Choice of Bow and Spine
Less powerful bows require arrows with less spine. Less powerful bows have less effect in deforming the arrow as it is accelerated (see "Euler" buckling, case I) from the bow and the arrow must be "easier" to flex around the riser of the bow before settling to its path. Conversely, powerful bows need stiffer arrows with more spine, as the bow will have a much greater bending effect on the arrow as it is accelerated.
An arrow with too much spine for the bow will not flex and as the string comes closer to the bow stave, the arrow will be forced off to the side. Too little spine, or flexion, will result in the arrow deforming too much and being propelled off to the other side of the target. In extreme cases, the arrow may break before it can accelerate, which can be a safety hazard.
Read more about this topic: Archer's Paradox
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