MUZZY ZERO EFFECT REST:

The Muzzy zero effect drop away rest has created quite a commotion in the archery world. While drop away rests are nothing new, the zero effect was the first one to become really popular with bowhunters. In just a few short years this rest has created a whirlwind of new products trying to capture a share of the drop away market. Drop away rests offer many advantages to the bowhunter. They allow total fletching clearance and this allows you to use larger vanes or feathers with a more aggressive helical pattern. The more fletching and or helical the better the arrow is able to control larger fixed blade broadheads.
The zero effect is unique in that it attaches to the bows cable guard using the supplied cable slide. As the cables move the slide to the rear, an arm attached to the slide is pulled along with it. As this arm is pulled, it raises a large “hook arm” from the resting position to the shooting position. As the hook arm raises it grabs the arrow off the bow shelf and centers it in the middle of the arm. At full draw the arrow is fully supported. As the string is released the hook arm is forced downward as the cable returns to the resting position. The arrow is fully supported just long enough to provide stable flight, and as the arm moves downward, it allows for total fletching clearance.
I have been shooting with the zero effect on and off for a couple of years now and I think I have a pretty good feel for the pro’s and con’s of the rest. The strengths include complete and total fletching clearance, positive arrow pick up no matter how the arrow is positioned on the shelf, easy tuning and a very forgiving nature.
The downside is that it takes more time to install a zero effect compared to other drop away rests. Another feature that could be considered a draw back is the large hook arm. While it is great for picking up the arrow, the size could cause a problem in thick brush if you’re not careful. I did have some problems with the original roller slides provided with the early rests. Muzzy took notice of this and replaced them with new Teflon slides. The new slides are a major improvement over the old ones and eliminated the biggest draw back to the rest in my opinion.
Installing a zero effect is not difficult, but it does take some time. You need to pay attention the video that is provided with the rest. I suggest watching it first all the way through, then pausing it along the way as you begin to install the rest. If you take your time and follow the directions you shouldn’t have any trouble. Once the rest is installed correctly you should find tuning to be fairly simple and straight forward. On some bows with limited cable movement or those that use a roller slide vs. a standard cable guard you may have some installation issues that are specific to that bow. The good news is Muzzy has addressed pretty much all of these situations and has solutions for each. Before you purchase a zero effect for your bow, I would suggest contacting Muzzy directly to see exactly what you need to complete your install and to see which specific model you may need.
Once the rest is installed correctly it’s time to tune it. I have found this to be very simple. By adjusting the stop screw and center shot you should be shooting bullet holes in no time. The rest doesn’t have micro adjustments but I did not find that to be a problem. when tuning. In fact I found the Muzzy to be extremely forgiving of slight adjustments to center shot and nock point height. I hate to sound so “sloppy” and I am not implying in the least that you don’t have to tune the rest, but get it close and it will shoot like a dream! The zero effect is also very forgiving of arrow spine and shooting form. No you can’t have terrible form and get good results, but it will be more forgiving of those minor “blips” we all have from time to time. As for arrow spine, I have been able to get 3 different shaft sizes to shoot bullet holes at multiple distances without any adjustments to the rest. Yes all the arrows were of the proper spine, but different sizes and point weights. I have heard some people mention that the zero effect has too many moving parts for their tastes. Well when you study the rest it should become obvious that it probably has fewer moving parts than most other rests on the market. You have the hook arm and turnbuckle assembly plus the cable slide. That’s it. The difference is that the parts the Muzzy does have are larger than other rests and therefore give the appearance of being complex when in reality the rest is really pretty simple once you understand it. Overall I think the Muzzy zero effect is an outstanding drop away rest. The positive features far outweigh the negative in my opinion and once the rest is installed it is very easy to tune, durable and reliable, just what a good rest should be.