Hanging Arrow: Causes, Fixes, and Scoring Rules

A hanging arrow is an arrow that drops below the level of the other arrows on the bowstring, or — in a competition context — an arrow that strikes the target face but fails to embed firmly, leaving it drooping from its point of impact. Both situations affect accuracy and, in scored rounds, require a judge to determine the arrow's value before it is removed.

Why Hanging Arrows Occur

Nocking Point Height

A nocking point set too low causes arrows to sit below their intended position on the bowstring. This is one of the most common setup errors and produces a hanging arrow on nearly every shot. It also triggers porpoising — a nose-up, nose-down oscillation in flight. Raising the nocking point incrementally, confirmed with a bow square, is the first fix to attempt.

Arrow Spine Mismatch

An arrow with a spine rating that does not match your draw weight and draw length flexes differently through the shot. This altered flex shifts its position on the string and contributes to arrows hanging on the bowstring. Consistent arrow flight depends on every shaft in the set sharing the same spine rating.

Arrow Weight and Length

Heavier or longer arrows drop lower on the bowstring due to gravity, disrupting arrow alignment on the bowstring relative to the rest of the set. Mixing shaft weights or lengths across a quiver is a reliable way to introduce a hanging arrow mid-session.

Bowstring Tension

A string that is too loose or too tight prevents the nock from seating consistently. The string should hold the nock firmly without lifting the arrow off the rest.

How a Hanging Arrow Affects Accuracy

Left unaddressed, hanging arrows follow the same misaligned path on every shot and land consistently low. In competition, an arrow hanging from the target face is still scored according to the mark it leaves — so the position must be recorded by a judge before the arrow is touched or removed, in line with World Archery procedures.

Fixes at a Glance

• Raise the nocking point in small increments until arrows sit square on the rest.
• Match spine to your setup — use a spine chart aligned to your draw weight and draw length.
• Use a matched arrow set — consistent weight, length, and spine reduce the chance of the hanging arrow repeating across a session.
• Tune the bow as a system — adjust the arrow rest, nocking point, and bowstring together rather than in isolation for lasting results.