Stablizers out front?
 

I see it many times. I see folks but these long heavy stabilizer out front. I want want my bow to be balanced. When I shoot open handed, I don't want tohave to grab the bow, and with these straight limbed bows these days, they don't jump out of your hand.

Why not put stabilziersthat you can adjust to balance or put behind in some cases the riser?

Maybe its me. You ought to see some of the ones I see on hunting bows. You would think these guys are going to the olympics.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

They do have stabilizers that you can adjust anywhere, that's what side bars and v bars are for. And the reason you see people with the longer stabilizers is because they help minize the range of movement, also known as pin float when holding on a target. No one out there can hold a bow completely rock steady, some are better at it than others, but a good stabilizer setup that gets the weight out and away from the riser of the bow will help reduce that pin float dramatically. The stabilizer on my FITA/Indoor Spots bow is 31.5" long....yes it dips forward at the shot but it holds MUCH steadier than my Allegiance with a short 12" long stabilizer.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Oh absolutely, this is all known. What I am saying is, these are hunting bows? If all a guys is a competitor, totally agree. But they are hunting bows, and I see guys going in the woods, with a 8" stabilizer. A guy needs to practice if he can't hold a pinon a deer at 25 yards without a 8" stabilizer.

If they wanted forgivness, why did they buy a 35" bow? Or less? By yourself a 45" bow, believe me, pins are much easier to keep steady.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I hunt with a 12" stabilizer.....doesn't faze me and hasn't seemed to cause a problem at all. Guess it's all personal preference.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Well, you probably shoot alot and glad it works for you. The more I bow hunt the more I start taking stuff off my bow. You ever wonder why a guy in a shooting lane hit a skoal can at 30 yards, but misses a deer at 20yards?

I have actually see people develop a torquing problem due to the bow drop and they automatically flintch after the release.

Hey bud, I hope I didn't offend. I just didn't figure too many on here would have long stabilizers.

Good luck in the upcoming olym:Dpics.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Nothing personal but I will never understand why many times accuracy standards are lowered because it's "Just" a hunting bow.
Why would we want to shoot the most accurate bow possible to score a couple extra points at a local event, but reduce our standards when it's life or death for an animal?

IMO shoot the most accurate set-up that is comfortable and reasonable for the type of shooting you are doing and do not treathair any different than paper or foam.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Hey Matt you ever wonder why a guy can hit a skoal can at 30 yards but miss's a deer at 15 to 20? Its all that crap on the bow to let him hit 3" groups at 30 yards. Hey don't get me wrong, I used to fall in this marketing trap myself, my bow looks like it belongs on the space station.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Big Country, to me shooting is shooting and the guy who shoots well on the range will invariably be the better shot in a treestand.
for example I have never bought the notion of theJoe Bowhunterwho breaks his bow out a couple times before the season, shoots 3D for fun and flips arrows all over the place counting "Kills" will outshoot the guy who takes the act of shooting serious and where pin point accuracy is paramount during hunting season.
There are always exceptions to every rule, but that's simply not the norm.

I hear it all the time in my club about how great some guys are...that they are "crappy on the course, but deadly in the treestand" Then I hear about the 7 deer they wounded, 10 they missed and 3 they weren't sure about to kill one.

I got a firm example of this 2 yrs ago on a trip to Illinois with some local guys who profess to be good shots and better bowhunters.
When the dust settled the other 8 guys in our group (who don't shoot competitively were a whopping 3 for 11 shooting with 4 lost animals)
Myself and my buddy Frank who DO shoot competitively were 4 for 4 shooting and everything recovered in short order. Coincidence? Maybe.

I know we both generalizing but to imply that the guy who can hit a skoal can at 30 yards won't be able to shoot the same at 20 at live game is kind of silly.

I'm not talking about the accessories or equipment to reach a proficient level of accuracy.......I'm talking about the commitment to be the best you can be with whatever equipent you choose, and for some they try to take the target mentality to the stand and shoot the best that they can. That can never hurt unless of course the actual equipment is impeding the act of shooting.

Obviously target shooting and it's gear doesn't directly translate to a deer stand but the mentality of being the best shot possible can and should.

Archers do not need to be Bowhunters but Bowhunters definitely need to be archers. They are not one in the same.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Matt I agree but disagree. I am not talking about the guy who shoots only before the season. There has to be a balance of the junk on your bow and its huntability. Things that help you on the shooting lane vs things that hinder you in heavy woods. I know for me, using a peep made it tough for me boar hunting. Sure, on the target range, I hold my own. But its a hinderance in heavy woods. Someone wants a super short bow for manoverabilty but then puts a long stabilizer? That makes very little sense.

The cycle of archers I have seen is like this, starts shooting simple, and does well, goes wild and starts putting on every dodad that bowhunter mag throws at them, about 10-15 years later they slowly start removing stuff, and some start going back to fingers. Thats just what I have noticed.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

BigCountry,

As long as we agree that there should be the same standard for desired accuracy regardless of the equipment, then I think we agree on the most important part.
Archery is an individual sport and what works for one doesn't work for the next, everyone should use whatever equipment they know works for their intended target, be it an animal or a piece of paper.

I just don't care to see animals given the poopy end of the stick. ;)and I was getting the feeling that's where things were heading.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I think you two already got to the point of mutual understanding but I have to say that this is an issue that I have been struggling with for quite some time. As BC put it...

...some accessories/setups are exceptionally helpful for obtaining the utmost accuracy out of your bow on the target range but can be nothing but a hinderance or detriment in the deer woods. As he mentioned, that balance needs to be maintained. As Rick mentioned above, he hunts with a 12 inch stabilizer. That might work for him and he might not find it inconvenient but I bet the majority of archers would....myself included. Add to that list sights that extend far away from the riser of the bow or sight pin heads that are extremely small or even bows that are excessively heavy....all of which would add to stability and accuracy on the target range but that might be detrimental when carrying or shooting out of tight quarters.

This also makes me think of a discussion that Mike and I had down at the shop the other day about the hunter class of 3D shooting. It seems everyone always wants to push their setups to the limits of the rules to get the utmost out of their setups without really considering whether or not they are actually "honoring" (for lack of a better word) the spirit of the rules in the first place. For example, when they put a 12 inch stabilizer rule in place then everyone is trying to get as close to that 12 inches as possible. When they put a restriction on fletching size or arrow speed or sight design then everyone seems to always find a way to get as close to the absolute limit of those rules without breaking them.

Though it tends to follow the letter of the law I honestly believe it defeats the spirit of the law.

Sorry for the rant but for some reason this subject irks me a bit.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

How about a skoal can at 50 yards!;)

This week I’m removing my 6 inch fuse axium stabilizer and going to install the 10 inch fuse axium stabilizer for open country spot and stalk hunting. I guess I’m heading the wrong way and I have a long ways to go before I start shooting fingers.

I’m looking forward to seeing the results of a longer stabilizer with my longer ATA bow. So far from the people who hunt in my conditions, they highly recommend the use of a longer stabilzer. Anybody need a 6 inch fuse axium stabilizer in HD green?

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Some bows just need that weight out front to even be shootable. Case-in-point: I have a carbon fiber bow in the shop that I set up. It's an awesome goat hunting bow since it only weighs 3 lbs rigged, but when I shot it all that changed. The top limb of the bow kicks back so hard that the rest cuts into the top of my hand when shot without a stabilizer. It took a 10", 16 oz. stabilizer to tame that rascal. Now the benefit of the light weight short bow is gone. Poor engineering on that one. (Before I get harshed out for having poor form that is causing the problem let me clarify that I've been shooting all kinds of bows for over 20 years and I shot this thing with all kinds of grip styles with the same effect. It's the only bow I've come across that does this to this extreme.)

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I think most on here shoot alot. But see alot of people develop a read bad torque using those stabilizers.

Lets face it folks, if your on this page in March, then most likely you shoot all year around. But I know alot of people who only shoot in Sept.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

When I shoot my bow you might as well cut all 4 fingers off of my left hand. They don't even play a role, thus don't cause any torque.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

How could using a stabilizer cause someone to develope a bad hand torque? Part of the design of a stabilizer is to remove bow torque or create positive (bow falling away) torque.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I have never seen someone develop torque problems due to a stabilizer.........but then again what do I know. ;)

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

They put a big one on and the bow drops some of course after the shot. The bow shock causes them to want to catch it. Mentally they develop a habit breaking thier wrist and catchin the bow with the fingers and heel.

But on my bowtech liberty, I have no front stabilizer but have a rear one to balance the bow. I don't need a wrist strap. After the shot with my hand open, the bow is right there were it was before the shot. Even my older PSE Mohave, balanced correctly I can do this.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I have a failry long stab, and heavyon my bow, almost 11 inches I think.
I had a bad torque poblem for a about 3 weeks. Every shot wasoff to the left.It had nothing to do with my stabilizer, but everything to do with my grip. I have since corrected the issue and an pretty darm happy with the way I have been shooting the last few weeks.
I know it is a lot easier to blame the equipment, I adjusted the sight many times still off to the left. Franksaid to check my form.I thought aboutmy grip saw what I was doing wrong and fixed it. It is not always the equipment is my point. Sometimes the shooter needs to change somethign

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

exactly

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Matt I agree with a lot you have to say. But in the example above I do not necessarily argree in all circumstances. Shooting on the range in a comfort zone is one thing. Yes, in the perfect hunting situation where your adreneline is not going, your heart is not racing, and you have the time to settle in and aim at a non-moving target, I would agree with you. But, many hunting situations do not lend themselves to that favorable situation and things often happen quickly or unplanned. The guy who canaccurately get the shot off quickly(without a long settling in on the target period) with the rightequipment to do so will usually be the one who is better off IMO. This is in general of course.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I don't compete so I can give a "hunter only" perspective to this. Iuse a4in Doinker stabilizer. For me it's more of a dampner than stabilizer. I however have no problem shooting 2-3in groups out to 40yds. At 20yds I need to shoot spots or I will break nocks and tear vanes and this is with what most would call an "entry level" or "cheap" bow (Browning Rage one).

Now I am not an expert shot by no means so I don't think it's too much to expect from any set up!

My point? If you want to hang contraptions offyour bow and make it look like a satellite that's fine but I don't think it's necessary........practice, practice, practice.

I agree with BobCo19-65 on this. I think you are comparing apples to oranges here. Even my basic practice sessions are nothing like the real thing. I also agree and think some equipment ie: extra long stabilizers etc.. are geared more for the comp. shooter because that type of gear is specific forthat type ofshooting and like BobCo19-65 said does not lend itself well to quick off hand shooting situations.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Many of you would have enjoyed my last seminar where I discussed the differences between hunting and tournament situations.;)

I laid out 10 basic reasons why they were different. My notes are at the shop, so I'll try to recall most of them as follows:
1) Tuning requirements
2) Targets stationary verses moving
3) Different lighting
4) Different clothing
5) Weather conditions
6) Obstacles
7) Time to get the shot off
8) Footing and elevation/treestands
9) Poundage sometimes required
10) Broadheads verses field points

This subject was discussed for about an hour. Think about each one of the above and try to draw your own conclusions.;)

Even within each of the two basic disciplines there are variations abundant.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Guess who changed my ways of thinking about long stabilizers??:D:D:D

Once he showed me my bow balanced, I never looked back.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

Keep in mind that bigcountry's stabilizer is attached to the back of his riser and not to the front. With many bows having highly reflexed risers to gain speed, it's necessary to move the weight from the front to the back to 'balance' the bow both staticly and dynamically.

Many of the bows with very long stabilizers have deflex risers. When longer stabilizers are desired with a reflex riser, that's when the use of V-bars becomes necessary to maintain proper balance.

RE: Stablizers out front?
 

I would have to say "tuning" your huntingbow or competition bow to be as forgiving as possible is what we should allbe striving to achieve!And in most case`s a longer heavier stabilizer is more forgiving for most folks.Getting the mass weight of the stabilizer "out" away from the bow makes the bow more forgiving for most of us.
Seldom will you be able to take the shot under the perfect conditions most of us practice under!
Shooting in front of your peers,under the pressure of competition isas close to simulating a hunting situation as you can get!
Practice,practice,practice.....a goodarcher/hunter goes into auto-pilot when its time to take the shot.....whether its a shot at the 11 ring or a shot at a trophy buck!JMHO
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