Been waiting on the equalizer and the shop finally got one in. So to the shop I headed.

26" 60/61 lb Bowtech equlizer. Guy had it set up with string loop, wisker biscuit, drop zone rest, and fuse sights,(no stablizer...this is important later). Came with factory hush kit string silencers on it. Fairly easy to draw back at 60lbs (this was maxed out) even considering I haven't been shooting in a long time.There was a noticable "hump"at the end of the draw. Once you broke that roll-over or "hump", you were home....no creep/valley I guess you call it.Shot it and it felt pretty good.Shot it through chrono....with my arrow (carbon express CX300)with 4" feathers, I got 260fps. With my arrow with 3 2" blazer vanes I got 265 fps. Guy said I was probably too stiff on my arrow. Shot it on the range and it felt okay. felt fine. guy standing next to me said it was fairly quiet and was really slingin the arrows down range.

Then the salesman says,"well, you want me to set you up a drenalin to compare?" I thought about it and thought about it moreand almost said "nah, this'll work" but then I said, "you know for this much money, lets do it so I can really be sure."

Guy sets me up with 27" drenalin 60lb limbs (maxed out at 63 lbs) wisker biscuit, drop zone, loop and a single pin sight, (no stablizer). Pulled it back and had a bit of a harder time drawing this than the bowtech. Then I shot it......holy cow you talk about smooth! I could instantly tell a HUGE difference in the shock compared to the bowtech. To me it was 100 times smoother than the bowtech. After the first shot I could tell. I looked the bow over and the feel instantly registeredin my mind. Couple of times it felt as if I didn't even shoot the bow.

I then picked up the bowtech and looked it over to see if anything was vibrating on it. Everything seemed to be locked down and in place. so I shot the drenalin/bowtech again with the same results. Dad gum equalizer feltlike it'd vibrate my arm off. I asked the guy for a loaner stablizer to put in the bowtech and after he installed one it cut the vibration noticably; I'd say almost in half. I kept shooting the two side by side and was just torn over which way to go.

I did not chrono the drenalin but could tell it had a bit more of an arc in the arrow flight as it went down range.

A few months ago I was really sold on the mathews grips. I may be in the minority but I like them. I also didn't think I'd like the bowtech grip very much as I've held it before. But, after shooting it a few times, I really didn't mind the bowtech grip and it started to grow on me. I then picked up the mathews and didn't like the grip quite as much as I did in the past.

I'm a short draw shooter (25" to 26"). The bowtech was definiately a performer plus it was $100 cheaper than the drenalin. Honestly price wasn't a concern to me going into this as I'm after a "cadillac" and will be keeping this bow for a long time but now that I realize that, that may be the deal breaker.

I think I confirmed what I alreadyknew though; the bowtech was a lazer canon but the mathews was just flat out smoother to shoot.

I'm not a brand loyal kind of guy. Heck if I had the cash I'd buy both but that is unrealistic. I just want the best bow FOR ME.

I think with aGOOD stablizer,css, and some additional limbsaver devices I can tame most of that shock.I also think (especially once I get back into shooting a lot) that I could shoot that 60 pounder all day with better results than the mathews at a higher poundage. I think the bowtech was easier to draw too. Still torn over the choice but I think I'm leaning toward the bowtech. It's made for dudes like me.

I'm also no expert so this is more of a "workin man's" bow review. Nothing expert here, just my feel and my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

I'm not trying to cause a brand bashing uproar either so lets please not turn this into one. I was asked to post a review of the equalizer when I shot it so this is what I'm doing.

I have to say the guys at Timbucktu Archery in Maryville, IL were good guys and very hospitable. Answered all of my questions and went over the bows with me while I was shooting.