If speed didn't matter, we'd just leave the bows at home and throw our arrows at game. It matters, but it has been exceedingly over emphasized over the past 15 years.

Speaking of over emphasizing and such... Don't trust "IBO ratings". For one thing, it is not and never has beenan industry standard. It's a bit of marketing, based partly on AMO standard and partly on IBO tournament rules and partly from stuff pulled out of thin air.Since it is not an industry standard, the manufacturers can - and many do - manipulate the tests, or just pencil whip the numbers toinflate their ratings numbers.

In case you're interested, thetrue AMO/ATAindustry standard for comparative speed testing is ASTM F1544-99. It has a 2-level test, both with the bow set at 60 pounds and 30" draw. The heavy arrow test is done with a 540 grain arrow, or 9 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight. The light arrow test is done with a 360 grain arrow, or 6 grains per pound. Don't bother looking for speed data according to the standard though. Few manufacturers will publish it.

Anyway... Once you get over 250 fps -real world speed, not IBO ratings -you won't see much, if any, difference in arrow flight or point of impact between a 250 fps arrow and a 300 fps arrow within typical hunting distances. Meaning 30 yards and less.

You want to by the bow that feels the most'friendly' to you.... the one that feels likeit wants to be your bow.If you are comfortable with the bow, you will shoot better with it than you will with any other, no matter what speed it puts out.