When you decide to get a new bow what things do you look for? Do you like a certain company? Speed? Brace height? AtA length? Smooth easy draw or draw doesn't matter? Mass weight? Looks? These are the Questions I find me asking myself right now as I searching for a new bow. Just curios what other people look at.
best thing i can tell you, is go to a local pro shop and shoot them all, the feel i like you may not like. draw curve, brace ht like you mention also axle to axle length and grip, i am still a solo cam guy and like a certain type of grip, and a longer axle to axle then most guys with med to low brace ht. sometimes it's the overall package of all these things that i end up with in a new bow. there are some great new bows on the market, and most good shops will let you do a test drive so find the one you want and get santa on board, FAST:D
For a hunting bow I like something with a 7 inch brace, 33-36 ATA, and the ability to toss 430 grains at 290-300 fps at 63-65 pounds while remaining relatively smooth in the draw. Side note: I am a 30.5 inch plus loop draw.
I have narrowed to 3 bows. Bowtech Destroyer ( still have to shoot it), Diamond Black Ice, Diamond Marquis. I personally like a 7+ in brace height, speed is not a factor to me, but a nice draw is. I do believe I prefer single cams. I still want to shoot the Destroyer. As far as ata I don't know. I know they don't make the Marquis any more but I think I can find one on closeout for a good price.
I have a local shop that sells Bowtech and Diamond and after shooting them for the last 3 years that is what I personally like. All other definitely make great bows. I think that part is just personal preference.
You can usually find those Marquis on a closeout like you said. If you shoot one, (they are sweet and I wish they hadn't dropped it) and you absolutely have to have one, have your dealer contact Bowtech. If they have the parts, the will make up "discontinued" bows for customers. I think they explain it better on the website under the FAQ section.
Went to the shop tonight and he is calling to check on left over Marquis tomorrow. He has another guy that is looking for one also.
Things I look for. 1. HAS to have at least a 35" ATA. And for several reasons. a. I shoot a 30" draw. A longer ATA eliminates nock pinch giving me a cleaner release. b. Longer ATA bows are more stable and more forgiving to shoot. Look at what the pro target archers are shooting. If a certain bow model is made in both 33 and 35" models, guess which they're shooting. Yeah, the longer. There's a reason for that. 2. I'm fairly brand loyal, but only because I know what I'm getting. I've shot them for years and have yet to find one I didn't like. BUT, that's not to say I wouldn't jump ship if I found one of a different brand I liked better. I'm not THAT brand loyal. 3. Longer brace height. Longer = more forgiving. The cam isn't in motion as long which means the arrow is off the string faster (speaking time, NOT fps). The quicker the arrow is off the string the less chance I have of messing it up. Also, a shorter brace = a faster bow = less forgiving. A brace of 7" will provide PLENTY of speed, usually in the 320 range. 4. Smooth draw cycle. I like a draw cycle that ramps up evenly, then gently rolls over. It's just what I like. A more aggresive cam ramps up slowly at first, then very quickly just before it rolls over and drops off. I don't like it. Personal preference here, mostly. 5. The shot is very important to me as well. I want a smooth, clean shot with little hand shock and no noise.
The Diamond Black Ice is a GREAT feeling and shooting bow. One of the best feeling and shooting bows I've shot, and a bow that I'd put on the top of your list if you're looking in that market. As others said, shoot everything you can and let your hands and shoulders decide which feels best. Speed is nice, but if it comes at a price....harsh draw, short valley, very short unforgiving BH, etc, then it may not really serve you as well as getting an intermediate fast bow with a nice smooth draw, a great valley, and a little longer BH. Shooting several bows side-by-side, you'll figure it out soon enough. Take your time and enjoy the process.
Thanks guys. I have a Black Ice that my stepson is moving into and it is a great bow. It is definitely between the BI and Marquis. As far as the brand loyalty it is a shop loyalty too. He treats me great every time I go there and his main brand is Bowtech/Diamond. Everytime I shoot new bows and want to get a new bow I shoot my BI and I keep it. When I bought my Guardian last year I traded my BI and bought it back 3 weeks later (missed it). I then set it up for my stepson to shoot. This fall he wasn't shooting it so I set it back up for me( missed it again) and and sold my Guardian. My step son wants it back to shoot with me so he gets it (it's still his I am just borrowing it technically). The more I ramble here I realize one thing I think I found THAT bow for me! It is the bow I keep going back to after shooting ALL news bows I can get my hands on. THE BLACK ICE!!!!
Forgot one bow that you should be looking at....and it's for sale for a heck of a price. Bowtech made it for select stores and now they are just selling what's left. It's the Marquis platform with Black Ice cams. It's called the Bowtech Nitrous. bowhuntersuperstore.com has them for like 369.00 Check it out bud. The normally sold for around 500 I believe.
Don't forget to check out the Bear Truth II if you get a chance... you can pick one up NIB for 330 or so on Ebay (from a trusted ebay store).
I looked for the bow that felt the best when I shot it. A specific brand means nothing if it doesn't feel right shooting it. I shot about 20 bows before I found the one I bought, a Bowtech Commander. Price is usually alway a factor, but in my case I spent the extra money for the right bow....Good luck
I'm looking for at least 35" ATA (usually), 7" BH, consistent draw cycle (very subtle drop into the valley), and a solid back wall. I want the bow to look good, fit my hand well (narrow grip).
I'm glad to read you want to take care of the shop that has been taking care of you. KUDOS! That's something we don't see a heck of a lot of anymore.
Thanks! I have a little update on my bow search. My wife and I were talking last night and she brought up a very good point. My stepson is 13 and is already a 28-28.5'' draw. She said in a year or two he will probably need a bigger bow due to his height and being he wants to only target shoot. She said to look around and find another bow I would like cause I will eventually be getting the BI back. She is right. My wife is getting her hours cut alittle and it is looking like it will be Feb-Mar before before a purchase is going to happen. In the mean time I am going to shoot some bows and see if I prefer a certain ata. Oh, and I think it will be fun.
