The Ultimate Guide to Drop Away Rests

An arrow rest is a great way to ensure accuracy and efficiency with every shot of the bow. What’s more, these small yet incredibly significant devices allow you to keep your bow in better condition for longer, since the arrow will not make contact with it and will, therefore, not cause it to wear.

There are two main types of arrow rest; the static rest and drop away rests. But is the latter worth investing in? Many would argue that yes, it is whereas others would say that a static rest is preferable.

In this article, we are going to be looking at the many reasons why drop away rests are an excellent choice for both experienced archers and those who are new to this activity. We will also be showing you a selection of our favourite drop away rests that are sure to improve your hunting skills.

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What Is A Drop Away Rest?

Unlike a static arrow rest, which remains on the bow at all times, a drop away rest will drop away from the bow as soon as the arrow is released. Some models will fall away entirely, whereas others are designed to rotate or allow the arrow through without interference or may be pulled down to achieve the same result.

It is important to remember that a drop away arrow rest will do the same job no matter which type you select; that being said, there are two variations on this type of device.

Limb Driven Drop Away Rests

A limb driven arrow rest features a cable that runs from the arrow rest to either the bottom or top limb of the bow. When you draw the bow, this cable will draw the limb inwards, and in turn, it allows the arrow rest to move into position. Once the arrow is released, the drop away rest will move back down again thanks to the cable being released.

These are a great choice if you are new to archery since these drop away rests are very easy to install and even easier to maintain. Primarily, you will notice that they do not need a bow press should the cable snap, but they are also easier to use as they do not need to be as precisely set up as some other options.

Cable Driven Drop Away Rests

It may sound somewhat confusing since the limb driven rest uses a cable to operate; however, while the two work similarly, there is a crucial difference with the cable-driven rest.

Where a limb driven rest would attach to the bow via the limb, a cable-driven rest is attached to the bow’s bus cable. When you draw the bow, and the line moves downwards, your cable driven rest moves with it, thus bringing the rest into the correct position and falling away again once you release your arrow.

These drop away rests can be a little more tricky to use and so may not be suitable for beginners or anyone who wants something easy to maintain. They must be set up far more precisely and are a lot more challenging to mend in the event that they snap.

The Benefits Of Using A Drop Away Rest

There are many benefits to using a drop away rest and millions of archers around the world swear by these handy little devices. If you are unsure whether to install one on your bow, it can help to explore some of the advantages.

Accuracy

When using a static rest, particularly if you are using a full-capture rest, there is the chance that the flight path of the arrow could be affected. This isn’t a common problem since so many people still use these rests without issue. However, if you want to be sure that your accuracy will always be spot on then using a drop away rest may be the solution.

Less Contact With The Arrow

One of the main benefits with a static arrow rest is that it prevents the arrow from having any contact with the bow. This is beneficial for both the bow and the arrow since both are subject to wear if they are allowed to rub against one another frequently enough.

However, a static rest will have quite a lot of contact with the arrow, which will not only affect the accuracy as we have already discussed, but this may also damage the arrow.

A drop away rest has the least contact possible with the arrow so you can feel confident that your arrows will remain intact for much longer.

When you are ready to release the arrow, the drop away rest will move out of the way just before the fletchings, so there is minimal, if any contact with the arrow.

Speed

Due to the increased contact of the static arrow rest, there is a small chance that this could affect the speed of the arrow. This is even more true if you are using a whisker biscuit, whereas, with a drop-away rest, the speed of the arrow won’t ever be affected.

Conclusion

Drop away rests are a great choice for archers who want an arrow rest that offers improved precision, unparalleled speed and ease of use. They have far less contact with the arrow than a static rest and so many improve your accuracy and will do less damage to your equipment.