The real difference between bows

[mike]

OK

Here's a starting point. Take a few current good target bows on the market:

In absolutely no order in particular

Hoyt Ultratec
Hoyt Protec
High Country Brute Force
PSE Stingray
PSE Quantum
Matthews Q2
Merlin MAX2000


For example

What are your opinions on the real differences between these bows and what do you reckon 'makes' a good bow?

(Just so that you know, and to avoid suspicion, all posters are to disclose what bow they shoot and any sponserships, if they are.)


I shoot a High Country Max Force (they were made about 2 years ago) and it has the distincition of being perhaps the only target colours High Country in Australia (they didn't make many in the first place!!)

I reckon the bow is great. It is quiet, it is quick and is stable at full draw. So tell me, what do you shoot and why??????


:)

[Eberbachl]

I shoot a Hoyt Accu Tec, XT2000 limbs, Redline solo cam. I love this bow, very nice, smooth, incredibly vibration/recoil free, and stable at full draw. It's pretty quick, but not as quick as my stratus plus with command cams, it is also a fairly long axle to axle length at 40 3/8". I shoot field and target, so speed is important to me. If I only shot target, speed wouldn't worry me at all.

The Accu Tec is pretty cool, it's the first Hoyt TEC bow i've shot (with the I-Beam riser) and I think the TEC design helps to take out alot of the vibration. The other thing I really like about this bow is that it reacts the same way shot after shot.

Having said that, my preference for a new bow if I could justify the expense would be either a Hoyt Pro Tec or Ultra Tec, with XT3000 and command cams. I'd prefer the longer XT3000 limbs for extra stability and forgiveness, and I felt that the command cams are a bit faster and a little more stable/forgiving (this sounds contradictory I know, but it's what I've found), so I'd rather shoot command cams.

As far as sponsorships go, there are none at this stage, so my opinion is purely objective. (that's not to say I'd knock back any potential sponsors! :D:D:D)

I personally haven't seen another bow from any other manufacturer that I'd rather shoot than the Accu Tec, Pro Tec, or Ultra Tec. I'm not saying anything bad about them, just that I havent yet seen another bow I'd rather shoot.:)

[Marcus]

Currently I shoot a PSE Mach 5 bacause I do not like single cams as a target concept and this one came up for a good price. I shot the first Mach 5 about 8 years ago. It was a nice bow except for the limbs, which I had 2 sets break during the field at the 94 Jnr Nationals costing me a place. :mad
This Mach 5 has the longer Carbon 2 limbs and have just started to delaminate on me. The grip broke the day before the Sherbrooke trial and the thing is just being out shot right now.

I am waiting on a Hoyt UltraTec with 3000 limbs and Command Cams. This is a sponsored bow however I was going to buy one anyway so the sponsorship was very handy.
How much do I like the UltraTec from what I've shot of it? Well I considered the Tec bowst o be a gimmick till I shot one. Before that I was 100% PSE fan, now if I was offered one for nothing I wouldn't take it.
ALL of my bad shots are due to a bad reaction at the point of shooting the shot. Sometimes this is due to me, other times I can not explain. The Tec bows (I've shot 3, about 100 arrows combined, none setup for me though) all reacted the same for everyshot and remained stable through the shot process.
I prefer a dual wheel or cam system as I personally feel they are a more consistant system. Once they are set up they are great. Makers of Single Cam imply that dual systems go out of tune. I have never found this.
While I think good scores are possible with single cam, the 1400 shooters in general don't shoot em and I have not had good experiances with them. My Dad on the other hand loves them and won't shoot anything else.
I prefer a longer bow as they are usually more stable. Slower, but speed means nothing if you are innaccurate. Less than 40" and I won't shoot it.
Over the years I have shot about 10 different bows in competition. The best were the PSE Fire Flight Elite and Hoyt Super Slam. The worst were the Jennings single cam target bow (forget model name) and Hoyt Spectra (I think, it was 11 years ago).
I'm counting down the days till my UltraTec arrives, Hoyt is on a real winner here. Every person I have met who has shot a Tec bow wants one after only a few shots, including Matthews and PSE fans.

[Eberbachl]

You are right in what you say about the TEC bows Marcus. Everyone who has shot my Accu Tec is just blown away by the lack of vibration and the way the bow reacts. This includes Matthews/PSE/Jennings fans etc. - after all that's why I had to have one after shooting the Accu Tec when it was David's.

;)

[Jim Park]

First off, and in keeping with Michael's request, I shoot a PSE Quantum and a PSE Thunderbolt. I have shot many bows over the years, from several manufacturers. I am sponsored by PSE (as is Shaun Pratt).
With both of my bows I have shot high scores. 1382 FITA with the Quantum, 1370 with the Thunderbolt. 350 for 50m with the Thunderbolt at the 2000 State Target, and also with the Quantum, and 352 at 70m with the Quantum. 357 FITA field with the Thunderbolt and 355 with the Quantum.
Having had a free choice from the PSE catelogue, what did I look for?
First: I wanted a bow that was between 35 and 39 inches long, and light mass weight.
Second: it had to be very fast. This is very imoportant to me for both target (less drift in wind) and for field (less problems with unmarked distances and with slopes).
Third: single cam. I have found the single cam much preferable to either standard wheels or dual cams.
Forth: a positive draw stop. The Thunderbolt is particularly impressive here.
Fifth: the ability to have a short valley (rather than no valley as in some bows such as the Matthews). I like to shoot from the valley, just touching the stop, and for both the Thunderbolt and the Quantum this is excellent.
Sixth: not too low, or too high a brace height. I want a brace height of between 7 and 8 inches.
Seventh: above all else, the arrow must hit where the bow is aimed when I let go. Then it is just up to me. Both the Thunderbolt and the Quantum do this excellently.
Hence, the Thunderbolt and Quantum meet my needs beautifully.
Also, whilst I am sponsored, I am very competitive and like winning tournaments. If the bows I use did not perform up to my expectations I would not use them.

[Jim Park]

First off, and in keeping with Michael's request, I shoot a PSE Quantum and a PSE Thunderbolt. I have shot many bows over the years, from several manufacturers. I am sponsored by PSE (as is Shaun Pratt).
With both of my bows I have shot high scores. 1382 FITA with the Quantum, 1370 with the Thunderbolt. 350 for 50m with the Thunderbolt at the 2000 State Target, and also with the Quantum, and 352 at 70m with the Quantum. 357 FITA field with the Thunderbolt and 355 with the Quantum.
Having had a free choice from the PSE catelogue, what did I look for?
First: I wanted a bow that was between 35 and 39 inches long, and light mass weight.
Second: it had to be very fast. This is very imoportant to me for both target (less drift in wind) and for field (less problems with unmarked distances and with slopes).
Third: single cam. I have found the single cam much preferable to either standard wheels or dual cams.
Forth: a positive draw stop. The Thunderbolt is particularly impressive here.
Fifth: the ability to have a short valley (rather than no valley as in some bows such as the Matthews). I like to shoot from the valley, just touching the stop, and for both the Thunderbolt and the Quantum this is excellent.
Sixth: not too low, or too high a brace height. I want a brace height of between 7 and 8 inches.
Seventh: above all else, the arrow must hit where the bow is aimed when I let go. Then it is just up to me. Both the Thunderbolt and the Quantum do this excellently.
Hence, the Thunderbolt and Quantum meet my needs beautifully.
Also, whilst I am sponsored, I am very competitive and like winning tournaments. If the bows I use did not perform up to my expectations I would not use them.