What method do you use for finding true centershot?

[Rick James]

I have been contemplating buying a Easy Eye Laser center shot tool, but they are a bit pricey. I am wondering what other methods you guys use to tune and find true center shot on your bows.

I plan to do all of the tuning of my new Patriot on my own, with the exception of having someone with a press install a new Vapor Trail VTX string, and want to make sure that this tool is really worth the $60 it costs.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[Black Frog]

Save your money, unless you believe that those tools are going to give you your best groups possible out of your bow without shooting it.

Group tune at different yardages for best results. It may take some "tinker-time", but I feel the benefits in the long run are worth it.

If you buy this expensive tool you mention, and then tweak the centershot while shooting on the range- what's the point of spending that much on this tool in the first place?

You can get a decent ballpark reading with this tool ($13), and then group tune from there:

[BobCo19-65]

Here is what I do. Place my bow on the press (do not clamp down). Put a small level on the back of each limb where it meets the riser. Shim the limbs is necessary to make sure you are level. Take an arrow and place the heaviest tip possible on it ( I use a 175 field tip). Let the arrow hang off the bow and adjust the rest accordingly. It may not be as precise as a laser, but it gets you pretty darm close. Close enough to put the final tune in the bow anyway. I'm sure you don't have to use a press, but I have one so why not.

[PABowhntr]

If you buy this expensive tool you mention, and then tweak the centershot while shooting on the range- what's the point of spending that much on this tool in the first place?

Uhhh, my response was going to be that I use the EZ laser centershot tool to get a good setting and then fine tune it with group tuning on the range. Now I feel a bit idiotic for wanting to post that. [&o]

In my opinion the point of using the tool in the first place is giving you a very good place to start. Every method ultimately requires shooting the bow to fine tune the setup regardless of what you do initially to center the rest. The EZ centershot gauge just makes it somewhat easier and simpler to get that initial setting thus reducing the amount of fine tuning time later....at least on the bows that I have used it on.

Just my two cents.

[pdq 5oh]

I agree with Black Frog. I eyeball center shot and set height with a level. Then I shoot the cross on my target, and group tune. I don't shoot paper, either. After getting the tear you want, then adjusting the rest or nock point when shooting groups, you've lost your tear quite likely.

[Black Frog]

Well PAB, if YOU have one- then I WANT ONE TOO!!!

And then Range needs to get one- ummmmm... did he ever buy his scale?!?

[goldtip46]

true center shot on a patriot is 15/16 off the riser.just use a good tape measure.

[Bigpapascout]

I use a piece of 5 /16 rod I threaded on one end that I screw into the stabelizer hole and line up my arrow with the rod then I paper tune at 6 feet away for fine adjustments.

[Paul L Mohr]

I just eyeball it then tune from there.

Paul

[alwyshntn]

I use the EZ EYE but then again I don't paper tune anymore. If my bow is shooting a good tight group out to 40yds or so then I don't worry about how its tearing paper. I primarily hunt only though and don't do any real competition 3-D. I always wondered about paper tuning bows 6 feet and less away from the paper when I use to paper tune. To me thats when your arrow is still doing its thing with all that flexing and stuff. I always had a hard time tuning that close so I moved back 15 yds or so from the paper then tried it. After all whatever flexing and stuff it might be doing will be straightened out by that point and you can get a more accruate tune. Thats just my opinion.