Top-Five DIY Bow Tuning Tools & Tactics

By Kevin Wilkey

You can leave the overly technical details to your preferred bow technician, but with these five tools and tactics, you can keep your own bow shooting at peak performance. Nearly every common issue with compound bows, like an unleveled sight and poor arrow flight can be diagnosed and remedied with these tools and tactics.

Picture of an Easton branded Allen Wrench tool

1. ALLEN WRENCHES & TORX KEYS

Having a reliable set of folding keys and individual wrenches will allow you to adjust nearly every tunable feature of your bow and accessories.

picture of an aeorsol can of foot powder spay and arrow rest that have been sprayed with the powder to gauge and check for arrow contact with the bow riser and arrow rest during the shot cycle

2. USE POWDER SPRAY TO CHECK FOR CLEARANCE

Vane clearance is vital. If your vanes are contacting your arrow rest launcher, you’ll never gain reliable accuracy and clean arrow flight. Simply spray it on the launcher and shoot an arrow to determine if the vanes are clearing or not.

3. USE AN ARROW SPINNER TO INSPECT SHAFTS, NOCKS, AND BROADHEADS

Whether you’re sorting out your starting line-up or truing your nocks and broadheads, an arrow spinner is an easy way to visually inspect your arrow shafts and components.

Picture of an archery sight housing showing the five fiber optic pins

4. LEVEL YOUR BOW SIGHT

With a reliable leveling system like the Hamskea Level, along with a plumb bob, you can dial in your 2nd and 3rd axis adjustments to keep you from missing left or right at extended distances and on uphill and downhill shots.

5. USE A PAPER TUNER TO CHECK ARROW FLIGHT

Paper tuning is the easiest and most reliable way to determine clean arrow flight. Whether you buy a paper tuner or make your own, start at one yard and work your way back to five yards. Not only does it allow you tune your bow to the way you shoot, but it also helps work on form, shot execution, and weed out any arrows that are not flying true.