Essential to protect your bow and arrows from friction and damage, arrow rests (left) and shelf pads (right) come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. They also provide archers with a more consistent shot as the arrow tends to glide off these rests rather than bind into the bare wood or metal of a riser.
Beginners should start with a simple and affordable arrow rest. There are easily replaceable plastic models with a hook shaped rest that are very forgiving of poor form. They are simply applied to the riser with peel-and-stick tape and can handle hundreds of arrows before they wear down. Once you are more familiar with your bow and begin to lean towards a style or another, then splurge on more expensive, adjustable metal rests.
For those who embrace the traditional aspect of archery and who must absolutely “shoot from the shelf”, please prefer pads made from animal hair or even better; natural wool felts which are much longer lasting than their synthetic counterparts. Artisans also make beautiful rests from soft, untreated leathers such as moose or kangaroo.
A rest or pad is a must! Never let a merchant sell you a bow without providing you with one. Shooting arrows from your bare riser is a sure-fire way to damage your expensive equipment, and to compromise your bow’s accuracy.