Walk back tuning is a method used to establish arrow rest center shot and sight alignment prior to paper tuning.  It will help to eliminate issues with misalignment of the arrow rest that can complicate the process of paper tuning.  It will also help to get the initial sight windage adjusted in preparation for fine sight tuning.  If conduced outdoors, wind is an obvious consideration.

Setup (reference figure A)

a.     Use a blank target.

b.    Hang a weighted string from a nail located at the top center of your target.  The string should bisect the target face.

c. Near the top of the string, place a round sticker or mark on the target face so that the string is centered on it. The sticker or mark should be large enough so that it is visible at a distance of 40 yards.

d.   Ensure the sight on the bow is square, a sight level is necessary for proper walk back tuning.

 Establish rough rest and sight center shot

NOTE – Ensure the bow is level prior to each shot.  Also, only the 20 yard pin is used in all steps of walk back tuning even though you will shoot from 20, 30 and 40 yards.

a. At a distance of 20 yards, shoot 5 arrows holding the 20 yard pin on the sticker or mark.

b. At a distance of 30 yards, shoot 5 arrows holding the 20 yard pin on the sticker or mark.

c. At a distance of 40 yards, shoot 5 arrows holding the 20 yard pin on the sticker or mark.

d.     If your groups look like figure B, your rest center shot and sight adjustments are good and you can proceed to paper tuning and fine sight adjustment.

e.      If your groups look like figure C, your rest is out left.  Adjust the rest to the right by 1/16^th of an inch and repeat steps a thru d again.  Do not make any sight adjustments.

f.        If your groups look like figure D, your rest is out right.  Adjust the rest to the left by 1/16^th of an inch and repeat steps a thru d again.  Do not make any sight adjustments.

g. Once your groups look like figure B, no further rest adjustments are necessary until paper tuning.  Proceed to step h for rough sight centering

h.     If your groups look like figure E, your rest center shot is good but your sights are out left.  Make minor sight adjustments to the left until groups look like figure B then proceed to paper tuning and fine sight adjustment.

i.        If your groups look like figure F, you rest center shot is good but your sights are out right. Make minor sight adjustments to the right until groups look like figure B then proceed to paper tuning and fine sight adjustment.