French tuning: 25-40-60 yard verification
French tuning uses three known-distance shots to verify that centre-shot, rest, and form all agree at hunting range. It is the last check before broadhead tuning. Named after 1970s French Olympic recurve coaches, it is now standard on compound rigs too.
Five steps to a French-tune pass
- Sight-in the 20 yard pin to dead centre. Verify with a 3-shot group inside 2 in.
- Shoot 3 fletched arrows at 25 yards using the 25 yard pin. Groups should stack inside 3 in.
- Shoot 3 arrows at 40 yards using the 40 yard pin. Group should be inside 5 in with the centre of the group in line with the 25 yard group.
- Shoot 3 arrows at 60 yards using the 60 yard pin. Centre of the 60 yard group should fall within 1 in horizontal of the 25 and 40 yard group centres. Vertical drop is expected; horizontal drift is not.
- A right drift at 60 yards under 1 in per 20 yards is form. Over 1 in per 20 yards is centre-shot. Reset the rest 1/64 in and repeat.
Reading the pattern
Pattern A: 25, 40, 60 groups all stack vertically. Rig is tuned. Move to broadhead tuning. Pattern B: groups drift right the further you shoot, uniform rate. Rest needs a lateral move. Pattern C: 60 yd group is 6 in left of 40 yd but 25 and 40 stack. Form breaking down at extended range; groove the release.
Common errors
Using a fresh face at each distance (masks vertical stack; use one wide target you can see all three groups on). Ignoring wind (French tuning demands sub-2 mph indoor conditions). Chasing horizontal drift with the sight instead of the rest.
What bowhunters are saying
French tune is the difference between a bow that groups field points at 60 and one that groups broadheads at 60. If your 25-40-60 does not stack vertical, do not waste a broadhead.
Petersen’s Bowhunting archery-tuning column, 2025