I recently bought a commander and I love it also.IT is longer than the gardian ,but I don't think I will have any clearence problems because the limbs are paralel and on the power stroke they don't move forward as much as the old bows you are probably used to shooting if it has been awhile since you have bow hunted.My old mathews feather max is just an inch shorter than the commander.It will really come down to which one feels the best to you when you shoot them,but I luv the aiming of the commander espeacially at longer distances.both bows shoot great and I have not had any issues with mine.