DRAW CYCLE: Round #9 is also a "feel" test. As some
shooters are becoming increasingly unhappy with over-aggressive cam
designs that seem to "pull hard" from the first inch to the last, the
term SMOOTH has worked it's way into every bowhunter's technical
vocabulary. Aggressive draw cycles store-up big power and produce
terrific speeds, but often at the expense of comfort and/or control.
We also find that many shooters, especially new shooters, are unnerved
by twitchy short-valley draw cycles that feel like they're going to suck
your elbow through your Whisker Biscuit at the slightest creep. So
can we get speed AND comfort? That's the challenge bow
manufacturers face, to build a bow that's plenty fast enough (say 300+
fps), while also making it comfortable to draw and hold back at full
draw.
So this test is about how the bow feels to draw (not shoot). The
winner of this round will have the smoothest weight transitions
throughout the cycle, the most comfortable valley at full draw, and the
best draw-stop at the end of the cycle. If you're not familiar
with the terms and elements of the draw cycle, please visit our
Bow Selection Guide for more information.
For this test, each bow was set to EXACTLY 62# peak weight and 29" draw
length. Shooters were permitted to draw each bow using their
fingers, their mechanical release, or both. Each guest-judge was
given the following instructions.
"For the draw
cycle test, please decide which bow has the smoothest and most
comfortable draw cycle. Draw each bow as many times as you need.
Feel for a smooth increase to peak weight and smooth decrease to full
let-off. Then feel for a comfortable amount of valley and a solid
wall at full draw. Both the Liberty and the Diablo are set for
exactly 62# peak weight. Please decide which bow has the smoothest
and/or the most comfortable draw cycle. If you feel one particular
element of the draw cycle is more important than another, you may give
that element more consideration when making your decision.”
Judges were given as
much time as they needed to make a fair decision, and they were
permitted to handle and examine the bow as much as they needed. Results are as
follows:
|
DRAW CYCLE TEST
- |
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Eric Adkins (24) |
Judge's
Choice: |
 |
|
Occupation: |
Plumber/AC Installer |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Liberty is
much smoother front to back and has a better lock at the
end. The Diablo's smooth, but tougher to draw." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Q2XL |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Josh Allen (20) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Liberty eases
into the weight. It's much smoother to draw back
and has a rock-solid wall." |
|
Current Bow: |
Bowtech Patriot |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Steven Allen (16) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter |
Comment/Reason:
"The Liberty
has NO give at full draw. It dead stops. The
Diablo feels kind of spongy in comparison." |
|
Current Bow: |
Golden Eagle Spitfire |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Bud Blanton (59) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Ergonomic Coordinator (Ret.) |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Liberty is
way smoother. Hard to believe both bows are set
for the same weight. Liberty feels like 10 lbs
less." |
|
Current Bow: |
Bowtech Stalker |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Tim Fannin (27) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Plumber/AC Installer |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/Recreational |
Comment/Reason:
"Bowtech's a lot
smoother and hits about right at the break over." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews FX |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Billy Fitch (25) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Super smooth.
Feels like you're drawing back practically nothing.
Diablo is a lot stiffer." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Q2 |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Nathan Frisby (48) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Elec. Service Engineer |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"The Diablo is
harsh to draw and doesn't have the solid wall like the
Liberty. Liberty is a ton smoother." |
|
Current Bow: |
Bowtech Extreme Solo |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Loy Fyffe (42) |
Judge's
Choice: |
 |
|
Occupation: |
Diesel Mechanic |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter |
Comment/Reason:
"Bowtech stop
is too abrupt, about jerked the string out of my hand.
The Diablo's not so sudden." |
|
Current Bow: |
Hoyt Havoc |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Jeremy Greene (24) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Diesel Mechanic |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Solid stop
leaves no guesswork. Diablo can be pulled beyond
the stop." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Q2 |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Darrel Parks (53) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Securities Broker |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"I felt more
transition with the Bowtech." |
|
Current Bow: |
Mathews Ultra Lite |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Rick Picklesimer (42) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Coal Plant Operator |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Liberty feels
like a wheel bow. No heavy lobe to get over.
Very smooth." |
|
Current Bow: |
Forge PF34 |
|
|
 |
Name/Age: |
Chris Wright (27) |
Judge's
Choice: |
|
|
Occupation: |
Student |
|
Experience: |
Bowhunter/3D Shooter |
Comment/Reason:
"Not enough
valley in the Liberty. It wants to break over too
quickly. The Champion's got more valley." |
|
Current Bow: |
Hoyt Defiant |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
RESULTS: |
| |
|
|
3 Votes |
| |
WINNER
|
|
9 Votes |
ROUND RESULTS:
Shooters clearly preferred the Liberty's draw cycle. Many
specifically noted the solid stop and smooth rollover of the new Freedom
cam. Liberty wins this round, 10/9.
- - - - - - - - - - END OF ROUND - - - - - - - -
- -
SCORECARD: |
