When the questions arise regarding arrow sizing, I always try to think through what's happening.

With a layman mindset, I envision the energy released from the bow going somewhere and doing something. I then try to understand the whole picture. This makes me think of shock absorbers. The weight from our Expedition has a greater requirement than our compact car. Would the lighter suspension work? Maybe for a bit, but something will have to give.

Then I thought about throwing things. Take a ping pong ball and a baseball. Now, step back and throw them at your buddy 10 feet away, then ask him which hurt more. Same concept with arrows released from a bow, again, in my simple thoughts. The same energy is being applied to each ball, yet one hits with less force, right?

In my mind, a lighter arrow will store less energy, causing the extra energy to be absorbed by the bow. Too light essentially results in damage, similar to dryfiring. A heavier arrow will absorb more energy and carry it downrange to the target.

Animals can jump the string, but is it always the string or something else? Movement by the archer, arrow noise or something that caused a reaction a 500 fps bow wouldn't be able to overcome?

Just thinking out loud....Lyle