Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Well, my wife says a couple days before Christmas "Are you getting a new bow this year??".........I said "Don't know......haven't shot them yet".........she replies "Go shoot them and if you like them get one and put it under the tree"...........far be it from me to decline such an invite so I called the shop to be sure they had the new lines in and they did so I headed out with high hopes.

I came home not only empty handed but pretty disappointed as well. I REALLY thought this was the year I would be impressed enough with the new bows to get one........the guardian design (and good vibe from reviews I had read) had me thinking it was coming home with me.

I shot the Guardian, The Allegiance, and the Drenalin. All set at 63, 62, and 63 lbs respectively. Bare bows, nothing but a WB rest on each one.

First was the guardian. Looking over the bow it was definately nice to look at but 2 things IMMEDIATELY jumped out at me. I didn't care for the extra moving parts, especially held in place by small clip like cotter pins. Looks like a way too many new areas added that could be a problem. Most of all on initial inspection the cables are twisted around in the cam like a pretzel with two posts set awkwardly close to each other.........just looking at it closely my initial fear was confirmed.......the serving on the cable was already coming apart in that area. The shop owner said 4 people had shot the bow before me and it probably had well under 100 shots through it.
Everything else on the bow looked very good........beautiful bow top to bottom (there was something I missed that I was shown later that was BIG). Time to shoot it. The grip is OK.......not really a grip at all but more of a rounded back side of the riser. I don't like grips THAT thin and if I want to shoot off a cold riser I will just take the grip off all together. The draw on the guardian is awful........just plain awful.........no way I would want that in my stand. 63lbs felt like 70lbs. After my first shot the owner says "How'd you like the draw?" I started laughing and he says "I know". The shot was sweet.........and I mean SWEET!!!. The bow is VERY pleasant during the shot. I felt VERY little in the grip and sound was very low. Nice shooter for sure.
After about 10 shots I say to the shop owner "This one is definately not for me" and he says "Wait until you see this"...........he then takes the bow from me and shows me the spot on the riser where the movable branch of the riser meets the limb in the middle and the finish on the riser arm had a line worn into it down to the metal from where the limb bracket was scraping the arm. YIKES!!!! Less then 100 shots and the serving was coming apart and one of the new moving parts had scraped right through the nice camo dipping. I will be more then surprised if this design lasts very long. It looks like they have a lot of tinkering to do before they nail this one. My opinion of this bow is that it has potential to be great but also potential to be disasterous.........only the future will tell which direction it takes. Lots of issues to be worked out...........but a sweet shooter. Anyone that goes to shoot one should stand aside and watch someone else draw this thing........the stress on the back half of those limbs is incredible.........almost enough to make you wince. The guardian also looks better in person then in mags IMO.

The Allegiance felt light and looked really good...........handled well and was overall not much different then last year's Allegiance, save for some riser tweaks and the new cams. Sadly the Allegiance showed similar (although not as bad) serving wear in the cams. This was disappointing. The bow drew nicely.........I wouldn't say great, but for a fast bow I would say pretty darn good. The draw was definately not a problem with this bow. Then I tripped the release and was shocked by how much I felt the shot go off in the riser. WOW. There was no stabilizer on it but I have to say I don't know if that much vibration could be solved with just a stabilizer. The bow was fast and respectably quiet for a bare bow. Trying to describe the feeling in my hand during the shot would be more of a large vibration vs a small buzz if that makes any sense.......sort of a much lower frequency like if someone hit the side of the riser with their fist...........and not like a high frequency buzz like if you hit a ball off the end of a bat. (Hope that made sense to someone)

Sigh...........I was pretty bummed at this point.

Last on the trip was the Drenalin. I really liked the realtree camo on this bow............just plain sharp looking and very well done. Man they are not kidding when they call them slim limbs [:o] The shop owner said they did a test on these new limbs and they are supposedly twice as strong as the old ones........since they are all lifetime warranty I didn't really see why anyone would care.........but I digress. The bow is what Mathews has become today in my opinion........a very good all around bow........a jack of all trades and master of none so to speak. It looks good but the string is junk...........it draws smooth as silk but is slow in today's world.........it shoots smooth as butter but the grip is bulky (like holding a hockey puck).
Certainly a wonderful bow but absolutely no wow factor at all. Smooth and quiet for sure.........but that can be said about 50 other bows on the market. The Drenalin was nice but left me yawning.........and there is NO WAY this bow is worth $850 (MSRP) selling for $800 was a joke IMO.


Once again my Patriot will be with me in the treetops next year. This sucks..........I really thought I was getting a new bow [:@] Hopefully I will get to shoot an equalizer sometime and see how it is...........last year's model was as close as I have come to getting a new bow..........and there is always the Vectrix I guess.


The only bow I took to the chronograph was the allegiance and it was 26 fps faster then my Patriot at 1 inch longer draw and nothing on the string........I equated this to about 10-12 fps faster if that.

The shop owner and I are friendly.......he knows I have money and no aversion to spending it on hunting stuff. He told me in his opinion that the nicest bow in the room was the one I brought with me.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Not even shooting the Vectrix, Atlas?

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Cardiac Atlas check it out when it comes out in Jan after the ATA show

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Sounds like you put em through the ringer.I had the same bow for 16 years till i shot the 06 alegance.I was blown away with the new stuff.I went and shot the switch and bought an alegance.Stuff has been falling dead all around me ever since.I know the feeling though,You know what youre looking for,its just not developed yet.I looked for my truck for 7 years before i drove it one day.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I mentioned it, but no I have not shot one yet. My brother bought a Trykon last year and it is very nice.

My usual place doesn't carry Hoyt.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Ross?

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Enjoyed your review, honest and detailed. Did you get a kiss from your shop owner? Because he is screwing you big time. That Drenalin is selling for $680 here would you like me to ship you one? I'm keeping my Switchback for another season.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I think the worst part is I went out dead set on buying a new bow........in years past I went out with the mindset that I would get a new bow if one knocked my socks off.........this time I just said screw it I am gonna buy one (in my mind I figured the new bowtech design and the 3 years since my last bow purchase would add up to something special on the shelves).

The 06 Allegiance is a very nice bow..........I can see how you would snatch it up compared to a 16 year old model. I almost bought that one or the 06 equalizer but in the end they were not much different then my 03 Patriot.

They are all nice bows by the way.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Glad to hear it...........it's hard telling people what you "feel"






Nope.........he didn't even take me out to dinner either [:o]

I live in NY man.............everything here is expensive. The whole state has to chip in to support the big apple didn't you know.

How much are Bowtech's by you?........and why is the Mathews so cheap?? Is the shop in the middle of nowhere or is cost of living just lower in Kansas?




No.........but thanks for the offer.



Wise move IMO. Good friend of mine shoots the Switchback and it is one fine piece of metal. In fact I thought the Switchback was the best of the bows I shot that year.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Yes it has a whole new cam system, and speed you like 320 FPS IBO

33'' ATA
7 inch BH

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I will check on them Bowtech prices for you. I guess our cost of living is lower. Please don't tell anyone though we are all filled up here.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I don't think you have to worry motown, at least while its illegel to kill pigs :-)

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

699 here for an 06 tribby but it will drop like a rock in january when they break out the new bows to about 600 and that or a vectrix is probably what i will get depending on the price and feel of the bow;)

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

You really owe it to yourself to try an Elite Synergy. I am a died in the wool Bowtech man, but I shot a Synergy the other day and was astonished. If I would had the cash, I would have walked out with one that day.

Also, check this out.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=419361

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Nice review thanks for posting. Does you dealer carry any other brands? I would be interested in hearing some reviews of other bows becides the "big three".

Who knows maybe one day I will stop buying bows from garage sales or digging them out of the garbage and actually buy a new one.[8D]

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Cool.............I will definately look for it.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

What a great state slogan

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

There is no Elite dealer anywhere near me...........I would love to shoot those bows.

That HCA looks nice as well........those guys are nuts with speed!!!!

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Bowtech and Mathews are his big guns.........some other stuff gets mixed in but sparingly and mostly as used or trades.

I bet those garage sale bows still kill deer ;)

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I've had luck with them and yes they kill deer just fine.It's tough tojustify a "new" one when the one your shooting at the timeworks great. Now that I think about it, thelatest bow Ibought (garage sale) I putan old quiver from another bow on it.......Perhaps a new quiver is in order.:D

Still wouldn't mind reading reviews on some of the other bows that might catch your eye while your in the shop, new or used.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Tell me about it ;)



I will post as much info from time to time as I can. My dad is gonna try archery again this year after a long lay off. He is left handed and has neck surgery and a lot of pain in his history so it should be interesting trying to find him a bow. I think we will be shooting everything under the sun ;)

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Your thread makes it real easy to forgo even looking at the 2007 offerings.

My 2006 Tribute keeps me smiling & I still have my 04 Patriot to fall back on if need be.
I think owning the Patriot is your main problem, hard to be wowed when you've been shooting a Patriot. Some of the newer bows may be "better" but none are "that" much better.

Maybe one of the other brands mentioned will be what you're looking for.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

And to think, all these years you could have been shooting a Darton.[&:]

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Good review, Atlas.

It's hard to put into words what you "feel" when shooting bows. If you told me the Vectrix and the Allegiance were both shooting 300fps....(I know, I know).....I'd explain it this way....

As a collegiate catcher.....I could have 2 pitchers throwing 88mph...but ONE of them threw a "harder" ball. It's tough to explain. I think the Allegiance shoots "harder"....though I also am aware that it's shooting faster than the competitors.

I also think the Switchback and ESPECIALLY the XT are superior bows to the Drenaline. They HAD to give up something when they dropped almost a pound of weight.

Bows must also be like women. You like the one you married for your own reasons....and I'm tickled with the one I married.

Jeff

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Doh!!

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Atlas the draw stops on Dartons, well suck. They are a nice shooting bow, but if you cant the bow a bit the stop slides past the cable. Then pops the string off. I have put Uncle Ed's(Your buddy) string back on twice this year on his Maverick.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I love Trigger :)


That doesn't sound too good.............I know I will be shooting the Parker bows soon because I want dad to draw the ez-draw cam. I wish I had more dealers around me.

Elite archery interests me.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Ok I have own Parker also and the vibrate like a tuning fork, they really cut the weight and just have a pile of hand shock. When you shoot one you will see, oh they are dogs to for speed also. I have owned pretty much all the bows.:)

The shot you took this year there is a good chance the darton stringwould have popped off. Take a look at the stop

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I know I won't be buying a Parker.........I will shoot them though to help out dad.

Do you know anyone who owns an Elite bow?

The synergy looks sweet.

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Atlas, I think Elite makes a great looking bow. Its finding one that I hear is the problem. Add to that the fact they are now merging with a machine shop in Walla Walla and will be moving everything. I cringe at the thought of you posting after waiting almost forever for an ordered bow.[&:]

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

They are not making LH bows so I am on a boycott[:@]

If I hear anything I will let you know

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

Dude..........are you the guy over there that has the nasty sig about Elite because they don't make lefties??

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

no, not me

I know who you are talking about:D

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

He must see you coming. I can't say what I paid for my bow.....but I KNOW I could get you an Allegiance for $665 and a Drenaline for likely the same price.

I don't think I'd post what he charges you.

Jeff

I'm just sayin......

RE: Disappointed in the new Bowtech and Mathews bows
 

I did a search over there on the synergy and saw some of his posts..............his butt is chapped over the no south paw bows from Elite.