Broadhead Tuning Basic Idea
The basic idea of broadhead tuning is to try and get your bow as tuned as it possible can be. If you can shoot your fixed blade broadhead and have it hit the same as your field points do, then you’ve got a tuned bow. If you have to shoot a mechanical broadhead because “Fixed blades just don’t fly the same” then guess what, your bow is not tuned as well as it can be. That being said, I am not trying to bash those that use mechanical broadheads. In fact, I published a review of the Rage 2 blade broadhead just yesterday where I state that I’m actually trying a mechanical broadhead this year because I ran out of time and patience while trying to do some broadhead tuning with my Bear Outbreak compound bow. Regardless, next year I plan on trying to again tackle the task of completely broadhead tuning my bow to shoot fixed blades and field points the same. By completing the basic broadhead tuning guide, I’ll have my fail proof fixed blades back.
Broadhead Tuning Basic How To
The first step is to make sure that the bow is pretty close to haveing it’s center shot correct by bringing it in to any archery shop to have them check it. Or if you are like me and don’t want to rely on anyone at all, you can purchase the tool kit to do it yourself on Amazon. Those tools will help you make sure that your arrow is level (meaning your nock and/or rest isn’t too high or too low) as well as your string (to make sure the bow is actually upright). Once you know that your center shot should be pretty close (rough tuned), you can move on to the basics of broadhead tuning. If you want to make sure you are getting the best tune possible, know the range in which your arrows can weigh and pick two arrows that are right in the middle. Next, put a field point on one and a fixed blade broadhead on the other. With your target at 20 yards, shoot each arrow making sure to keep track of which arrow is which. At this point, don’t worry about whether or not either arrow is hitting the center of the target. That being said, if your arrows are barely hitting the target, it’s best to adjust your sights a little bit using the field point as your guide for how to adjust it(follow your arrow, shooting left means move sight left). 
Once that’s done (if needed), now it’s time to make an adjustment on your rest. Let’s imagine that your group looks like the 3 arrows in the picture above. Two field point arrows tucked right up close to each other and the broadhead tipped arrow hitting low and right as compared to the field point. If that is the case, you are going to move your rest slightly to the left (opposite direction from where it hits). I highly suggest making small movements at a time as very small movements make a big difference the farther out you go. Once you have made your adjustment, shoot both arrows again. Continue this process until you are satisfied with how close together your arrows are hitting. At that point, go ahead and finish sighting in the bow as you now have know that your arrows are being shot from a fairly well tuned bow. You are going to want to repeat this process at 30 and 40 yards minimum in order to make very fine broadhead tuning adjustments. When you’re done, you should have arrows are grouping as least as good as in the picture to the right at 40 yards. At that point, I’d say you would be just about robinhooding those shots at 20 yards.
Broadhead Tuning Checklist
- Make sure bow is rough tuned by either checking yourself or bringing it in to a local archery shop
- Get two arrows that are the same weight and in the middle of the acceptable range of your entire group of arrows
- Tip one arrow with your field point and the other arrow with a fixed blade broadhead of the same weight as the field tip
- Shoot each arrow while standing 20 yards from target while keeping track of which arrow hits where
- Adjust rest a small amount in a manor that has the broadhead chasing the field point (if broadhead impacts right of field point, adjust rest left)
- repeat process at 30 and 40 yards minimum in order to do some fine tuning
- Hit the Woods with confidence!