It seems that quite a few of my wood arrows are getting small divets in them.  Could it be because I dont have a leather pad on the handle area. They are spined correctly for the bow. Looks like thay have been hit with a ball peen hammer.
This is using a wooden bow with no shelf.      :rolleyes:

Sounds like other arrows hitting them. If your bow was making that mark you would clearly hear that arrow slamming off your riser.

Mmmm  yep I know what you mean, I heard a couple arrows slapping but rarely.  I'll keep an open ear and carefully evaluate the situation.

What is the biggest contributing factor when arrows slap the riser.?  I notice sometimes if my anchor or release is off I'll hear some slap.

If the arrows are spined correctly for the bow they shouldn't touch the bow once released, leather pad or not.

If the arrows are spined correctly for the bow they shouldn't touch the bow once released, leather pad or not.

Exactly..... X's 2

If your shooting multiple arrows into a spot onthe target it sounds like that is where the divit would occur.

Slapping the bow can happen even with correctly spined arrows. I know from experience, and it was tied to a very bad point in my release technique. However, the marks on arrows from that is much more of a streak near the fletching than a divot. The only divots I've found are when arrows hit each other in the target or if banged around and abused in the quiver.

I have grouped a few arrows close and even some hits on the target but that is not the case.

"banged around and abused in the quiver" no because the divots are all over mostly opposite the cock feather so this tells me they are hitting the handle.  I think they are to heavily spined.

You would get streaks not divots.

Yep I have a couple with streaks.   This has got me baffled, making up a new 1/2 dozen arrows see how they work out.

"from experience, and it was tied to a very bad point in my release technique"  I have to make a new shooting tab the glove seems to be cramping my style.  The other day I used the tab and I hit the bullseye twice right out of the gate.      

Do you have kid's at the house?

      nope aint no kids, they would use them as swords right.

I think I know now what has casued the divots, maybe its from building various new bows and not having the nock height correct.  Would that do it..?

Gotta be cheap arrows then..  

hey they are more arrow dynamic just like a golf ball.