This post is just for me to vent my annoyance with the (lack of) tech advances in modern compound archery/exaggerated IBO claims.
I have been shooting a 2013 mathews zxt since 2014. I've enjoyed my time with it and had a good amount of success with it. For the last few years I have been casually bow shopping here and there but have been so unimpressed with the specs of the new high dollar flagship bows as compared to my now 12 year old bow. Recently, I reluctantly purchased a 2024 model Mathews lift, mainly I think just because I wanted a newer bow and my friend bought one.
I realize there are many factors that make a good bow a good bow but the 2 factors that seam most important to me from a practical standpoint (and someone who does not do my own tuning) are the physical weight of the bow and the speed it will fling an arrow. Admittedly, I don't nerd out on my setup, I just want something that will work for the task at hand. My 2013 bow weighs 4.3 lbs and IBO is 326. This lift weighs 4 lbs and IBO is 340.
I got it set up and tuned and decided to shoot the same arrow out of both bows through a chrono just out of curiosity. My 2013 bow was set at 70 lbs with a 30 inch draw. My 2024 bow is set at 75 lbs with a 30 inch draw. My old bow shot a 535 grain arrow an average of 269 fps. My new bow shot the same arrow at 278 fps. So 5 lbs heavier draw and 11 years in tech advances and "superior and vastly more efficient materials" gave me a net gain of about 9 fps. Seams disappointing and practically unnoticeable.
Yes I realize speed isn't everything.
My new bow shoots a 435 grain arrow at 303fps.
I looked up IBO ratings and supposedly IBO is measured with an 80 lb bow with a 30 inch draw shooting a 400 grain arrow. So theoretically If I bump up my draw weight by 5 lbs and nock off 35 grains of arrow weight it will increase my velocity by 37 fps? Doubt it.
Seams like they have really just maxed out the materials that are currently available?
That is all.
Thanks for reading my rant.
I have been shooting a 2013 mathews zxt since 2014. I've enjoyed my time with it and had a good amount of success with it. For the last few years I have been casually bow shopping here and there but have been so unimpressed with the specs of the new high dollar flagship bows as compared to my now 12 year old bow. Recently, I reluctantly purchased a 2024 model Mathews lift, mainly I think just because I wanted a newer bow and my friend bought one.
I realize there are many factors that make a good bow a good bow but the 2 factors that seam most important to me from a practical standpoint (and someone who does not do my own tuning) are the physical weight of the bow and the speed it will fling an arrow. Admittedly, I don't nerd out on my setup, I just want something that will work for the task at hand. My 2013 bow weighs 4.3 lbs and IBO is 326. This lift weighs 4 lbs and IBO is 340.
I got it set up and tuned and decided to shoot the same arrow out of both bows through a chrono just out of curiosity. My 2013 bow was set at 70 lbs with a 30 inch draw. My 2024 bow is set at 75 lbs with a 30 inch draw. My old bow shot a 535 grain arrow an average of 269 fps. My new bow shot the same arrow at 278 fps. So 5 lbs heavier draw and 11 years in tech advances and "superior and vastly more efficient materials" gave me a net gain of about 9 fps. Seams disappointing and practically unnoticeable.
Yes I realize speed isn't everything.
My new bow shoots a 435 grain arrow at 303fps.
I looked up IBO ratings and supposedly IBO is measured with an 80 lb bow with a 30 inch draw shooting a 400 grain arrow. So theoretically If I bump up my draw weight by 5 lbs and nock off 35 grains of arrow weight it will increase my velocity by 37 fps? Doubt it.
Seams like they have really just maxed out the materials that are currently available?
That is all.
Thanks for reading my rant.
