3 or 4

[rosscrazyelk]

 I always used to  shoot with 3 vanes until a friend talked me into trying 4. I have no clue why it works better  but it does. For my setup anyway.
What about you?

[dawn2dusk]

4 fletch for me. Always have and always will. Arrows fly a lot better down range when shooting broadbeads. Gave 3 fletch a shot last year an after lots of shootin and tinkering I found that 4 fletch just flew better for me. Good luck on your pursuit for tighter groups!

[LBES]

3 vanes... less weight. And the broad head has 3 vanes too - I line up the vanes with blades to get each arrow to fly more consistently. However, I've never shot 4 vanes - but never have had the need to try.

[jackelope]

4 blazers for me. That's what the guy who built my arrows suggested and he knows better than me.

[RadSav]

There are compromises to everything in archery.  Fletching is no exception.  Assuming you use the same sized fletching for each the three fletch and four fletch arrows there are benefits and disadvantages to each. 

Three fletch allows you to achieve proper FOC with less weight.  It reduces the the amount of noise in flight.  It's faster and easier to fletch.  And it is effective as long as the total surface of drag exceeds the total surface of drag in your broadhead.  The odd cock vane also allows you to consistently orient spline on arrows with soft spline orientation.

Four fletches biggest advantage is clearance and cock rotation as you receive the same clearance on the rest at zero nock placement or 180 degree nock placement.  Arrows with bad spline orientation that might not be the best idea.  But under most high stress hunting situations it's generally a benefit.  The three fletch arrow has 25% less surface of drag than the four fletch arrow.  As a result the four fletch arrow generally corrects faster in the initial transfer from static to dynamic.  It also helps keep the transfer of energy forward as the arrow passes the apex of the parabolic curve (if you happen to shoot that far).

The absolutes are not always that simple though.  And compromises can always be had that eliminate each as a benefit and each as a positive.  Take for example max helical -vs- slight offset.  A max helical three fletched arrow may very well exceed initial alignment benefits of a slight offset four fletched arrow.  And it's improved gyro stability can help the transfer of momentum at the apex of the parabolic curve compared to the slight offset four fletched arrow.  However, a four fletched arrow using Max Helical may exhibit too much initial drag and actually start to effect the arrows rate of deceleration as compared to the max helical counter part.  Once in complete rotation amount of drag difference is minimal unless your fletching material flutters heavily.

For myself I happily use them both.  Though I have to say now that I see so many other people using four fletch it is not as much of an attraction to me as it was when I started using it 27 years ago.  For my anal nature arrow spline is an area of mental distress to me.  As a result I tend to lean toward the three fletched max helical on all my carbon arrows.  And I tend to lean toward the basic helical 90 degree four fletch on all my ACC, FMJ and aluminum arrows.

To me the only absolute decision with fletching is that it should never ever be applied straight.

[MLBowhunting]

 B your new name is wizard lol 

[bullcrazy]

Great information rad.

[jackelope]

That's exactly what I was trying to say. I just couldn't find the right words. Thanks Rad.

[carpsniperg2]

I made the switch a long time ago to 4. I have always seen a gain in running 4. I am sure there is a little more drag with more surface area in the wind. I shoot 6 fletch on my recurve arrows with 3" feathers.

[coachcw]

Rad said it all . I go with four fletch blazzers and never look back !

[Greg Mullins]

4 blazers for me also.

[DoubleJ]

3 for me because RadSav told me to.  Hasn't been an issue so I'm not going to change anything

[RadSav]

3 for me because RadSav told me to.  Hasn't been an issue so I'm not going to change anything

I did? I've been having a lot of senior moments lately   Did I send you some MAX Hunter vanes?

[BOWHUNTER45]

3 

[dreamunelk]

Always used 3, don't no why.  I am little rusty at aerodynamics but, I see more problems that benefits.  I would think that something is wrong with your set up if four shoots better.  As I said a little rusty,