Whisker biscuit is the most famous type of arrow rest among target archers and hunters. Thus, you can put a whisker biscuit on recurve bows with sight and cut-out risers for best results.
An arrow rest is a piece of archery gear connected to your bow to hold the arrow in place while you shoot. Because of its function, many archers see the need to use it to aid them in shooting better.
You may have noticed that many types of arrow rests are available in the market, making it confusing to choose which would work well. Among the various arrow rests, the whisker biscuit is undeniably the most popular among target archers and hunters.
Most traditional and modern bows, including compound bows, use whisker biscuits to stabilize the arrows. If you own a recurve bow, you can put whisker biscuit on it. However, to experience the best results from using a whisker biscuit, your recurve bow must have sight and a cut-out riser.
If your recurve bow doesn’t have either or any of the gears mentioned above, you might want to consider buying them to ensure you are getting the most out of your newly installed whisker biscuit.
On the other hand, some archers may have expressed disappointment in using a whisker biscuit on their bow. To help you manage your expectations, below are the pros and cons of using a whisker biscuit on your bow:
Pros of using a whisker biscuit
- Simple functionality
- Doesn’t make noise
- Cheap
- Prevents the arrow from falling
- No moving parts
- Beneficial for any archer
One of the main reasons whisker biscuits are famous among archers is the simple functionality that makes them easy to use for archers, especially on recurve bows.
For instance, using whisker biscuits while hunting makes it easier for hunters to draw and shoot without having to do extra work to ensure it is functioning.
Their simple functionality makes them easy to fix using only an Allen wrench and easy to tune.
Another great benefit of using a whisker biscuit is that it doesn’t emit any noise, which is ideal for hunting. Therefore, you won’t have to worry if using a whisker biscuit will scare away the deer.
Purchasing a whisker biscuit won’t cost you too much money. Compared to other types of arrow rest, whisker biscuits are the cheapest. An excellent example of an affordable whisker biscuit is the Trophy Ridge Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit for only $33.56.
You can also check other whisker biscuits on Amazon, with prices ranging from $26.70 and up.
The whisker biscuit’s bristle surrounds the arrow, which prevents it from falling. As a result, your chances of shooting with accuracy are high because the whiskers or bristles hold the arrow securely in place.
For example, if your recurve bow got bumped or moved, the arrow won’t budge. Thus, the arrow will stay in position unless you pull the bow string.
Unlike other types of arrow rest, the whisker biscuits don’t come with moving parts. Therefore, you will be less likely to encounter or experience mechanical faults if you use whisker biscuits.
Your probability of missing your target decreases when you put whisker biscuits on your bow.
It doesn’t require high skills to use whisker biscuits. That’s why it is ideal for any archer, whether professionals or beginners. Thanks to its simple functionality, beginners can use whisker biscuits to their advantage to help them improve their archery skills.
Cons of using a whisker biscuit
- Decrease in arrow speed
- Not for archers with poor shooting technique
- Requires re-fletching arrows more often
Sadly, whisker biscuit and feathers are not a great combo. As a result, using a whisker biscuit on your bow causes frictions that will lead to wear and tear. Because of this problem, it will affect the speed of your arrow.
Your arrow speed will likely lose 2 to 4 fps which seems like not much of a difference, especially for newbies. However, it is a big deal and noticeable for most Olympic-level archers.
Even though whisker biscuits are easy to use, they don’t work with poor shooting techniques. Moreover, you must also ensure that you install it correctly to avoid additional unexpected failures during practice.
Using whisker biscuits means you’ll have to re-fletch your arrows more often due to the damage the whisker biscuit put on the arrow vanes. Thus, you may have to re-fletch them after repeated shots.
To avoid too much impact on the arrow vanes, ensure that you have a properly aligned whisker biscuit.
Like other arrow rest, whisker biscuits also have their benefits and shortcomings. Overall, they are great gear for shooting your recurve bow.
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How do you install a whisker biscuit?
Installing a whisker biscuit on your bow is easy and won’t take much of your time. However, you must ensure that you installed it correctly so you can shoot arrows properly and hit the target accurately.
As mentioned above, because they have a simplistic design and function, you won’t have to sweat or spend too much time installing a whisker biscuit on your recurve bow.
Despite this, you still have to ensure not to skip the step-by-step process of installing the whisker biscuit on your bow so you can shoot arrows properly and it won’t hinder your accuracy.
Before proceeding, here are the tools needed to install the whisker biscuit:
- Screws
- Allen wrench
- Quiet pads
If you have these three items on hand, you can now proceed to the following steps below:
- For those who have existing old arrow rest still installed on their bow, you need to remove them before installing a new one. If you can’t remove it for some reason, it should be at least well separated.
- Place the bow on a shelf and then carefully place the bracket of the whisker biscuit beside it.
- Before setting the whisker biscuit bracket, identify which side you shoot. If you are left-handed, put it on the left side of the bow. If you are right-handed, it should be on the right side.
- Find the mounting hole located typically at the top shelf of the bow.
- Next, align the whisker biscuit bracket’s opening with the mountain hole.
- Then, carefully put the bolt through the bracket and slide it into the mounting hole.
- Get the Allen wrench and screw the bolt tightly into the bow’s threaded hole.
- Lastly, nock an arrow and ensure that it is appropriately at rest. If it is not properly at rest, you should adjust the whisker biscuit using an elevation-adjustment screw.
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The steps in installing a whisker biscuit are simple and easy. Thus, if you ever have to change or adjust it, you will likely only spend a few minutes.
What size of whisker biscuit should I use?
Whisker biscuits come in different sizes, materials, and styles. The best whisker biscuit size should have at least a 0.03 width gap near the top of the arrow, so it is not too loose or tight.
As you finally decide to use a whisker biscuit, you may wonder which size you should choose. It can be challenging to decide on because whisker biscuits come in different sizes, materials, and styles.
Therefore, you won’t run out of options for finding a whisker biscuit with the correct size. Below is the whisker biscuit size table to help you determine which one to buy:
| Whisker Biscuit Size | Arrow Type |
| Small (0.300” inner diameter) | Outsert Carbon, Trophy Ridge, Axis, ACC, 17XX, or Smaller Aluminum |
| Medium (0.320” inner diameter) | Carbon, Internal Component,
19XX or Smaller Aluminum |
| Large (0.385” inner diameter) | 23XX or Smaller Aluminum |
| Fishing type (0.360” inner diameter) | Limited to unfletched fishing arrows |
The table above shows that each size corresponds to an arrow type. If your arrow is among the ones listed above, you can use the table as a reference in choosing which whisker biscuit size to follow for your next purchase.
As a general rule in choosing the right whisker biscuit size, a tight fit is terrible while a loose fit is good. A tight fit will produce more noise and lead to left-right errors due to hand torque.
Therefore, the best whisker biscuit size should have at least a 0.03 width gap near the top of the arrow so it is not too loose or tight. If you notice that the arrow is filling the whole area of the whisker biscuit, that indicates that the whisker biscuit might be too tight for your arrow.
Always remember that you will have a better experience using a larger whisker biscuit. It should be loose enough that you can see a small gap between the whisker biscuit and the top of the arrow.
Moreover, a good whisker biscuit should have the following qualities: adjustable, light, and durable. Since all whisker biscuits are interchangeable, there is a higher chance of providing a better fit for your bow.
Thus, instead of switching the arrow size to fit, it is better to change whisker biscuits.
Do whisker biscuits affect accuracy?
Generally, whisker biscuits will display the same accuracy as their shooters. However, shooting with incorrectly installed and worn-out whisker biscuits will affect accuracy.
You may have noticed that most archers that joined archery competitions don’t use whisker biscuits. Some believe that whisker biscuits affect accuracy, while others don’t see anything noticeable.
As someone who has yet to use a whisker biscuit, you may wonder if using it would affect your shooting accuracy. It does affect your shooting accuracy based on how used and incorrectly installed it is.
You must know that whisker biscuits generally display the same accuracy as their shooters. For instance, if you shoot in an improper form and lack skills in shooting accurately, it will reflect with or without using a whisker biscuit.
On the other hand, if you already shoot in a proper form with an excellent shooting technique, learning to shoot with a whisker biscuit will improve your accuracy. For example, assuming your shot wasn’t off, you’ll still hit your target with whisker biscuit in bowhunting.
You may wonder why some archers say that using whisker biscuits affects accuracy. The cause lies in these two factors: incorrectly installed and worn-out whisker biscuits.
Installing a whisker biscuit in your bow is simple and easy. However, you have to ensure that you were able to install it properly to maximize the use of whisker biscuits.
If you notice a decrease in your shooting accuracy while using a whisker biscuit, you may have to include the possibility that you installed it incorrectly.
Remember that poorly or incorrectly installed whisker biscuits decrease accuracy because they can damage your arrow’s fletching. Hence, to keep the accuracy at its best, it is better to go to a trusted and reputable archery shop to install it correctly in your bow.
Another cause of the decrease in accuracy is the use of worn-out whisker biscuits. The more frequent you shoot, the faster it will wear out. Like other gears, you would have to replace your whisker biscuit with a new one soon so the old one won’t affect your shooting accuracy.
Although incorrectly installed and worn-out whisker biscuits do affect accuracy, it is still relatively not too noticeable and only minimal.
However, for archers that join competitions, even a slight decrease in accuracy should never go unnoticed, resulting in not using a whisker biscuit to keep their accuracy as it is.
Whisker biscuits are a great gear to stabilize your arrow as you shoot, providing several benefits to its users. It is also available in different sizes, brands, and styles, giving you a roster of options.
Always install them correctly and replace them when needed to maintain shooting accuracy. If you are using a recurve bow, consider installing sight and cut-out risers to maximize the use of whisker biscuits.
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