From the Easton Technical web-site:
WARNING - Follow These Instructions To Avoid Personal Injury
An arrow shaft can become damaged from impacts with hard objects or other arrows or after being shot into a game animal. A damaged arrow could break upon release and injure you or a bystander. You must carefully inspect each arrow shaft, nock, and other components before each shot to see that they have not been damaged. Before shooting, place the arrow between your thumb and fingers, and, using your other hand to slowly rotate the shaft, run your fingertips along the entire arrow length, feeling and looking closely for nicks, cracks, splits, dents, or other marks that could indicate the shaft has been damaged. When checking carbon arrows, perform the following additional tests:
1. Grasp the shaft just above the point and below the nock, then flex the arrow in an arc (bending it away from you and others) with a deflection of 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm), and listen for cracking noises. Perform this test four to six times, rotating the arrow slightly between each flex until you have gone around the entire arrow. If you hear or feel cracking, the carbon has been damaged.
2. While still holding the point and fletching ends, twist the shaft in both directions. If the arrow “relaxes” or twists easily, the carbon has been damaged.
If an arrow has been damaged, or if you believe it has been damaged, do not shoot it again as it could break on release, and sharp arrow pieces could hit and injure you or someone nearby.
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I read from time to time someone saying “I like carbon arrows because they are either broken or straight”. This is a misconception that can lead to disaster.
Most folks fail to research proper safe arrow handling. They trust others to tell them how to avoid injury and most are lucky.
Most do not realize what an arrow goes through as they launch it from their high energy bow.
Wiping each arrow after every shot with a dish towel will also reveal defects the naked eye will miss. You will feel an odd drag and snag a thread, look at your shaft and go “Now what?” and only then see the carbon splinter.
This photo also shows another strong reason to select the correct spine and regularly test your carbon composite shafts.
