The drop away rests seem to be getting very popular: I’ve tried a couple including the original Barner, and the TD and they just are not for me. To me it’s like a perfect bullet hole in paper…a knuckleball waiting to happen.. If you goof in some way like torque the grip or torque the string before release, there’s no guidance to get the arrow back on track…especially on a single cam bow which has an automatic goof built into it (uneven nock travel). IMO, they have plenty of merit.. I just don’t feel the benefit outweighs the negative…I’ll be old-fashioned <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

That being said, I don’t think you can wrong w/ higher end arrow rests from Cavalier, NAP, Golden Key, or BoDoodle. I’ve owned several of each brand and sold lots. I’ve had troubles with some particular ones from each of those manufacturers, but overall they all are good. There are some brands mentioned here that I’ve owned and sold, that I’ve had very poor luck with.

For the past 4 years I’ve been almost exclusively shooting NAP rests, both 1000 & 3000, and Hoyt Mount 1000’s & 3000s. I’m currently shooting a standard mount 3000 on my Patriot because it was much more quiet and had less vibration than the 1000 and my Platinum Premier.

Even then I think the Cavalier Shadow and GK “Platinum Premier” are hard to beat. The only reason I don’t shoot them is because they both have a louder metallic sound on my set-ups than the NAP.

Generally you get what you pay for: there are some really good simple inexpensive rests like the GK Star Hunter, and NAP’s 750 copy, but they are few and far between.

Several years ago I missed out on 3 days of a hunt because I had skimped and gone with a new companies “copy” rest because it seemed “just as good”. After driving several hours to my destination on a Friday night and taking some practices shots indoors, the spring and mounting bar cracked, and launched themselves downrange along w/ my arrow. That Saturday, Sunday, and Monday I sat around watching TV as there were no open Pro-Shops due to Columbus day weekend (had I been still managing the shop, I would have just driven home, got my store keys and slapped on another rest and gone back the next morning). I always have backup equipment and parts now, as I hunt around my home. But I never skimp on an arrowrest now: it’s the only item that guides the arrow during the launch, and a good one will help you shoot better.

Caveat Emptor!

JeffB