What is the deal with the STS system being legal or illegal for Hunter class?

Well over a month ago the STS vibration reduction system/rod was given the OK by Ken Watkins for IBO Hunter class........there were numerous posts asking this question before guys went out to buy one. Ken was contacted and the item was approved for Hunter class as it is not a stabilizer and has no weight of any consequence to be valued as any sort of rearward stabilization.

As soon as the word came down that it was legal a bunch of guys bought them, me included simply to stop string twang and maybe get some of the advertised accuracy benefits gained by how it stops the string etc..........I never viewed it as a way around a stabilizer rule.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showth...ight=STS+Legal

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showth...ight=STS+Legal

If the STS is ruled Illegal this close to the shoot in Erie you are going to have a flock of fired up shooters. We have been shooting these bows for weeks in anticipation of the upcoming IBO's aand 2 days before there is going to be an equipment ruling reversal?
I know I for one don't have the luxury of resighting my bow if I am forced to remove this product. It affects POI so it's not just a matter of taking it off and all is peachy.

Ken, What's the deal!?

Not precisely what I said.
I said the board had not decided on whether it was legal or not. They do not meet until August, two weeks after the world.
I also said in the one phone call that I had about it, that I had already seen a weight added to the rod in front of the dampener. Which I also know is not part of the original design.
I still imagine that the board will approve it,(without any added weight) BUT that can't happen until the fall meeting.

This is a piece of equipment that would have to be added to the rule, not ruled against.
ken

Ken thanks for the reply......so I take it by your reply that since the board has not ruled legal or otherwise, and will not do so until August after worlds, that those of us who ARE using them are OK to leave these on our bows for the remainder of this IBO season?
Then in August if for some reason they ARE determined to be illegal that ruling will take affect from that point forward?

What EXACTLY are you telling us to do with these things? The last thing I want to be doing is changing ANYTHING 2 days before Erie.

Matt,
The HC's are equipment restricted classes. Four pins are allowed. One stabilizer,etc.

If it is NOT in the rules it is not allowed, in equipment restricted classes.

ken

I don't agree with the timing of it Ken,especially since you anticipate that it WILL be allowed in it's original form and that people used it in Bedford, but I do appreciate the clear stance for those of us that are using it so we know what to expect.........

However you do realize that you are going to have shooters show up in Erie with this little item who have no knowledge of this conversation or the current stance on it. THEY won't be happy with minutes notice that they need to remove it and now find out if their bow's tune and POI has changed.

Man you guys just added a little more stress to the remaining few days of the week. I HAD a bow that I knew was shooting perfectly as is.

Matt, I am sorry about the timing.
I also pretty much avoid archery talk lately. Many folks are referring to AT as the archery terrorists network. It can be tough enough here.
This is a situation with a new piece of equipment that is outside of what has been normal accessories as an add on.
As there are several bows that have a form of string suppressor I (once again) assume the board will o.k. it.

But I can't say it is alright before a decision is made.
It is interesting enough for me to try it on my hunting rig through the shooting machine.
Once again I apologize for the confusion.
ken

Just for the record, I know that with the information available to me at this time, I would rule against it's use in the Restricted classes. This is the reason the topic will have to wait for a full review. If, it is to be considered a vibration dampener, it clearly exceeds the 2" limit. If it is a "stabiliser", we also have an obvious problem. If it is considered to be outside either of these perameters, then who knows. In the mean time any new technology which does not fit into the existing equipment rules will be designated as "Open" equipment untill a further ruling can be made.

As Ken said, that doesn't mean that it won't be allowed, but for now it is legal in the open or non-restricted classes only.















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im not trying to stir a hornets nest up but i must say that this is complete BS i shot the MHC at bedford ( not very well i might add) but any way i had an sts on my bow and i called the IBO and they said they were allowed i also called the owner of STS whos aid that he talked to YOU Ken and he said that they were allowed this is rediculous, and archery talk is a great place for archers to go but if there is a problem with something people there are not afraid to talk about it and this is definately a problem.....

o and by the way if any of you are wondering, im shooting MBR at erie so this rule does not even effect me i just feel very sorry for the people shooting the hunter class that have shot this peice of equipment on there bow since the beginning of the year, shot it at bedford and are now being told its no allowed, you start with it you end with it its as simple as that

Just wondering. Where in the rule book does it say anything about a 2" limit on string dampeners?
I hope you guy's took your Prozac to help with the stress about this for this weekend.
This is a string dampening devise that has no other mechanical advantages.