What is the difference between the cam & 1/2 system and the 1 cam bows? What are the advantages/disadvangtages of each?

The cam and a half system has roughly symmetrical cams which tends to balance out the system more so than the original small round idler and larger single cam design.

With the cam and a half you have the top cam "slaved" to the bottom cam so whatever happens to the top cam happens to the bottom cam as well.

Nock travel on the cam and a half is reported to be better but then I guess that depends on who you talk to and how they set up the test....

The cam and a half is reported to be more forgiving and more tuneable.

That is all I can think of off the top of my head this early on a Monday so forgive me....

I just started shooting a Cam 1/2 bow this winter and so far, I think the reports may be correct. It does seem easier to tune, but then again, I really never had too much difficulty tuning a single either. This of course may just be my particular setup that I don't have as much trouble getting a good tune.

One thing I will say about the Cam 1/2 of Hoyt's. I dont think the solid wall is as good on them as it is on a solo. Its not bad at all, but I like the solid wall feeling of the singles a little better in that regard.

I am in agreement with you on that one MM. There is definitely a separate feel between the two styles of cams in question. I wonder why they do not install more positive draw stops on the Cam and a Half eccentrics.

Frank, it would be nice if they did. I haven't shot another brand of Hybrid, so I have nothing to compare it to.

Maybe because since the eccentrics are tied together in a somewhat dual cam fashion, if one comes slightly out of whack you need to make up for it somehow. That somehow is stopping it with the cables and creating a slight sponge effect to compensate. I don't know, just a thought. If both eccentrics where using the limb, like the Bowtechs do their solos, it would be kind of a weird situation.

Make any sense?

Sure it makes sense. Both cams would need to be timed correctly and in synch. with one another (like a dual cam) in order for a double draw stop peg to work effectively.

For those only drawing/shooting a cam.5 system and making their observations on hybrids simply from that one system, I suggest you draw others such as a Merlin Omega hybrid system. Rock solid wall that can easily compare to the solos, plus it offers straight and level nock travel to boot, making it very easy to tune a variety of arrow spines in minutes.

Unlike the cam.5 which everyone is using as a benchmark of hybrids and really shouldn't be because the cam.5 is IMO more like a pure twin than it is a hybrid with it's eliptical cabletrack, the Merlin Omega and Darton CPS, (along with a few other"true" hybrids) offer a round cable track on the top idler/cam that allows true straight and level nock travel at all drawlengths and a smoother transfer of energy to boot.(more comfortable) I really thought Hoyt was going to update to this type of system in 2004 but they opted not to...I suspect they will change it up next year to be more in line with the "true" hybrid design because of it's additional attributes.

OK, back to original question---

Difference between hybrids and solos is that "true" hybrids effectively combine the best attributes of both solos and twins all into one system. They do not exhibit poor dynamic balance as solos do due to differing size/weight cams/idlers and thus differing rates of rotation and limbtip travel. True Hybrids have symmetrical cam and string profiles much like twins but without the timing issues associated with them because they are slaved-- therefore they exhibit "set and forget" tuning. They do not have super long strings that stretch easily, they're very smooth on the draw also much like a twin . They are simply a better mousetrap IMHO---evolution continues.

More and more manufacturers and archers themselves are figuring this out too----eventually I believe we will see the hybrid take over as the #1 system simply due to it's attributes over both twins and solos. Next year there will be even more companies adding hybrids to their lineups, and others will be refining theirs even more........as stated, evolution continues. Good shooting, Pinwheel 12

I disagree with the first part of this statement. Although not as bad as older twins, the Omega cams are definitely not "rock solid" in my opinion. They are not equal to many solos out there, if a hard wall that absolutely won't move, is what you want. Fortunately for myself, I prefer the slightly mushy wall.

SA-

What bow are you drawing and holding, the Max-Xtreme? I respect your opinion but this bow is as solid as most anything I have ever drawn to date this side of a rapid cam twin with two wallbanger modules. The Omega has a built-in wallbanger on the lower module, and is easily as solid as any solo made because it works on basically the same principle in this respect and even moreso because it has the tabs on the module where most solos do not.

I couldn't believe what I read so I went over and just drew a Merlin Max Xtreme hard into the stop, along with a Merlin Hunters' Quest 35, Diamond Undertaker, Parker Hunter Mag, Kodiak BL32, and Mathews LX, and the Max-Xtreme was as solid at full draw as any of them and in fact better than some of them? When they are setup to specs they're superb, nothing remotely "mushy" about them IMHO. Good shooting, Pinwheel 12

Dead on , I compleatly agree with this statement , have owned both systems , I can attest to what Pinwheel is saying here , it is VERY true , not a product endorsment . Allmost every other company that offers a hybreed , is configured in this way , hoyt is the BIG exception . Last count at about 7 or 8 companies that have " seen the light" .