pay more. Some rests combine the features of full containment rests with the convenience of drop away rests. You can enjoy the best of both worlds but at a very high price.

Weigh your financial ability with the features you need and then look for a rest that supports both.