i noticed yesterday that holding my bow up and drawing back got to the pt were i was moving my bow arm to much. it seemed as though my bow was to heavy for some reason. so i took my 10 in. stabilizer off and shot with out it to see what would happen.i was surprised the bow would even tilt forward in my bow hand without it on.so i tried it out that way and there was a world of difference in my holding ability and i shot just as well.i ended up puting a 6 in. 6 oz. weight on it to help absorb some shock. how many bow hunters use just a small stabilizer to hunt with and get the same results as i have. i just dont seem to tire out as easy as before by doing this.

I have a 3.5" stabilizer and it only weighs a few ounces. Works for me!

I use a very short and light stabilizer as well.

I think bow balance is one aspect of the equipment selection process that alot of folks tend to overlook. They pick up the bow off the rack and they lack how light or initially balanced it is. Then they slap on their trusty stabilizer which was attached to the previous bow or they pick up on of the "favorites" that everyone recommends without every really trying to get a feel for what is out there.

I seem to be getting shorter and shorter with my stabilizers every year. For hunting my stabilizer setup is maybe 5 inches....but with alot of weight balanced close to the riser...not eight inches in front of it. For the bow I am using and its intended purpose I think the balance is excellent.

Frank,

Great post and you're exactly right on the money.
I, recently, switched to a Genesis 5 Star Ultra Lite stabilizer for my target bows at Stewart Bowman's suggestion.
It has a sliding weight that you can move along the entire length of the stabilizer to adjust until your bow balances perfectly for you.
I'm going to get an 8" or 10" model soon to use for my hunting bow.
There may be stabilizers that reduce recoil better but none that adjust the balance of my bow better.
The carbon rods, in themselves, reduce recoil pretty well.


Sag.

I'm putting on the Doinker Shorty D2 on my Mathew's. really seems to balance well.

slayer

I've got the Doinker Shorty on my ProTec. Works better than the 8" hydraulic stabilizer I had mounted on a Simms Enhancer 2000 with a LOT less weight. When I want some definite stabilizing effect out of it, I've got a 9" aluminum shaft to mount between the Shorty and the bow.

i was checking out the doinker shorties the other day.may have to just go that route.