Arrow setup analysis for a 26-inch arrow at 240 fps. Default specs: 364 gr arrow, 8.4 mm shaft diameter.
Total arrow mass for a 26" build: 364 gr = 221 gr shaft (8.5 GPI × 26") + 143 gr components (point + insert + nock + fletching).
KE: 46.6 ft·lbf — Momentum: 0.388 slug·ft/s
| Distance | Velocity | KE (ft·lbf) | Momentum (slug) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 240.0 fps | 46.6 ft·lbf | 0.388 |
| 10 yd | 235.3 fps | 44.8 ft·lbf | 0.380 |
| 20 yd | 230.7 fps | 43.0 ft·lbf | 0.373 |
| 30 yd | 226.2 fps | 41.4 ft·lbf | 0.366 |
| 40 yd | 221.8 fps | 39.8 ft·lbf | 0.358 |
| 50 yd | 217.4 fps | 38.2 ft·lbf | 0.351 |
This build pairs a short cut with a traditional, recurve-paced launch. At 26 inches the shaft is compact and quick to tune, common on shorter-draw compound shooters who value a snappy, low-mass arrow, and 240 fps is the kind of speed produced by longbows, recurves, and lower-poundage or longer-brace compounds. Together they finish at about 364 grains, which is what drives the kinetic energy and momentum figures in the table above.
Because this is a short cut, the shorter column resists bending, nudging the dynamic spine toward the stiff side of the chart. The launch matters too: with a traditional, recurve-paced launch, the dynamic-spine reaction is dominated by a forgiving, quiet shot where heavier arrows and clean form matter more than raw speed. Pick a static spine that lands stiff once this 26" shaft and your point weight are factored in, then confirm it with bare-shaft or paper tuning.
At roughly 46.6 ft·lbf this is small-game and target kinetic energy — this energy level suits target practice, 3D courses, and small game; experienced archers also take whitetail at close range, but most guides treat it as the floor for deer-sized animals. Keep in mind that a short cut at 240 fps is only the starting point; broadhead choice and shot placement still decide the outcome more than the headline energy number.
A traditional, recurve-paced launch pushing roughly 364 grains yields about 0.388 slug·ft/s of momentum. That is light penetration potential: momentum here is on the light side, so penetration depends heavily on a sharp broadhead and a clean, square hit. Momentum, more than raw kinetic energy, predicts how a 26" arrow holds up against bone and angled entry.
For a short cut launched at 240 fps, dial in rest centre-shot and timing first, then verify broadhead flight against field points at distance. A forgiving, quiet shot where heavier arrows and clean form matter more than raw speed — so re-check the tear any time you change point weight, since that shifts the dynamic spine on a 26" shaft more than most archers expect.