Outfitting yourself for bow hunting or target archery means making quite a few decisions when it comes to the equipment you use. One of the items of equipment that will be very important to your success or failure as an accurate shot is the arrow rest that you choose. Getting the right arrow rest is very important because not only does it hold the arrow securely before it is released but it also helps align the arrow with the target.

There are a number of features that you should look for in a new arrow rest no matter whether you buy one for ten dollars or a hundred dollars. It should be simple to set up and attach to your bow, the horizontal and vertical adjustment should be simple to use and it should be lightweight. Ideally, the rest should also be available in left or right handed models.

The majority of arrow rests can be grouped into one of three main categories: drop-away or fall-away rests, prong or shoot-through rests and cradle or capture rests.

The prong arrow rest gives a good description of what it actually looks like. The arrow sits on the prong arms that provide minimal contact while holding the arrow steadily in place. It is an arrow rest that is easy to set up and doesn’t cost a lot of money and for these two reasons it is a very popular option.

For the bow hunter the capture arrow rest is widely used. Out of the various brands that are available, easily the most popular and well known is the Whisker Biscuit by Trophy Ridge. These rests comprise thin nylon filaments that help keep the arrow in place. Although they make contact with the arrow as it is fired from the bow there is minimal impact on the trajectory and speed of the arrow’s flight.

Unlike the other two types of rests the drop-away rest makes the least contact with the arrow as possible. When the string is released this type of rest is designed to fall away from the arrow so that it is propelled without any further contact. This type of arrow rest is a little more complicated than the others with more moving parts and so it is harder to set up and it is usually more expensive.

You may prefer to have the convenience of an arrow rest that can be set up in seconds and tuned with a minimum of fuss. Or you may prefer the precision of a more complicated rest. It all comes down to personal choice and a feeling of best fit and this means trying a few different makes and models to determine what works best for you.