Arrows are very basic and do not have many parts, but one of the most important elements to them is the arrow nocks. While they may seem small and insignificant, the arrow nock is one of the most important components of your arrow and allows it to perform properly.
What Is An Arrow Nock?
An arrow nock is a small notch at the back end of the arrow. The nock connects the arrow to the bowstring and has many different purposes. Arrow nocks are often confused with string nocks, which are on the bowstring. These allow you proper arrow placement and a nocking point to get the most consistent results. Arrow nocks, on the other hand, are a vital part of an arrow and attach it to the bowstring.
What Is The Purpose Of An Arrow Nock?
Arrow nocks serve many purposes. For example, one of these includes keeping the arrow oriented in the right direction. Arrow nocks also keep it from sliding sideways during the shooting process and maximizes an arrow’s energy. While an arrow nock keeps the arrow attached to the string and centered, upon release it transfers all of the energy from the bow, into the arrow.
Types of Arrow Nocks
You may believe nocks are all the same, but there are many different types of arrow nocks. Each of these has its own unique benefits and uses. Here are some of the more popular types of arrow nocks:
Press-Fit Nocks
Press-fit nocks are the most common types of arrow nocks that you will see and use. They can be used with all arrow shaft materials, sizes, and diameters except the skinniest of carbon shafts. As the name implies, you need to press the nock into the shaft in order to install it. Slide the post inside of the arrow shaft, and press it in until the end of the shaft comes into contact with the main portion of the nock.
One great benefit of press-fit nocks is that they do not require any glue. Once you place them in an arrow, you can pull them back out and replace them as needed. Because of this, you can also turn them to any position in order to properly align with your fletchings. You will, however, need to get the proper size of press-fit nocks for your specific arrows as all arrow diameters are different. You’ll also need to keep an eye on nock alignment to be sure your fletching clears your rest.
Pin Nocks
Pin nocks are smaller nocks that are designed to fit onto an aluminum pin that is placed inside the end of an arrow shaft. This type of arrow nock is designed to help protect arrow shafts from getting damaged by other arrows when hit. Another great benefit to these nocks is that any pin nock will fit any pin insert as all pins are made in one standard size.
Pin nocks are most commonly used by competition shooters. They prefer this type as they tend to shoot very expensive arrow shafts and they want to avoid damaging them when shooting groups. There is also a belief that the smaller pin nocks tend to be more accurate and help minimize deflections when shooting. This could be a great benefit in competition as you do not want your arrow deflecting badly and landing in a less desirable scoring ring. Another great benefit to these nocks is they are easy to replace if they become damaged.
Overnocks
Overnocks are just like they sound: they slide over the shaft of the arrow instead of on the inside like press-fit or pin nocks. To attach an overnock to an arrow, simply slide the arrow inside of the nock until it stops. These are also generally glued on. Overnocks are mostly used with wooden arrows, as well as large diameter carbon arrows. You’ll generally find overnocks on beginner equipment as most professionals don’t use this type of nock.
Conventional Nocks
Conventional nocks are mainly used on aluminum arrows that feature a cone-shaped back end. This is called the swage. Conventional nocks are very similar to over-nocks except they do not completely cover the entire arrow shaft. They come in many different sizes which are made to correlate to the various arrow shaft diameters. These can nocks are generally oriented and glued in place.
Crossbow Nocks
Crossbow nocks are designed specifically to be used with crossbows. There are even different types of crossbow nocks such as the flat nock, halfmoon, OmniNock, and the Capture nock. Different brands of crossbows generally use different nocks for their bows. Depending on the design and style of the crossbow, one style of crossbow nock may work better than the other. Always check with the manufacturer to ensure you are using the type of nock that they recommend for your model of crossbow.
Lighted Nocks
Lighted nocks are not necessarily a different type of arrow nock, but rather an additional feature that some may include. These nocks are usually press-fit nocks or over-nocks with a very small LED light inside of them. These will light up when they are used, allowing an archer to better see the trajectory of their arrow in flight. Bowhunters are the main users of this added feature, as they are able to see the impact of their arrow on an animal.
Arrow Nock Sizes
Another important consideration when it comes to arrow nocks is the sizing of the groove. The groove is the small opening between both of the nock posts. It is the part that the bowstring goes into. You have both “small groove” and “large groove” options. Small groove nocks are designed for bowstrings with a thinner diameter, such as those on recurve bows.
Large groove nocks are designed for much thicker bowstrings, such as those found on compound bows. When a nock is placed onto a bowstring, it should make an audible “click”. This will generally mean that you have a properly sized groove on your arrow nock. You do not want your nock to be too big or too small, as this will cause it to be either too tight or too loose while on the bowstring.
You’ll know your nock is too loose if your arrow slides around on the string and easily falls off. If your nock is too tight, the arrow tends to lift off the arrow rest and takes a lot of force to attach or remove from the string.
Arrow Nock Position
The arrow nock and its relation to the fletchings are very important when shooting. Poor alignment between the two can cause the fletching to hit the arrow rest which results in loss of accuracy. With the right alignment, the arrow will fly without the fletchings bumping the arrow rest and ensure you hit where you are aiming.
Before gluing a nock, you should always ensure proper alignment between the nock, fletching, and your arrow rest. Aligning them is an easy process and only requires a small adjustment by twisting the nock to get it just right. It is vital that you do not glue a nock before you have adjusted it for the right alignment for your equipment.
Arrow Nock Replacement
If you shoot your arrows enough, you will eventually need to replace broken nocks. Luckily, replacing them is usually an easy process and new nocks are extremely inexpensive. For example, all you will need to replace a press-fit nock is a pair of pliers and the new nock you are going to replace the old one with. Take out the damaged nock carefully with the pliers as to not damage the arrow shaft. Press in the new nock into the arrow shaft and align it where the previous one was and you are ready to go!
Other types of nocks that are glued in will take a little more time and effort to properly replace. Pliers are still a great tool to have, a sharp knife, as well as some sandpaper to help remove any residue from the previous glue and nock.
Arrow Nock Tips and F.A.Q.s
Q: How do you know your nock fit is correct and will fit your bowstring?
A: The nock should make an audible “click” when it is connected to the bowstring. You should also be able to rotate the arrow around the string without the nock actually grabbing and twisting the string with it. Lastly, there should be a very tiny amount of wiggle room in between your nock and the string.
Q: Can you still use a damaged nock?
A: No, even a nock with very slight damage can be dangerous to shoot. At the very least, it can also cause accuracy problems. Always check your arrow nocks for potential damage and simply replace them if they have any. You can also carry extra nocks with you and change them out as necessary out in the field.
Q: Can you adjust your arrow nocks after they are on the arrow?
A: Some nocks, such as press-fit nocks and pin nocks, can easily be adjusted once attached to the arrow. Others, such as those that are glued on, cannot be adjusted once the glue has dried. The ones that are not glued can sometimes even be adjusted by hand or with the help of your bowstring. Simply twist the nock with your hand or place it on the bowstring and twist the shaft of the arrow to make small adjustments. Lastly, there are also nock adjusting tools to help you adjust nocks and ensure that they are aligned just right.
Q: How do you take care of your arrow nocks?
A: Arrow nocks are fairly durable and can be hard to damage. Just do not get Deet or other chemicals on them as they can deteriorate. You should also avoid dropping your arrows on hard surfaces as landing on the nock can also break them. Again, always check your nocks for damage before shooting them. When in doubt, replace them with new ones.
Final Thoughts
Arrow nocks are simple pieces of archery gear that often go overlooked. They play a very important role, however, and should always be checked. From getting the correct size to selecting the right style for your needs, arrow nocks are not as simple as they may seem, but you should be well on your way to choosing the right knocks for you!
“You will, however, need to get the proper size of press-fit nocks for your specific arrows as all arrow diameters are different. ”
I cannot find a single source telling how to find different size nocks. I have looking at sellers of nocks, the producer of the particular arrow I want a larger nock for, and there is no options I can find to obtain a larger nock. It seems the only way to get a larger nock is to buy another arrow that has a larger nock. There is no certain way either to buy a narrower string and know that the nock will fit on it.