What are flu flu arrows?
Spiral Fletch
Full length, uncut feathers are wrapped around the arrow shaft creating spirals that give this flu flu arrow it’s name. Using two feathers, instead of one, creates a relatively short range arrow, even when shot from compounds. These have the greatest stopping power.
6 Fletch
Full length feathers are cut into shorter lengths, usually 4 to 5.5 inches. These feathers are then glued onto the shaft like traditional feathers. The feathers are put on with a helical, or at an angle, so that the drag is increased. This style will shoot farther than the spirals, almost twice as far.
4 Fletch
Just like the six fletch, 4 to 5.5 inch untrimmed feathers are attached evenly around the shaft. This style doesn’t create as much drag as the other previous two styles and should be used with light to middle weight bows. Even with the slower arrow speeds, this arrow can reach out.
3 Fletch
As the name suggests, it’s made with three untrimmed feathers evenly spaced around the shaft. This provides minimal stopping power and should generally be used for lightweight bows, ie youth bows. The only time these should be used with heavy bows is when you have a VERY large open areas and you need to retain the arrows’ energy for hunting purposes.
Hybrid
This style is the least common. It is made by shortening the length of feathers used in 6, 4, or 3 Fletch, attaching them as described, and then adding a sprial behind the other feathers. With a little experimentation, it’s possible to create a customized maximum trajectory.
How Flu Flu Arrows Work
You are not alone. Mastering the art of shooting flying targets with a bow is ideal for those looking for a new challenge and those wanting to expand their archery experience. That should not discourage those that have absolutely no archery experience. One of the best things about shooting aerial archery is that it is the great equalizer. It is such a different archery experience that novices frequently out shoot experts. Flying targets require different skills and coordination than those acquired by target archers and bowhunters. There is also no significant advantage given to those that have more advanced or expensive equipment. Grab whatever kind of bow you can get your hands on, longbow, recurve, selfbow, or compound, and start practicing. The best thing you can do to shorten your learning curve is find a great coach. This can be a challenge because so few archers have ever attempted to shoot aerial targets, and fewer have become proficient. Make sure your are learning from someone that knows what they are talking about and can actually shoot.
Different uses for flu flu arrows
Fun Shooting
There are a broad range of targets that are fun to shoot out of the air. Foam disks, soccer balls, clay pigeons, etc. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s airborne and won’t damage your flu flus.
Wingshooting
There isn’t a more fun or challenging way to hunt upland game birds or waterfowl than wingshooting with a bow and flu flus. Selecting the proper setup (bow, flu flu fletching style, and tip/broadhead) is critical. If this is what you have in mind, you must watch Introduction to Aerial Archery.
Trickshooting
This goes far beyond simply shooting larger flying targets like basketballs and pizza boxes. With enough of the right practice, you can start shooting tiny targets like paintballs and aspirin. This is especially fun because it seems virtually impossible to observers.
Squirrels
Shooting up into a tree is a perfect opportunity to nock a flu flu arrow. The limited range of the flu flu makes it safe to shoot at those high angles and easy to recover the arrow when it return back to the ground.