How to Adjust Compound Bow Sight | Arrow Group Method

Adjust a compound bow sight by moving the sight in the same direction your arrow group needs to go.

Hitting left? Move the sight housing left. Hitting low? Move it down. The arrow group method that follows takes the guesswork out of the process, and with small adjustments you can zero in a new bow sight in under an hour.

What the arrow group method means

Before touching any screws, shoot a three-arrow group at a close distance using consistent form. Your group shows exactly where the bow is sending arrows. Then adjust the sight housing toward the group: if arrows hit left, move the sight left; if right, move right; if high, move up; if low, move down. This is the opposite of a rifle sight, where you move the rear sight opposite the group.

Windage is the left/right adjustment; elevation is the up/down adjustment. Most compound bow sights use separate screws or knobs for each, and some have click detents that let you count adjustments.

Adjusting for a multi-pin or single-pin sight

Multi-pin sights and single-pin sliders work the same way at first, but differ once the housing is roughly dialed in.

For a multi-pin sight, align the housing with the top pin at your starting distance, then adjust each individual pin for its labeled yardage. Once the housing is dialed, do not chase every distance by moving the whole housing again — each pin gets set independently.

For a single-pin slider, use the slider or housing mechanism to move the pin to each distance, and mark the tape after confirming the sight-in at that yardage. The slider becomes your distance reference rather than multiple fixed pins. When a sight can shoot the full range with one pin, it frees up the sight picture considerably — a big reason many hunters prefer that setup. If you are comparing options, our tested roundup of the best 3-pin slider bow sights covers the trade-offs between multi-pin and slider designs.

Step-by-step sight-in process

Start close — 5 to 10 yards is a safe range where mistakes stay on the target. Shoot a three-arrow group with your normal grip and release, then walk to the target and note the group center.

1. Adjust with the arrow rule: move the sight in the same direction you want the group to move. Arrows left = sight left. Arrows low = sight down.
2. Make small adjustments. A little goes further than you expect at closer distances.
3. Re-shoot and repeat. Shoot another group, adjust, and continue until the group centers on your point of aim.
4. Move back in steps. Once centered at close range, move to 20 yards, then 30, repeating the process.

After the top or starting pin is confirmed, move to the next distance and set that pin. A typical sight-in session involves five to ten adjustment rounds total.

Leveling and axis adjustments

Some sights include 2nd and 3rd axis adjustments that control how the sight reads when the bow is tilted. The 2nd axis keeps the bubble level when the bow is vertical, and the 3rd axis keeps it level when the bow is tilted upward or downward at steep angles.

Set the sight bubble level with the bow held vertically first, then fine-tune axis settings using the manufacturer’s manual if those adjustments exist on your model. Not all sights have them, and guessing at axis screws without the proper procedure can throw off a previously level setup.

Before each shot, verify the arrow does not contact the sight during the shot setup, and re-tighten any hardware after adjusting so nothing shifts mid-shot.

Adjustments differ by sight model — some use screws, some knobs, some click adjustments — so keep your user manual handy. Archery instructor resources like Archery360’s sight adjustment guide follow the same group-and-correct method across common sights.

If the group stays off after several rounds, check form first: grip pressure, consistent anchor point, and release follow-through affect impact more than a sight hair out of line. Only then continue making sight changes.