So I've always shot my arrows about an inch past my bow/finger. When I first got into it, I saw the pics of guys getting their fingers sliced by broadheads. Scared the [censored] out of me, so kept my arrows an inch or so longer, so at full draw, they are about an inch forward of my finger, not including the tip. I can shoot 4" groups at 50 yards, 1" groups inside 30. I'm not great, but I don't think it affects my shooting. I'm shooting 65 lbs with a 340 spine arrow.

Recently while at the range, a friend (who just bought a new high end bow and high end arrows) suggested shortening my arrows to what he believed was "proper length" because it would mean the arrow would have less flex and according to him, make less noise.

Just curious if anyone has any input on this?

As long as the arrows are the correct spine for your setup (draw weight/tip weight/length...) they will shoot better than most shooters.

Generally 2 or 3 inches longer or shorter can have an effect on arrow speed and weight and if on that edge of spine for he bow a shorter arrow can be a lighter spine reducing the over all weight of th arrow by the grians per inch (GPI) resulting in a faster arrow from the bow but though that increases speed and sometimes kenetic energy because of the velocity being squared in that formula for ft/lbs the heavier arrow will have more momentum and be harder to stop which is why dangerous gsme arrows are HEAVY.

Basically it is a trade off I know a few that shoot 100+ yards very well like under 6 inch groups some shoot with the insert of the arrow right at the drop away rest and others the insert is an inch past the riser.

Most I see that think you have to have as short of an arrow as possible for you bow are shooting high end looking for all the speed possible.

well said

I did not address the noise part of the OP. The speed of sound in the air is roughly 3X the speed of the arrow. The noise of the bow being shot will get to the target before the noise an arrow makes in flight. As to shorter arrows being quieter, properly spined arrows will be quieter regardless of length and heavy arrows will result in a quieter shot over all by having the effect of silencing the bow. For instance if you get the chance to shoot three arrows of different weights say 300gr, 600gr and 900gr the speed will certainly decrease but so does the noise made by the bow.

Think of the arrow noise it is made closer to the target but it is made after the initial bow noise and even though the arrow noise is being made closer to the target it is being made after the bow noise and noise is noise and travels through the air at the same speed.