The arrow rest is the part of your bow set up that holds the arrow in position and keeps it in line through the shot. Arrow rests are available in many styles. There are some that are more set up for archery hunting but would not be a good choice for target or tournament archery. You will also want to consider price and quality. The rest must be able to withstand the constant stress and abuse each time you fire your bow. If the rest slips or is “tweaked” even just a little bit, it will affect the arrows flight and accuracy.

The type of rest you choose will depend on the type of bow you have and how you intend to use it i.e. archery hunting or target shooting. Most compound bows are drilled and tapped to the same AMO (Archery Manufacturers Organization), so most rests are universal to any bow. Before you buy any rest, be sure it will work with your bow. The following explains the most common types of rests and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Shoot-Thru Rests

  A Shoot-Thru or “prong” rest has two prongs, spaced about 2/3 of the arrow diameter apart, creating a sort of cradle for the arrow. The arrow sits on top, on the gap between the two prongs. These prongs are usually spring-loaded, allowing them to flex at the moment of the shot to prevent flight disruptions and permitting additional clearance for the fletching as it passes by. After the shot, they automatically return to their original position and ready for the next shot.

  This type of rest is so named because the cock fletch faces down and passes through the two prongs when the bow is fired. When the nock point on the bow string is aligned perfectly centered between the two prongs, the fletch will pass through clean with no contact. If the fletch makes contact during the shot, the arrow flight will be greatly disrupted. It is also recommended that you use a mechanical archery release when using this type of rest to assure the straightest arrow flight at the point of release.

  Another thing to consider with this type of rest is it solely relies on gravity to hold the arrow on the prongs. A strong wind or a poor draw could cause your arrow to fall off the prongs which has turned many archers away from using this style for archery hunting.

• Containment Rests

  Containment style rests either totally encircle the arrow, or simultaneously contact the shaft in 3 spots, holding the arrow in place until it is shot. They are easy to install and easy to tune. The containment style is a common choice for archery hunting and also is perfect for beginning archers as they improve their form and the arrow will not fall off the rest.

  The most common type of containment rest for archery hunting is the whisker biscuit style, which have bristles that wrap around the arrow shaft. The design requires the fletching to pass through these bristles and over time may cause damage to your vanes or feathers. By comparison, the three pronged style allows the fletching to pass with no contact.

• Drop Away Rests

  Drop Away or “Fall Away” rest is designed to drop out of the way, and eliminate any chance of the fletching making contact as it passes by. At full draw, a drop away rest holds the arrow firmly in position, but when the bow fires - the rest drops down and out of the path of the arrow. This allows even the largest helical fletchings to pass by the arrow shelf without contact. Most drop away rests have large notches or prongs that cradle the arrow much better than shoot-thru rests, so there's less chance your arrow will fall off.

  The drop away action is activated by the movement of the bow's cable slide or buss cable or bow's forward inertia depending on the model. Setting up and tuning a drop away rest can be difficult. The Drop Away Rest must remain up and in-place until the arrow has a chance to gain some speed and establish its trajectory, but it must fall completely out of the way before the fletching arrives at the rest. Getting the timing right can be a little tricky. If the rest falls too early, the arrow flight is erratic and tuning is impossible. If it falls too late, the fletching will make contact. The faster your bow is, the less the margin of error you'll have to get the set up in tune.

  The drop away rest has become increasingly popular for archery hunting. If you shoot large fixed-blade broadheads, the drop away rest allows for the use large helical fletchings and since most drop away rests create less friction between the arrow and the rest, you should see increased speed.

• Plunger Button or Flipper Rests

  These types of rests are most commonly used by finger shooters. They are designed to offset the side to side motion of the arrow that is created by the release of the bow string as it leaves the finger tips. The plunger button style is recommended for bows with center shot cut away risers. The tension on the plunger button can be adjusted depending on the pressure created by the arrow as it passes by the rest when fired. Most older bows do not have the cut away riser, therefore a simple flipper rest is suitable as the plunger button may not allow for proper arrow alignment with the bow string.

Your bow is only as good as the alignment between your rest and release or “nock” point of the arrow. If you are shooting with fingers or using a mechanical archery release, archery hunting or target shooting, all will have an impact on the type of rest you use. Having a quality rest to match your shooting style will greatly improve your accuracy.