I often read and hear the term "hand shock" on these threads and others. I am curious though, as I shoot with an open and relaxed bow hand and finger sling or wrist strap. I have never felt the "hand shock" with any bow that I have owned, and I have had a ton. The bows with radically reflexed risers and short brace heights, such as the Hoyt Vipers that I had, lunged torwards the target out of my hand harder than the others. Also, the bows producing faster speeds, ie. lighter arrows per pound of draw, exhibitted the same behaviors. A properly balanced bow with quality accessories makes all the difference in the world.

Jeffb,

This is off the subject but,I dind't realize you were a fellow bodybuilder. My lifting days may be numbered though. Due to recently being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis I have dropped from 270 lbs to 215 lbs and have
had to drop out of school for this year due to missing the first 6 weeks of classes (spent a couple of weeks in the hospital with some pretty nasy symptoms). That's why I've been back on the 'puter lately.

Anyway, I finaly got my patriot ordered and when it comes in I'll through my $.02 in the mix.
And you know I will be completey objective. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - 500 fps on 02/14/2002 07:01:52

Vic,

215? <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> I guess you don't look like that picture you sent me anymore. Are you gonna be ok bud?

On the positive side, I am really glad to see you posting more on these forums. You tend to add a new perspective on the situation at times.

Zippernut,

I think alot of folks use the term &quot;handshock and recoil&quot; interchangeably. Recoil would be what you described as the bow jumping forward during/after the shot. As you stated, that can be remedied with the proper balance of accessories. Handshock on the hand would, to me, mean more of the vibration felt from excess energy released by the bow. The bow could be balanced well and yet still have a great deal of vibration during the shot. That is where items like limbsavers, or Mathews Harmonic Dampeners or Bowtech's Sand limb pockets come into play.

Sorry for rambling.

I know...I was just being facetious. My point is, if a bow is shot properly, no hand shock will be felt, at all. The recoil will.

The bottom line on this issue is this--Bowtech followers will promote their bows. Mathews followers will promote theirs, Hoyt followers, Merlin followers, Martin followers, etc, etc, etc, will do likewise. There are VERY few people that do not prefer ONE specific brand of bow on these messageboards, or are influenced by some attriubute of one brand more than another, as is the case with Bowtechs' speed ratings.

Comparasons between different bows and their designs are going to come no matter what, and normally it turns into a Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge arguement. All bows have their good and bad features, Bowtech is no different, they are not the &quot;be-all, end all&quot;, how soon we forget that a short time ago Mathews was in the same spot that Bowtech is today, and 10 years ago High Country was, and you could not convince any of their followers that the bow was not &quot;perfect&quot;.(still can't! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) I have been searching for over 30 years for the &quot;perfect&quot; bow, ain't found it yet,(not even the Merlins!<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>) because it simply is not here yet. Technology still has a long ways to go.

I personally feel that the Bowtechs are decent bows, and rate with the other &quot;standard&quot; straight-limbed Gordon-glass, conventional-solo (or twin) offerings made here in the USA, of which there are many.(Mathews, Parker, Martin, etc, all good bows) The only big attribute they have over others however is their speed. Now, not to rain on everyone's parade or to bash Bowtech for this technology, but what everyone fails to remember is that for every foot of speed gained, you have to give up something, usually forgiveness. Speed increases stress throughout a system,which increases shock and vibration, and in turn normally demands higher maintenance. Having owned a Gen 3, I can vouch for this fact, tho admittedly it was a decent bow and shot quite well. The higher hand shock and vibration as mentioned above over other bows is a direct result of this excess speed and stress. It is simply up to each individual to decide whether or not the extra &quot;zip&quot; is worth it to them. As stated, I am not here to bash Bowtech but to let people know that speed alone simply &quot;ain't all that&quot;, and 10-15 feet isn't even readily noticeable in your sight marks. The flip-side is that it WILL be an added benefit to short-draw shooters, a plus for Bowtech here. I am looking forward to testing out the Patriot soon, and will try to give my best views of it also, and am looking forward to feeling it's new reduction in vibration technology. Best thing for those wanting to try a few new bows out is to put on a blindfold, then have someone (shop owner) put each of the bows you are interested in into your hands, and let you shoot them. This will determine which bow &quot;fits&quot; and feels best to you, and the shooter buys according to this and is not buying simply based on a popular brand-name or a reading on a chrono screen. People that walk into the shop with a certain brand or model in mind are amazed when they take off the blindfold sometimes, and everyone is different! Just my own thoughts, Pinwheel 12

Not to dismiss the rest of your post P12, but you mentioned Gordon Glass limbs. That is the second time that I have seen that mentioned.

I now have two knowledgable folks that have told me that Bowtech uses solid glass limbs and I have seen two other places where their limbs are supposed to be carbon/glass.

So, which is it?

Gordon is the limb manufacturer. I am not sure of the entire composition.

It looks like a nice bow but no better than a Q2XL, Champion Contender, etc. A lot of bows are using this design right now & I would say they are all good.

just buy the bow you like the feel of best, don't buy something just because someone on this post says it is the best or whatever.

Pinwheel 12 said it best, no bow is perfect.........

Frank-

Zippernut is correct, Gordon is the manufacturer. They make alot of different material configurations, and to be honest I don't know exactly which one Bowtech uses, I've checked through their catalog and binder and cannot find anything about specific composition, probably power-tuff or bo-tuff seeing as it is a straight limb, similar to what the rest of the manufacturers that utilize straight limbs use here in the States. Good shooting, Pinwheel 12

I agree we all have favorites, and that a range of factors affect that other than performance purely. Things like past satisfaction and dealer relationships. But in general I would buy the bow that worked the best. That isn't always easy to determine of course. But if one could really know I wouldn't be affected by brand loyalty. If a Bowtech was a mathews with 10 extra fps, and a more vesatile cam, I'd be there. In practice it isn't quite that simple.