Talk me into or out of a new bow…would I notice?

[sndmn11]

Pretty short sighted to only shoot two brands while it's just as easy to shoot everything the shop has.

The LiftX and Bowtechs are the only options for easy tuning; the big gain in my mind to the question of, "would I notice?" in a new bow. If PSE and Hoyt included the shim kits with a new bow purchase, it would be slightly more convenient; however, pressing the limbs is still necessary. Still, I've seen 50/50 instances where a shim change overshoots perfect and the archer ends up with the same issue as before, just on the opposite side.

I think caring about tuning is the easiest way to accomplish the below, and that's where new "tech" shines.

3)is the technology and improvement in bows over the past 10+yrs enough to improve accuracy?

... it certainly doesn't mean other bows are worse or bad or anything negative, it just means they aren't as easy to get clean flight.

 

[billysmals]

Shoot every bow in your budget you can. Beg, borrow, steal (kidding on that one) bows from a friend or anyone who will let you try. If you like a bow, look into a used version of it, even if it's a 2025. Especially if you have time to wait for a good deal. Lost of 2025 stuff is 2-400 off if you can wait. Don't overlook ebay. Also check out Usedcompoundbow.com. Lots of used stuff on there, and free shipping. There are several 2025 flagship bows on that website under $1000 I would buy if I didn't already have a new bow.

Mathews Lift and Lift X will warranty the limbs for life, which a lot of companies won't do. Last I heard it was a transferable warranty as well, which is not common.

Prime you get free strings for life if you are the OG owner, which can save you $180 every 2 years.

I agree if you go to a new bow, buy once and get as much tuning features as you can. Personally if I was buying a new(ish) bow I would not look at anything that doesn't have some press-less tuning features. For that reason alone PSE, HOYT, PRIME, Expedition, Bear are all out for me. I just don't want to mess with pressing a bow to tune it and I even have my own bow press. I still don't want to deal with it now that I can choose bows from several brands that offer a variety of options. If you have to have those brands because you like them, wait till 2026, as I expect them to add some tuning features to keep up with other brands and the way the industry is heading. The tuning features really matter for me, because I'm lazy, and if I can make my life easier, then why not?

Bows Companies offering press-less tuning features I would buy from:
Elite (SET technology-cam lean only)
Mathews (Limb Shift-cam lean only)
Bowtech (Deadlock tech-cam lean and cam timing)- Bowtech also has adjustable integrated grips, but this isn't a tuning feature. It's unique to them though.
Darton (Perfect Tune-cam lean and cam timing)

These all offer easy tuning features and these brands have longevity. Bowtech was the first in this area, then Elite, and there are quite a few models from the last 5 years with good tech from these two brands if you don't want to buy brand new. There are other new companies that offer some tuning tech, but I'm wary because they are new. Athens had some cool tech on their bows, but they are out of business now...

 

[mfolch]

I was recently in a similar condition. Damaged my rotator cuff on my left arm last year and this seemed to cause me to hit left no matter what. Also, it made holding for more than 2-3 seconds really painful. Dropping my weight 11lbs improved accuracy a lot. But then I was down at 53lbs., which meant new arrows, broadheads (solid rather than mechanicals), a whole new set up, essentially. Spent 6 months working out and doing pt and blank bailing 50 shots a day. This helped too, and I was up at 58lbs on my 2020 Mathews VXR. But then went to the bow shop and tried the new flagship bows, and they’re like night and day. Smoother, easier to draw, so much lighter, much less hand shock, and they seemed much faster. The difference is incredible. They were all light years ahead of my VXR. I really liked the smooth draw cycle of the new hoyts and ended up with a rx9 with 63lbs draw weight. So the leap to a modern bow from one that’s 10 years old to a new one is probably going to be significant.