Hoosierflogger,
32 ATA might not be short for you but it certainly is for me.
The older I get, the worst my eyesight becomes particularly late in the day or early in the morning. I want that peep as close to my eye as I can get it.
I can certainly appreciate that point of view. I know many years ago we used to shoot pinhole peeps, and when I get any of my old bows out to play with I wonder how I ever saw through that tiny hole. Thank God for the circle in circle method.
But I'll tell you what, in my humble opinion, here's the mentality in the bowhunting world today.
First convince the public that crossbows are the proper tool for bowhunting.
Why, I as an archery manufacturer and you as a pro shop can make more profit by expanding the number of archery related products you make and sell.
I don't know about that.
It seems to me that you have basically the same number of potential customers either way. How can one benefit from selling an x bow instead of a vertical?
Also, while I am certainly no expert on x bows, I don't think Hoyt and Mathews and PSE are building x bows are they?
Second, produce more speed bows one year that are not only short but have extreme reflex risers with short brace height.
Why, I as an archery manufacturer can make more profit by using less raw materials and you as a pro shop can brag about the improved speed.
Third, the next year, produce more bows that have higher brace heights and less speed but are very smoooooth to draw.
Why, I as an archery manufacturer can still make more money by using less raw materials and you as a proshop can brag even more about how smooth the new models are.
Yes, I can see your point here. I have always said, you have to pick your poison.
Speed comes with a price, it costs smoothness and forgiveness.
Smooth also comes at a price, it costs speed. There are, however, several bows on the market that are the best of both worlds.
I think my AM is a good example of this.
It is very fast for how smooth it is.
It is very smooth for how fast it is.
It is very forgiving for how short it is.
Case in point:
Here's the bowsight link where 8 individuals tested & reviewed new 09 hunting bows.
http://www.bowsite.com/BOWSITE/features/articles/equipment/2009head2head/
Thanks for the link, very interesting reading. :thumbs_up
Notice in the test that the new at the time 32" Mathews Reezen 6.5 came in third in the speed category which has been unusual for a single cam entry.
However, notice in the smooth draw cycle test the Mathews Reezen 6.5 came in 5th. out of 5 entries.
Yep. Proves what I said above, speed comes with a price.
Now you can probably guess what will happen in 2010 when the 30" Z7 is reviewed. The draw cycle will be much improved but the only way to improve the speed without compromising brace height will be to shorten the bow.
Pretty soon, we all might as well use crossbows because vertical bows will be as short as they are wide.
I completely understand what you are saying, and I agree to a point.
If I were a paper puncher, I would be all about the 40 inch ata, with straight limbs and a 8 in brace height. But I am a hunter, and the kill zone of a deer, (or the head of a fox squirrel for that matter) is quite a bit larger than those little X's. For hunting, I prefer the added mobility of a shorter bow, with parallel limbs. I also opt for the extra speed, that helps take the guesswork out of judging distance.
Actually, I was just being facetious. I'm keeping my stash of the best longer bows released over the last 5 years because I think they will come back in style once the average bowhunter gets completely frustrated and refuses to buy anymore shorties.
