Archery Ballistics Study | Broadheads and Aerodynamic Drag

Overview

We measured downrange velocities and calculated aerodynamic drag for 26 different points: five field points, eleven mechanicals, and ten fixed blades.

Why? To answer these questions:

• Do any broadheads hit with field points at distance?
• How much more drag does a broadhead create compared to a field point?
• Which broadheads are the most aerodynamically efficient?

For details on our testing procedure, see the methods page or review the raw data.

Aerodynamic Drag

We measured arrow speeds at 0.5 yards, 30 yards, and 60 yards with Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronographs. Using the Precision Cut Archery ballistics engine, we calculated the drag constant for each point on our reference arrow build for a true apples-to-apples comparison between points.

This chart shows the aerodynamic drag constant for every point in the study, plotted with 95% confidence intervals.

Lower drag means less wind drift, less drop, and more energy carried downrange. In short: lower is better.

There was a large amount of variation in the drag constant for points. Interesting, every single field point had a fair bit less drag than even the most aerodynamically efficient mechanical.

Sight Tape Comparison

Here’s a comparison of sight tapes for the average field point, the average mechanical, and the average fixed blade. All tapes were generated for a 450 grain arrow at 280 fps with a DA of 5000 ft—the only variable changed was aerodynamic drag.

The differences between tapes become even more pronounced with faster speeds, higher air density, or lighter arrows. This example is just one scenario, shown for illustration.

This is a simple, visual way to see how aerodynamic drag affects arrows downrange—and why properly accounting for drag is critical for accurate long-range sight tapes. (And, why you may want to make a sight tape specifically for your broadheads!)

In short, no broadhead we tested will hit with field points at long range—simply due to the additional aerodynamic drag from the broadhead!

Normalized Wind Drift

This chart shows simulated, normalized wind drift for every vane combination in the study, with 95% confidence intervals.

Wind drift was modeled using the Precision Cut Archery ballistics engine, simulating a 450-grain arrow launched at 280 fps in a 10 mph crosswind.

The first plot is at 40 yards, the second is at 80 yards, and the third is at 120. Wind drift increases with arrow drag and wind speed, and scales with the square of the distance.