i am currently shooting a mathews switchback XT. i'm considering a new mathews monster. i keep hearing about the hoyt alphamax. i've never shot a hoyt in my life and was just wondering if anyone has any opinions about either of these bows? any opinions will be appreciated!!!

The switchback is one of the best hunting bows mathews has made. I shoot a mathews and have shot the new monster and the alpha max. If you just feel like you need to spend the money on a new bow I would get the alpha max out of those 2. However if you want to stick with mathews I would keep shooting what you have. If you feel you need to spend the money I would go shoot both but in my opinion the alpha max is smoother and quiter than the monster.

Come down to Prattville next Thursday (12th). They are having Hoyt night and giving away a new Hoyt Maxxis. He has the 2009 bows and the 2010 bows (Hoyt and Mathews) in already. You can test drive them all and then decide.

The new Maxxis is awesome!

Maxxis??? Hey Elkhunter..I thought you said the Alphamax was awesome! LOL

i can't i'm leaving for my honeymoon hunt next wednesdays. wont be back until the following thurs.... i'm gonna shoot them both before i buy one. just kinda wondering everyones opinions on the 2.... thanks guys!!!

honeymoon?
get your priorities right and go shoot them bows

i know it but since we're going to wisconsin for 6 days on a whitetail hunt for our honeymoon....i can't really complain to much!!!

Now that's my kind of bride!!!

Even though I shoot the Mathews Original Switchback...I'd have to say the Alphamax is the better hunting bow between it and the Monster by a long shot. I have shot them both and there is no doubt in my mind and I'm partial to the Mathews brand. If you want a 3D bow or target tourney bow get the Monster. It's not a hunting machine IMO.
Best of luck to you and the new Mrs.

The AlphaMax is awesome. But, dang if they didn't improve with the Maxxis! Just shoot it, you will see.

what can i say im a lucky man. i have heard that about the monster but i found out that there's 2 different ones. one has a 7 inch brace height and is not quite as fast as the monster XLR8. it has a 6 1/2 inch brace height. the one person i've talked to said the XLR8 is the tournament bow and the regular monster is the hunting bow. he has the regular monster and he loves it. he's killed a few does with it this year and said it's awesome. but who knows i dont really know him so he may just be blowin smoke.....

what can i say im a lucky man. i have heard that about the monster but i found out that there's 2 different ones. one has a 7 inch brace height and is not quite as fast as the monster XLR8. it has a 6 1/2 inch brace height. the one person i've talked to said the XLR8 is the tournament bow and the regular monster is the hunting bow. he has the regular monster and he loves it. he's killed a few does with it this year and said it's awesome. but who knows i dont really know him so he may just be blowin smoke.....

My opinion is that you should keep the bow you have now.
1) To many people have sold their switchbacks and regretted it.
2) You are newly married so you might want to think about holding as much of your cash as possible.
3) The improvements over your current bow are not worth $500 that you will be paying out.
4) Wait until next year and get them cheaper. bow season is already a month in.

Opinions are like a$$holes every one has one and they all stink.

You will love the Apha Max 32 or 35. I unfortunately had my bow stolen out of my truck last Friday (2008 Hoyt Katera XL, DANG THIEVES ) & wasn't going to miss out on bow season so I went to shoot the Alpha Max & well I have a Alpha Max 35 now, it is one bad DUDE! The Alpha Max 32 shoots a little faster just didn't feel as good in my hands as the 35. Either one you get you will be happy. I love mine. I hate THIEVES!!!

Ok keep in mind I haven't shot any of the new bows. But I had shot several different mathews bows and was very impressed and was in the process of choosing one to buy. But my brother bought me a new hoyt trykon (for no reason, which surprised me!). From the first shot I have been a hoyt man ever since. Granted you need to shoot for yourself, but in my opinion,hoyt is the way to go.

I'm shooting a Hoyt Trykon, and before that I had a Mathews Q2. Love them both. The Mathews was a little bit quieter but not one of the deer, that I've killed with the Trykon, have complained about noise.

They both weigh about the same, balanced about the same, and shoot about as fast. I don't care much about arrow speed anyway. When the arrow blows through both lungs and sticks a foot deep in the ground, it's probably shooting fast enough.

OK Elkhunter...I stopped by the shop and shot BowDoc's Maxxis. OMG it is sweet!!! I didn't think Hoyt would top the Alphamax, but they did. Smoother, quiet, solid feel with no torque at all and even faster than they advertise. I really liked the new in-line cable rollers. That's innovation that makes since. Looked at the new Hoyt Carbon bow too. It is amazing and will lead into some super light bows in the future for Hoyt. I was less impressed with the new Mathews offerings like the Z7...nothing that new or even improved over this year. They do have a 3rd Monster now. It's a regular Monster with a 7 inch brace height in addition to the one from this year with 6.5 and the XL8R with a 6.5.
I hope Santa is listening...I want me a new Maxxis!

Shoot that Z7 Mathews has just let out. Beats the Monster and AReezen in my book. I'm gonna me one tomorrow. Not knocking the Hoyts, but I felt some after shot shock on that Maxxis. If I was gonna get a Hoyt I would go with the Alpha Max.

It actually came down to the Alphamax32, Katera and the Monster for me too. I wasn't able to shoot an AM32 because I didn't find any around Bham. I went with the Monster and soo far I love it. The only negatives for me is that the draw is a little more harsh than what I was expecting. I've always pulled 70lbs and I felt at first until I got use to it that I had to man up to pull it.

I have had mine chronographed but my buddy is getting 321 fps with his and my set up is similar. It's very fast. You'll probably use one pin up to 30-35 yards.

I have no problem with it as a hunting bow, I've heard folks say that the Alphamax is more of a hunting bow but I can't speak for that.

Check out the Katera too.

I think John nailed it with his reply above.

John Galt's #3 reason is an excellent one.

Also, take a look at the Mission by Mathews line of bows and shoot the lot of them. I did when I was in the market for a new bow back in June. I shot Mathews' Monster (2 models), Drenaline, Reezen, Switchback and most of Mathews' bows except the Z7...which wasn't out for sale at the time. I really wanted a Reezen or a Drenaline. The Mission Buckmaster shot smoother as the (then) new Reezen and Drenaline and it was the bow I bought. I could have chosen a more expensive ($145 more) Reezen or Monster without a problem.

i'm gonna go shoot them but i think i'll wait till season goes out before buying one. that will give me plenty of time to think about it and then plenty of time to get used to a new bow. don't think i'll be comfortable changing bows in the middle of season...