If it really is true it's not at all a bad thing in my mind. However, I expect a whole lot of "Why can't I get my arrows to group" threads to start here on H-W. I was in our local archery shop today and the shop owner told a customer he had tested the lighted nocks and it only made a minimal change to FOC. On my arrows it changes my 12% to 8.7% FOC
(almost 20%). That might not change much on the 20 yard indoor range, but in the field with a crosswind that's going to make one heck of a difference.
I figure a whole bunch of guys are going to fall in love with it at first saying they are the greatest thing to happen to Washington bowhunting since the introduction of the compound bow. Then they are going to start shooting through the chrony and wet their pants. Especially if they do the right thing and shoot a heavier point to make up for the increase in weight to the back end of the arrow. With my 27.5" arrows if I adjust to get back my FOC it drops my speed by 15fps. Myself I could care less about my bows speed so it's no nevermind to me. But for the majority of speed freaks out there that will never be acceptable. So they will shoot too light of broadhead and the first time they shoot at something in bad weather the honeymoon will be over. Then they will start a thread telling everyone how lighted nocks S*&k
Just watch the arrow flight in most videos where the hunters use the lighted nocks. Even at the 20-25 yards most of them are filmed at the arrow flight is horrible. Now try hunting in western Washignton during a windy rain storm with that poor FOC, bad arrow flight and our long range shooters. It's going to be ugly until guys understand what it takes to get them to work well. And no! Mechanicals are not going to solve that problem
If officially legal in Washington you may very well see me shooting them. I can guarantee you that if the wife can get more than 220 fps she will be shooting them. But I expect after the first couple of years the loss of speed, increased difficulty of flight and the great cost of the product you probably won't be seeing too many people shooting them out in the field. How much money do you have for lighted nocks after dropping $1,200 on that Hoyt or Mathews anyway
Ten bucks
($10.00 and that's cheap!!!) a nock is going to be hard for a lot of guys to swallow. Especially when the quality of the electronics is quite poor on most models. Out of the 100 or so I have played with I'd guess more than 80 of those failed after only a half dozen shots. About 30% of those never did work new out of the package.
Most reliable in my opinion from testing = Nockturnal by Rage
