The archery season is right around the corner, so it’s time to get that new bow and practice before opening day. The good news? After pandemic-related inventory challenges, most shops have plenty of in-stock products, including accessories.
That’s good news and a big change from just a year ago. Also, for years manufacturers have tended to focus on how fast their bows are, but that seems to have been downplayed a little this year. Most bows are averaging around 340 feet per second, which is fast, but speed doesn’t seem to be the main pitch from companies for this season. Read below and see what top compound piques your interest for 2023.
Mathews | Phase4
Phase4 is engineered with new Resistance Phase Damping Technology to drastically reduce vibration and built compatible with a completely redesigned line of Bridge-Lock Stabilizers, making it the brand’s stealthiest bow to date. InterLink Weight Technology makes adding and removing stabilizer weights easier than ever before with a redesigned threadless, stackable weight system that only requires one set screw for quick adjustments. The new Phase4 is available in 29- or 33-inch axle-to-axle lengths with speeds around 340 feet per second.
Gearhead Archery | P30
In the new Gearhead P30, the P stands for Pivot, as their designers implemented a rotational limb support system into their shoot-thru-riser design. This takes stress off the limbs throughout the draw cycle, but the bow also became faster and the draw cycle smoother and even better, the sound at the shot became quieter and the hand shock reduced. The P30 has an axle-to-axle of about 30 inches, a standard brace height of 6.25 inches and an adjustable brace height of 5 to 6.75 inches with an optional slider grip in three grip geometries. It boasts an IBO speed of 337 feet per second.
Diamond Archery | The Alter
The Alter from Diamond Archery offers great performance and versatility without the price, and the unit even has Diamond’s Synchronized Binary Cam System for unreal accuracy. It offers plenty of speed at 330 feet per second and a strategically engineered caged riser design increases stability and accuracy. Quad limb design increases stability at full draw for shot-to-shot consistent accuracy and no separate modules or cams are needed.
The bow weighs 4.1 pounds, and axle-to-axle of 31.5 inches, and a 7-inch brace height.
Hoyt | VTM Series
The new VTM series from Hoyt is tough and compact and packs a 342 feet-per-second punch. It’s compact with a 31-inch axle-to-axle and weighs in at 4.8 pounds. It comes in 14 cool finishes including a new Battle Worm Cerakote Finish that ensures a portion of the proceeds goes to Operation Pay It Forward that helps get veterans into the outdoors and hunting. The Holeshot V2 string silenced is even quieter and deadens vibration better than ever before.
Bowtech | Carbon One
The Carbon One features the smoothest experience before, during, and after the shot and is equipped with the DeadLock Cam System, the brand’s quickest and simplest way to achieve perfect arrow flight and repeatable accuracy. It has a strategically engineered carbon riser that is coupled with Orbit Dampeners to virtually eliminate all felt vibration on the shot. Bowtech incorporates the Integrate Mounting System dovetail for use with arrow rests equipped with IMS.
Prime | Revex
The Prime Revex is available in 32-, 34-, and 36-inch axle-to-axle configurations, providing shooters with compact and forgiving options. Prime’s exclusive center-gripped riser design is still a primary feature of the bow, giving the Revex superior built in stability. The new CORE Cam System features draw length specific mods that allow the Revex to reach maximum efficiency at every draw length. Other features of the Revex include a new carbon string stop that eliminates sound and vibration and Prime’s Nano grip, utilizing NASA materials to develop a warm-to-the-touch grip.