KICK AND VIBRATION: In the last few years, the archery
industry has undergone an almost neurotic obsession with vibration;
every manufacturer is chasing it. The majority of today's
"high-end" bows are now specifically designed with vibration control in
mind. Additionally, the market is now flooded with anti-vibration
gadgets and add-ons, and consumers are eating it up. And why not?
A bow that vibrates like a hand-buzzer isn't so enjoyable to shoot.
But more importantly, vibration always seems to travel with it's close
cousin - NOISE. So the quest for the perfect vibration-free bow
isn't just a finicky shooter's ambition. Mainstream bowhunters now
demand low-vibration rigs too. A low vibration bow is not only
quieter, but as we learned in Round #6, that lack of vibration usually
indicates better bow efficiency too. Remember that any energy that
doesn't make it into the arrow is essentially wasted power. If
your bow kicks like a mule, that's energy being used for something OTHER
than pushing your arrow forward.
These unpopular vibrations are sometimes collectively referred to as
"HAND-SHOCK". So for this test, we'll ask our guest-judges to
shoot each bow and to choose the bow with the least amount of
hand-shock. Each guest-judge was given the following instructions:
"For this test,
choose the bow has the least amount of kick and vibration (hand-shock)
when fired. Shoot each bow several times and feel for vibrations
felt in your hand when the bow fires. Try each bow with both an
open-handed and a closed-handed grip. Do not consider accuracy,
draw cycle, or any other attribute on this test. Only focus on
detecting vibrations in your hand. The bow with the least amount
of vibrations, or hand-shock, should be your winner. Choose the
winner of the kick and vibration test.”
For this test, each
bow was setup for exactly 62# peak weight and 29" draw length. We
also installed a 4" V-Flyte stabilizer and a set of 4 Sims String
Leeches on each bow for the vibration test. Judges were given as
much time as they needed to make a fair decision, and they were
permitted to shoot each bow as much as they needed. Results are as
follows:
|
KICK AND VIBRATION
- |
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Eric Adkins (24) |
Judge's
Choice: |
 |
|
Occupation: |
Plumber/AC Installer |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"The Liberty
has no jump or kick at all. Diablo has some." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Q2XL |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Josh Allen (20) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Liberty is a
thousand times smoother. The Diablo jumps forward
when you shoot open-handed." |
|
Current Bow: |
Bowtech Patriot |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Steven Allen (16) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter |
Comment/Reason:
"The
Champion's got quite a bit. The Liberty has
practically none." |
|
Current Bow: |
Golden Eagle Spitfire |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Bud Blanton (59) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Ergonomic Coordinator (Ret.) |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Much smoother
shot; not even in the same league." |
|
Current Bow: |
Bowtech Stalker |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Tim Fannin (27) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Plumber/AC Installer |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/Recreational |
Comment/Reason:
"Very dead in
my hand. Has much less hand vibration than the
other one." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews FX |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Billy Fitch (25) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"No contest.
No shock whatsoever!" |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Q2 |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Nathan Frisby (48) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Elec. Service Engineer |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"One to ten,
I'd give the Liberty a 10, the Diablo an 8. The
Liberty has none. It's dead as a stick." |
|
Current Bow: |
Bowtech Extreme Solo |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Loy Fyffe (42) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Diesel Mechanic |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter |
Comment/Reason:
"More shock in
the Diablo, but it was close." |
|
Current Bow: |
Hoyt Havoc |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Jeremy Greene (24) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Diesel Mechanic |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Close race,
but the Liberty is the smoother shooter." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Q2 |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Darrel Parks (53) |
Judge's
Choice: |
 |
|
Occupation: |
Securities Broker |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Very little
difference between the two. A slight advantage for
the Diablo." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Ultra Lite |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Rick Picklesimer (42) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Coal Plant Operator |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Virtually NO
hand-shock. The Diablo's hand-shock isn't bad, but
it's noticeable." |
|
Current Bow: |
Forge PF34 |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Chris Wright (27) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Liberty has a
little bit of shock, but nothing like the Diablo.
That's too much vibration." |
|
Current Bow: |
Hoyt Defiant |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
RESULTS: |
| |
|
|
1 Vote |
| |
WINNER
|
|
11 Votes |
ROUND RESULTS:
The Liberty scores a devastating knock-down here with 11 of 12 votes.
Shooters overwhelmingly felt the Liberty had less hand-shock.
Liberty wins the round decisively, 10/8.
- - - - - - - - - - END OF ROUND - - - - - - - -
- -
SCORECARD: |
