I played the speed game back in the 80's, back when we had no restrictions on poundage or arrow weights for 3D. We were regularly shooting setups over 85lbs, and shooting 210 grain arrows at over 340fps. We even had "fastest bow" contests pushing speeds to around 425fps. Parts were flying everywhere each weekend.What a great time.(Yes, we were retarded. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>) Thankfully the IBO put a stop to that nonsense with their 5g per lb ruling and max poundage of 80lbs before someone got killed.
Nowadays the only ones that are still getting their jollies with the speed game are ones that really do not know any better IMO. To get high speed, you must give up something for it, usually forgiveness. While it's great fun to see your bow go faster through a chrono than your buddies', realistically if the bow does over 280 it is suitable for 3D, and plenty fast enough to take game. Most every bow manufactured today can realistically generate those types of speeds. Speed will always continue to increase and we should accept it, but I think everyone is figuring out that it doesn't matter "how fast you go past" when pushing the envelope, and that is usually what happens when you shoot the sub 6" brace height "rat traps" that are very critical of any form errors, and currently the only geometries that will "push the envelope". Even Bowtech, the current masters of the speed game,(and really the only ones left who care about it-- why I don't know---marketing I guess) are now increasing brace heights and ATA lengths on their speediest bows for more forgiveness. Gotta walk before you can run.
Bottom line is that it is fun to "play" with the speed, but you have to be able to control it and keep the noise level down if you want to hunt and be as accurate as you can be at our sport. If you want to play the 3D game (the only other reason one would ever need or want the speed) the noise level doesn't really matter, and it is a good way to distract your competition!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> Back when we were shooting those insane weights and arrows out of our cast riser bows, everyone not shooting would normally be taking cover behind something "just in case" anyway, and one could definately hear a bow go off within a hundred yards or so!(sometimes much further!) <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Good shooting, Pinwheel 12
Edited by - Pinwheel 12 on 11/15/2002 10:01:51