I just returned from doing my presentation at the ATA show to find over 200 emails to be answered. That will keep me busy for a few days, but I’ll be back on the forum when I’ve cought up a bit.

I was really pleased with how well the presentation at ATA went over with everyone attending – and even many who didn’t attend, but who heard about it from those who did attend. The trip was somewhat of an ordeal. On the way up I was only able to drive about 3 hours a day before becoming too exhausted to continue. By the time I headed back I was able to drive seven hours a day, so it looks like the after-effects of the radiation treatments are finally beginning to wear off a bit.

I had a little demonstration in the presentation that I’d set up to show folks the effect on arrow flight that EFOC makes. It was a short, rubber tipped arrow with a movable rubber weight. By sliding the weight up or down on the shaft I could shoot the arrow at 6%, 11% and 24% FOC, without the mass of the arrow ever changing. I pre-selected and marked the positions for the rubber weight for those specific amounts of FOC. Only a few compound shooters use over 6% FOC, and most use less than 6%. A typical traditional wood shaft with most commonly used broadheads show about 11% FOC. 24% FOC was with the weight as far forward on the shaft as I could slide it.

By using the same launching force and shooting angle I could demonstrate how much arrow energy is conserved by using EFOC, and also demonstrate that front-weighted EFOC arrow DO NOT nose dive – indeed, they fly both flatter and farther than an arrow of equal mass but with a lower amount of FOC.

The small shaft was unfletched and, of course, the flight at 6% FOC was TERRIBLE, and it flew about half the length of the lecture hall. At 11% FOC it flew a bit better, and traveled a bit over 60% of the length of the lecture hall. At 24% FOC the flight was great, and the small arrow HIT THE WALL at the far end of the lecture hall with a resounding thump! You could actually hear the collective gasp of the folks in the audience!

That simple demonstration became the talk of the entire convention – even among folks who hadn’t attended, but who heard about it from those who had attended. After the ATA presentation, there is one thing I know for sure; we’re beginning to make real inroads into the bowhunting public (FINALLY!.:D)

Ed