James Park
18-05-2002, 03:45 PM
Dual track (I first saw one on a High Country bow some years ago, Hoyt now has them).
Advantages: Easier to make the strings because each half of the string is shorter, and hence fits on a normal string jig a bit more easily. You can twist one of the parts to alter the draw length (and hence not disrupt your peep position if you twist the inside half).
Disadvantages: More mass, and hence takes more energy to accelerate when you shoot the arrow, therefore slower (simple physics). Also a problem because the additional mass is on the outside of the wheel, where it hurts most.
Single track (most other bows, and High Country has gone back to them).
Advantages: Lighter, and hence faster.
Disadvantages: You need a monster of a string jig because of their length (but then I buy mine ready made, so no problem).
They are equal for: String stretch. It is the combined stretch of the string or the two parts of the string that matters, not the stretch of one half of the string in the dual track type. For either dual or single track the total length of the string is about the same (in fact on the High Country the two halfs were in total longer than the equivalent single string). Hence, the total stretch will be about identical. Hence, neither has an advantage in relation to string stretch.
Hence: in summary, I do not see any real advantage in the dual track idler wheels (no great disadvantage either, except a tiny bit slower). I do expect, however, that the fact that it is different will mean it will be used for a marketing advantage (and most archers will have forgotten about the High Country dual track wheel by now anyway).
Advantages: Easier to make the strings because each half of the string is shorter, and hence fits on a normal string jig a bit more easily. You can twist one of the parts to alter the draw length (and hence not disrupt your peep position if you twist the inside half).
Disadvantages: More mass, and hence takes more energy to accelerate when you shoot the arrow, therefore slower (simple physics). Also a problem because the additional mass is on the outside of the wheel, where it hurts most.
Single track (most other bows, and High Country has gone back to them).
Advantages: Lighter, and hence faster.
Disadvantages: You need a monster of a string jig because of their length (but then I buy mine ready made, so no problem).
They are equal for: String stretch. It is the combined stretch of the string or the two parts of the string that matters, not the stretch of one half of the string in the dual track type. For either dual or single track the total length of the string is about the same (in fact on the High Country the two halfs were in total longer than the equivalent single string). Hence, the total stretch will be about identical. Hence, neither has an advantage in relation to string stretch.
Hence: in summary, I do not see any real advantage in the dual track idler wheels (no great disadvantage either, except a tiny bit slower). I do expect, however, that the fact that it is different will mean it will be used for a marketing advantage (and most archers will have forgotten about the High Country dual track wheel by now anyway).