The two I really like is the PSE roller guard and Saunders hyper glide. The only thing I would suggest is if you choose the PSE roller guard serve the portion of cables that go through the roller to extend cable life. Other than that both have worked great without issue.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

I think the OP means roller guard system (like hoyt) vs cable guard system (like pse). I like the simplicity of the roller guard system, it's set in stone, no tinkering necessary. However, I prefer to have the tunability of the cable guard system. (I have added the PSE roller to my guard also, like you said, cables need to be served). The cable guard on my Athens has an offset, which allows me to rotate it for arrow/vane clearance and the ability to fine tune tears avoiding shims while paper tuning.

 

I much prefer plastic slides like the Hoyt or PSE. They're cheaper, lighter weight, last forever and ironically don't tear up your cables like a roller will. I have the stock PSE roller guide on my shootdown and it's "meh". I'm not thrilled with it and when/if it breaks or wears out I'm going to put a PSE plastic slide on to replace it. But it's not really bad either, so I've left it alone for now.

lee.

 

I've seen you mention this before, I bought my pse roller as an impulse buy, assuming it had to be an upgrade. I'm most likely going to keep it simple and go back to the basic slide when I need new strings.

 

Offset guide rod and slide. Has worked for years. Adjustable for vane clearance. Also helps with cam lean though I really don't believe cam lean is the evil that most try to make it. Having dealt with roller guide problems in the past while working at archery shop...No thank you....

 

TTT

I suppose when I look at a bow I am spending that kind of money on, seeing i suppose more technology and more metal makes me think i am getting more bang for my buck. Kinda like looking a glock 45 or a sig 226 45. one just seems far more superior even though both are awesome guns in my opinion.

I guess what I am saying is One the turn offs i have had with some the other great bow companies has been the plastic slide the cables go through, where other manufactures have went to metal wheels and bearings for the cables to roll through.

 

Don't really care one way or the other. Rollers might be flexible or not. Slides might have an adjustable off set, or not. The "not"s usually have a yolk system to tune. The adjustables are there when there is not a yolk system to tune. I really don't find any of them to superior over the others. Just different methods of tuning. My only turn off would be a bow with a non-adjustable cable slide/roller with no yolked cables. Does that exist? If you know one, let us know. That would be a bow to avoid.

Of course, making strings, cable slides mean I don't have to serve for the roller guards, which is kinda nice. However, adjusting a flexible roller guard is way easier than yolk tuning. I think it really comes down to how you want to tune that stuff.

 

^^^ If the work, great. And when they fail you're done for day. Well, unless a shop stocks parts or the whole roller assembly for your bow. Martin had the TRG/SOS and it was junk to start with and made to fit all bows (another mistake). And really messed with making the bows with guide rod holes off to the side of the riser, effecting making them junk for adapting to another cable system. Hear comes Mathews with their roller guard. Man comes to the shop and I don't have Mathews bows or the parts to fix his roller guard. He finally got a Mathews dealer and the dealer robbed a new bow of parts to fix the roller guard.
Athens (?) came up with their roller guard system in 2011 or coming out for 2012 (see pic). Saw this new out at the Vortec Open. I wasn't all that thrilled. So long ago I can't remember if it was for one model or to fit all.

You have to remember many bow companies have tried many different cable routings (covering all), but then the problem stems from short ata bows, cam lean or rather excessive cam lean at full draw. Long ata bows don't suffer near as bad.
.
There was Tilt Tamer (out in 2011-2012 Lancaster catalog) and the Arc-Tec (out in 2015-2016 Lancaster catalog - standard model and PSE model). Again both gone. Something ancient worked, the old style aluminum guide rods. They flexed. I rob every old bow that had these and sold them across the U.S. for more than what we could get for the old bows. Martin Staff shooter tried one on his newest Martin, a Onza 3. Just removed the TRG/SOS and installed the old aluminum guide rod. Draw weight dropped instantly and amazingly the bow was faster by 7 fps.

Another fix that worked came forward from a youngish Martin shooter. He took a stainless steel rod and bent it to mimic the Tilt Tamer.

Basically, we shooters have been doing the testing to prove out all these cable guard systems.

Set screws held the TRG/SOS in deep groove for it . Pretty sure it was Athens and it's one size fits all roller guard.

 

Cable slide that does not eat cables on an offset rod is my favorite system.

 

Amen.... Any normal slide; Find correct size rod or allen for the groove. Heat and melt over the edges cable rides on, top and bottom. Cables then rides on a contour.

Rodney, Athens way back at the Vortex Open, 2010 or 2011. Was that the roller guard? I wanted the Excell to follow me home, but I knew the wife would kill me...

 

Both will work, some claim innovation on rollers but I personally don’t see any gain on a roller system. Bow can be tuned perfectly without it, Teflon slides don’t cause cable wear, certainly no difference in accuracy, speed gain is a myth, can be noisier. Only difference imo is manufacturers charge more because we demand innovation!

 

Unlike most that have answered I like the roller system. I see very, very few problems with them come into the shop. I see way, way more problems with factory slides chewing up cables.
But either system works. I like replaceing the OEM slides with a teflon slide.

 

I remember my very first elite energy 35 it was brand new at the time not many dealers even had them that thing eat the hound out of the cables with that plastic slide.

Elite went to a roller guard now which is kinda unique. I’ve heard obsession went to a roller guard and it was terrible and are cables, but I’ve also heard their older cable slides are cables.

I guess it’s personal preferences, I am so glad all you guys have responded enjoyed reading. I suppose I have bought, Bowtechs, Mathews, Hoyt’s, and elites last few years who all now use a roller guard and it has just became what I expect on a bow.

Sounds as if there really isn’t a gain one way or the other and it’s all personal preference!

 

I'll take the slide.
Rollers and other gizmos on bows today are there for the sake of something new to the eye.
Most never perform any better than what was produced 25 years ago when it comes to cable slides.

We used to ditch the slides, serve the cables, and just let them ride on the aluminum rod. Worked just as well.

 

When Hoyt went from cable slide to Roller on the Matrix and Element, I saw no advantage (owned a bunch of them) I do think bearings are sweet, but I can't see any difference in performance.

 

Cable slides can and will wear grooves or dirty rods causing chatter, causing noise. Doesn't happen with rollers. Actually see more wear happening with slide over rollers. So in in my opinion there is a better performance in the rollers.

 

I know the slides work fine. They are cheaper, won't make noise or need lube if you are a hunter. If there was a big net gain I'd be all for them...….I just don't see it. I'm not opposed to it if it works...….it just better be quiet and not buzz or squeak.

 

Roller guide