Finch

I was wondering what is meant by soft, medium, and hard cams. I was looking at a Easton arrow selection chart and I remembered that I did not know what these meant.

What would the Trykon be considered and why?

Thanks, Duc

NCYankee

It refers to the back wall of your draw. Whether you hit the back wall abruptly (hard)or gradually. Trykons can be adjusted for soft, medium or hard. There is a pin that is adjusted for soft and medium, and removed for hard.
Please correct me if I'm wrong!

gibblet

i'd have guessed it was the aggresiveness of the cams - as in wheelies, less agressive - and then like my patriot as agressive - but you may be right yankee.

NCYankee

Perhaps you're right gibblet...if it did refer to the back wall it probably wouldn't have to be on an arrow selection chart. I stand corrected!

Sylvan

I believe it is mostly referring to the stored energy to peak ratio (SEP) or the energy stored in the limbs of the bow relative to the peak weight. A typical "round" wheel will have an SEP of around 1.0 which means that if the amount of energy stored at full draw is 50 ft/lbs then the peak weight will be 50 pounds. This would be called "soft". As you increase the severity of the camming and store more and more energy in the bow realtive to the peak the SEP ratio goes up. A ratio of 1.4 is pretty high and would be referred to as a "hard" cam. At 50 pounds peak weight a 1.4 SEP bow would store 50 x 1.4 = 70 ft/lbs of energy. It's generally true (though not absolutely true) that as you increase the SEP you will also increase the slope of the "wall" as NCYankee was referring. Higher SEP's almost always mean a more abrupt wall. As SEP increases the shape of the force draw curve more closely resembles a square rather than a smoothcurve, is harder to pull back and doesn't feel as smooth. Hence the expression soft and hard cam.

gibblet

yeah, but i said it in english sylvan - pokeystickeything.

Finch

The arrow selection chart has 3 different pictures representing soft, medium, and hard. Under the soft cam it says, IBO up to 260fps. Medium says IBO 261-290 fps and single or hard cam says IBO 291fps up. I did not realize that before but I think I get it now. The Trykon would be a hard cam simply because its IBO is 291 & up?

Heres a link to a PDF selection chart.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/resource/easton/easton_chart.pdf

Sylvan

You're right gibblet! I have been known to make a long story even longer. Guess this was one of those times. Sorry about that!

gibblet

i enjoyed it, and i always enjoy reading your tech posts. i learned something. i was just pokin you with a stick a little - teasin.