Single Cam v Dual

[Marcus]

In a earlier thread Mike asked the differences between bows. Single Cam and Dual come up always. It seems there is an almost religious faction between the 2, if you shoot one, you can't like the other etc etc.

What are people's thoughts on them and why they shoose what they do?

Personally when I came back to the sport I picked up a Mach 5 with V5 wheels because having shot a single cam bow a few years earlier (shot just indoor for 4 months) I wanted something that was familar, and when I shot alot previously (ending in 93) everyone shot dual wheels so I knew what I was getting.
When I changed bows I didn't want to mess around learning about single cam so I jumped into the command cam (which in itself was a leap of faith as cams were very much frowned apon 7 years ago). The command cam had an excellent reputation as well.

So, why do you shoot wat you shoot and would you shoot the other type? Have you shot the other type or basing your preferrence on the people around you (which is very important, learn from others experiances etc etc).

Thanks!!

[Colin]

I dont know about other duel cam but my Martin Jaguar has no wall. It also does not have as smoth let off as some others peoples bows I have shot. I shoot this bow because it is the one I brought when I first started. One day I will get a New One with a wall.

[Bruce]

I have always shot a cam of some sort coming from my backkground of a field shooter . I am moving away from single cams back to dual for one simple reason . I find it difficult to work on a single cam bow . You need alot of space to make a 97 inch string .

I see that hoyt is introducing a 3 piece single cam system . this might be worth looking at in the future.

[mike]

Well, Marcus, you have really asked for it now haven't you?! Bringing up the whole single vs dual can of worms!!!

As you may know, I shoot a single cam bow. There are a few reasons for this:

I originally shot a wheel bow (yuck never again) but I wanted something more solid at full draw and quicker.

Single cam bows looked cool so i wanted one of those! (I had only been shooting for about 10 months when I got the one cam)

Having seen other good archers using them and their comments about them being so simple to use and tune, I thought "thats for me".

In my opinion, having shot some dual cam bows as well, the single cam delivers a more solid back wall, which is important if you shoot hard up against the wall as I do.

Admittably, the draw characteristic of the single cams is a bit more rough, although the new straigtline cam by Matthews feels just like a twin cam to draw, but has that nice 'snap' when shot that only comes from the single cam!

To me the debate about which is quicker is irrelevant. Both are fast enough and can get over 300 fps which is plenty even for ABA shooters considering the speed limit rule their.

Mine only shoots about 265 fps with my arrows, which is a little dissapointing but considering that I shoot a 340 grain target type arrow, thats fine.

I know that people like Jim Park do not spend a huge amount of their time worrying about the tune of their bow. They get it right once then leave it alone. This is easier to do with a single cam because the overall mechanism is simpler (only one cam to worry about).

Furthermore, the single cam gives you no problems with wheel timing -- as long as the cam sits well at your draw length (when the bow is at rest the tounge of the cam should just touch the string -- this is why it is crucial to have a proper size cam for your draw or one of those adjustable ones), then it will shoot fine (its also important to ensure that the cam and idle wheel sit in line with the string -- most important for the idle wheel -- both at rest and at full draw)
-- But all these things take about 5 mins or less to acheive.

Having not worried about wheel timing, single cam bows, after the above minor work, can be shot well out of the box. Just get center shot, get your nock high tear and away you go.

My only concern is that I am not aware of any 1400s being shot with a single cam bow (unless Chris White in the UK did it with an Alternative one cam bow)

This leaves the question -- are single cams less accurate (even if it is only by a very small fraction -- but just enough to prevent a 1400 level score)

The statistician in me however says that people like Dave Cousins and Clint Freeman are not shooting twin cams because they are more accurate than one cams, its because they first got success with the twin cam system and have thus stuck with it. I think this applies to most of those top shooters and so we will have to wait for someone like Morgan Lundin (Shoots a Matthews) to rattle their cages and prove the single cam system at that level.

I think my next bow will be a one cam again. They are easy to work with and nice to shoot, and are very accurate. And all that stuff about forgivingness is rubbish. The same rules about brace height and let off etc for a forgiving bow apply to all bows, regardless of the cam/wheel system.

Yes, if only Genie would arrive at my door with a Matthews Q2 and a set of CT McKinneys. I would be a happy man then....

[Marcus]

Yeah I figured this site needed a good debate, also don't understand some people's hatred of one and love of the other, :(

I don't get the idea that single cams are easier to set up though. Except for arrow rest issues I can setup a dual wheel compound in minutes and shoot well with it. But the single cams bows I've played with have been a pain in the neck. (shot a Bear, Jennings XMaster and PSE Thunderbolt)
As for accuracy I think what worries me about the single cam is the string angles. Don't like the top wheel being down the middle and the bottom running the string on the side, makes things uneven. However I doubt it is enough to show up in my shooting. You can't argue with the scores shot by Cousins and Freeman, but you also can't argue with some of the scores Jim and Bryce have put in. (not 1400, but still damn good)

I'ld like to try one of these Hoyt Dual track single cams, not sure if it will introduce timing issues or not, not sure if I will get to play with one or not.

Come on keep em coming, I know there are more archers reading this!!

[bubba the hunter]

:D i shoot a pse bg i cam & im in 7 th heaven with it, 2nd 1 for me . had shoulder surgery & sold the 1 st 1& got a pse nova wheel bow, a hunk of junk . turned around & got another baby g 1 cam lower weight, real smooth shooter,although a 51/2 brace height you had better be in good form or its going to burn ya // its fast & accurate.

[Marcus]

Yeah, I prefer dual wheels but give me a single cam baby G over a wheeled Nova anyday. Those things are rubbish.
:) :D

[greglander]

damm straight theres more people reading this topic. put in another vote for a matthews single cam bow( q2xl) by the way , not only nice to shoot but irresistable to look at. but seriously it all depends on each bow and setup i find hoyts no2 command cam a really nice feel but theyre no1 command cam as soggy as a gumboot ful of sago ,so it all depends on individaul setups and besides if everyone shot a matthews it would be even harder to win! ( im kidding im kidding!) :D :D :) :)