Watch: TwisterNock Spins Your Arrow on Your Bow
Russ Chastain 09.27.16
Meet the TwisterNock. It’s a replacement arrow nock that has some spring-loaded mechanical innards, which cause your arrow to begin spinning as soon as you release your arrow.
Color me intrigued, but skeptical.
Before you nock the arrow, you “cock” the TwisterNock by pushing it in and giving it a slight turn. Then you nock the arrow as usual, and when you release the string, the internal spring causes your arrow to begin spinning.
The theory is that this spinning stabilizes the arrow immediately, preventing that wibbly-wobbly arrow flight that we’ve all seen in slow motion. This in turn allows more efficient (less energy is wasted on wibble-wobble) and more accurate flight.
Also, without the wibble-wobble, broadhead blades won’t be catching wind and trying to skew your arrow’s flight.
My first question was, “What about the arrow rest?” For everyone who uses a fixed rest that requires the vanes to be turned just so (to prevent the vanes from slapping the rest as they pass by it), will this spinning arrow business cause trouble?
Well, they say “No.” In fact, here is a direct quote from their website:
TwisterNock works with all arrow rests. Including fixed arrow rests and Whisker Biscuit.
This video shows the rotation stopping just after release, and the arrow no longer spinning as it passes the rest and continues to fly. But it’s possible that the spin at release is enough to prevent the whole wibble-wobble thing?
It works with any fletching or vanes, but they say it will work best with right helical fletching. This makes sense because helical fletching is designed to impart spin to the arrow during flight. With the TwisterNock, you’re kind of getting a head start on that spin.
We all know that spinning stabilizes flying things. That’s why rifled gun barrels were invented, to make bullets fly faster, farther, and more accurately.
They say the TwisterNock can do the same for your arrows, and it’s an interesting idea.
Another point of my skepticism has to do with broadhead performance on target. They make the statement that with the rotation of TwisterNock, hitting a target with a broadhead “is like putting a blender through it.”
But to me, this is where a spinning arrow could backfire for a hunter. Sharp blades will cut best and most efficiently when going straight into flesh; the spin may cause resistance to penetration and might otherwise interfere with the operation of mechanical broadheads.
These are my thoughts, and I have no real-world experience to demonstrate whether this is or is not a problem. But it’s a concern.
They also offer the Twister Sleeve, which is essentially a replacement for vanes or fletchings. After you install your TwisterNock, you push this sleeve over it. It acts like fletching, but comes off of your arrow when it penetrates an animal. This leaves a handy white place marker at the spot where the animal was when you hit it, which can make blood-trailing much easier.
The bare shaft means there are no vanes to slow the arrow, so pass-through shots are more likely.
The same company makes a variety of lighted nocks as well, which light up when released and are guaranteed to light up every time.
I’d like to see some test results with broadheads to learn whether my concerns are worth caring about, but until then I’m cautiously optimistic.
What do you think? Both the TwisterNock and Twister Sleeve are explained in the video below.
