Easton XX75 Jazz Arrows Review: The Beginner Aluminium Standard

Almost every archery club has a rack of Easton Jazz arrows. They are the entry point to Easton's XX75 aluminium range: cheap enough to lose a few while learning, straight enough to group, and available in sizes small enough for children's bows. This review explains what the specifications mean and how to choose a size, because the size matters far more than the brand.

The short version

The XX75 Jazz is a 7075 aluminium alloy shaft with a hard-anodised finish, a guaranteed straightness of ±0.005 inch and a weight tolerance of ±2 percent. Easton lists nine sizes from 1214 to 2016. Shafts come with a bushing installed; nocks, points and vanes are sold separately, although retailers sell fletched, ready-to-shoot sets.

Reading the size code

Aluminium arrow sizes use four digits: the first two are the outside diameter in 64ths of an inch, the last two the wall thickness in thousandths. A 1816 is 18/64 inch in diameter with a 0.016-inch wall. Larger numbers mean a stiffer, heavier shaft.

Figures from Easton's specification page. Stock length is the uncut shaft length; arrows are cut down to suit the archer.

Choosing a size

Arrow stiffness (spine) must match your draw weight and arrow length, and the right size for a given archer comes from Easton's spine chart, not from guesswork. As a rough orientation only: lighter beginner recurves in the high teens to low twenties of pounds usually fall into the 1416 to 1616 sizes, mid-twenties to low thirties into 1616 to 1816, and higher weights into 1816 to 1916 and beyond, with longer arrows pushing you toward the stiffer end. Confirm with the chart or a shop before buying a dozen.

Two points beginners often miss:

• Length first. Cut arrows comfortably longer than your draw length, and remember a beginner's draw length usually grows. Our draw length guide explains how to measure.
• Stock length limits size. A 1416 shaft is only 27 inches long uncut, so an archer with a 28-inch draw cannot use it regardless of spine.

Why aluminium for beginners

• Consistency. Aluminium shafts are straight and uniform in weight, which is what you need to learn whether a bad shot was you or the arrow.
• Repairable. Bent shafts can often be straightened; carbon shafts that are damaged must be discarded.
• Size range. Carbon arrows rarely go small enough for very light youth bows; the Jazz 1214 does.

The trade-off is weight and durability. Aluminium bends, and once a shaft has been bent and straightened a few times it will not shoot like a new one. Heavier shafts also fly slower, which matters more as distances increase.

When to move to carbon

Most archers move to carbon or aluminium-carbon shafts once they are shooting consistently at 30 metres and beyond, or when they begin hunting. For hunting-weight compound setups, see our Gold Tip Hunter XT review.

You can see current Easton Jazz listings on Amazon. Check the size code in the listing against the spine chart for your bow.

Frequently asked questions

Are Jazz arrows the same as XX75 Platinum Plus?

No. Both are XX75 7075 alloy shafts, but the Platinum Plus is Easton's higher grade with tighter tolerances. Jazz is the entry-level line.

Can I use Jazz arrows on a compound bow?

They can be used on light compound settings if the spine is right, but most compound archers choose carbon. For hunting, use arrows and points matched to your draw weight and broadhead.

How many arrows do I need?

Six is the usual minimum for club shooting (two ends of three). Twelve lets you keep shooting while some are being repaired.