PNL Testers

09/20/2026

Test arrow Terra Firma SICARIO 5mm– 350 Spine

09/20/2026

Radial Spine Consistency Comparison

Here is a comparison of the arrow shafts I have tested so far using the same 8-point, 45° radial spine testing method.

The chart shows the labeled spine, number of shafts tested, average measured spine, average radial variation, and the best and worst individual shaft from each sample.

These results represent only the shafts tested and are not intended to represent every shaft produced by each manufacturer. As I test more arrows, I’ll continue adding to the comparison.

PNL Testers

09/15/2026

Is the Increase in Pe*******on From Added Arrow Mass Worth the Increase in Time of Flight?

Adding arrow mass can provide advantages. A heavier arrow generally carries more momentum, retains velocity better downrange, and under some impact conditions may use its available energy more efficiently during pe*******on. But those benefits come with a tradeoff that is sometimes overlooked: time of flight.

The question is not simply whether a heavier arrow can provide a pe*******on advantage. The question is:
Is that increase in pe*******on potential worth the additional time the animal has to move before the arrow arrives?
In this test, I compared a 379-grain arrow with a 629-grain arrow at 30 yards.
The measured time of flight was approximately:
379 gr — 0.319 seconds
629 gr — 0.399 seconds
That's approximately a 25% increase in time of flight for the heavier arrow.

I then ran a controlled target-drop test to see what that difference meant at the point of impact. Sound took approximately 0.08 seconds to reach the target. When the target released 0.12 seconds after the sound arrived, the measured impact shift was about 2.88 inches with the 379-grain arrow and 7.0 inches with the 629-grain arrow.

That's the important part:
A 25% increase in time of flight (.08sec) resulted in approximately a 143% greater change in point of impact in this controlled test.

This does not mean an animal will move exactly like the test target. Animals are not controlled systems, and their reaction time, direction, and amount of movement will vary. The test demonstrates something much simpler: a relatively small percentage increase in arrow flight time can produce a much larger difference in impact location once the target begins moving.
So when comparing light and heavy hunting arrows, don't consider pe*******on alone. The heavier arrow may provide a pe*******on advantage, but the slower arrow also increases the time available for the target to move.

The real tradeoff isn't simply light arrow vs. heavy arrow. It's pe*******on potential vs. time of flight, and whether the extra pe*******on is worth the increased chance the animal moves before impact.

09/15/2026

How much pe*******on advantage do we actually gain with a heavier arrow, and is that gain worth the longer time of flight and the extra opportunity for the animal to move before impact?

09/13/2026

Easton 5.0 non-match 300 spine
At the current Lancaster price of approximately $18.67 per arrow, the group showed very good average spine consistency at 0.94%. However, 360° testing revealed substantial radial variation in several individual shafts, ranging from 1.87% to 7.98%. This is the variation that can also be readily felt when locating the weak plane with a feel finder.

PNL Radial Variation Classification

Radial Variation Classification
< 1.0% Exceptional
1.0–2.0% Match Grade
2.0–3.0% Field Grade
> 3.0% Outlier / Cull
PNL classification based on measured 360° radial spine consistency. This is not an ATA or ASTM tolerance standard.

09/13/2026

Altra Phantom Limit 300 spine arrows test

09/10/2026

PNL TESTERS has started looking at arrow consistency by measuring actual spine and the amount of spine variation around each shaft.

The goal is to look beyond the number printed on the arrow and see how closely the measured spine matches the manufacturer's rating, how consistent the arrows are from shaft to shaft, and how much the spine changes as each shaft is rotated.

This testing has just started, but here are two arrows tested so far: the **Altra 246 Centrum Premier** and the **Kuhle Impala**.

The image below shows the results of the comparison.

As more arrows are tested, I'll continue adding different manufacturers, models, and price ranges. The goal isn't to promote or criticize a particular manufacturer. It's simply to measure the arrows using the same procedure and let the data show what you're getting for your money.

**PNL TESTERS — Measure it. Compare it. Let the data speak.**

09/04/2026

Newtonian Physics of Arrow Flight & Pe*******on — Complete Series

Follow the full series here as we explore Newtonian physics and how it applies to arrow flight and pe*******on. New parts will be added to this playlist as the series continues.

08/31/2026

https://youtu.be/Qg15swCK5So?si=mTUQkNfhjh_NwR18

When Matt McPherson started Mathews Archery, he could never have im...

08/29/2026

Looking at the mechanical efficiency of a bow.

Does a higher mechanical-efficiency number always mean a faster com...