whos the best

I've had both. Both are good. It comes down to what you are confident in and getting the right draw length and poundage.

I've only shot Mathews but he's right on. I switched to a lower poundage bow this year for that very reason. I like Mathews because they fell good to me. Another reason I prefer Mathews is you can see the quality in there bows.

I have the Switch back xt. I really like it ant had it long.

Hoyt is!

I can't tell you how many diehard bowhunters have made the switch this year. If you haven't shot the AlphaMax, don't. Because, you will be making the switch as well!

I have always shot Hoyts too and love them to death. how about this deal I got yesterday. Hoyt Katera XL drop zone arrows rest, xtreme sights, true ball release, a dozen arrowns, fields points, hip quiver for $400. The bow is in mint condition also!!! I liked to crapped on myself when I heard the price. I didnt argue a single bit just I got my check book out wrote a check and said THANKS!!!

Had my Bow Tech Allegiance for years now. Been the best bow I've had. I do like Mattehws, but they are no better than my bow. At least, the results have been no different...

Spot on advice right there.

You have to read through a lot of "my bow is better than yours" crap, but the forums at archery talk have a lot of good info. That way you might have a better idea of bows you'd like to try out.

Shoot as many as you can at the shops and go with what feels good for you.

No doubt Hoyt makes a good bow BUT i've never liked the way they feel or shoot. Just my

I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to shoot an Elite GT500, probably the best shooting bow out there this year. The grip is like a Bowtech, the Matthews grip has a thicker grip and lower wrist angle to it.

Plus it has the famous Barnsdale limbs and custom strings.

mathews all the way hands down

Depends upon which attributes you consider the most important to you. If you spice up one parameter in a bow's design (speed, smoothness of draw, etc.), then something else is gonna be compromised. Both companies make fantastic bows, you just have to shoot them to see which one you prefer the most. My biggest complaint with Mathews bows are the grips. The grip is so critical in making a bow forgiving and eliminating and/or reducing the possiblity of torqueing the riser, which makes all the difference in the world when trying to shoot fixed blade broadheads accurately and consistently. When a bow costs that much money, you shouldn't have to spring for another $75+ for a replacement grip. Hoyt and Bowtec's have much better grips in my opinion.

Regardless of what you choose, stay at a minimum of around 33" of axle to axle length and a minimum of 7" of brace height and you'll be golden with some decent tuning and proper arrow selection.

Bowtech... . I shot every one them last year looking for a new bow and was not impressed with them at all, except speed....that's about all they got. They seem to still be tweaking their riser and limb designs, which result in a lot of time in the repair store.

I prefer Hoyt, but Mathews are great bows too.

Like JH, I do not like the grips on the Mathews bows, but other than that they are fantastic. Hoyt is much more comfortable. They have been in business a lot longer, and construct the toughest bows on the market..period. Until the last few years they never have really been in the running for the fastest/smoothest bow, but they have always produced quality bow designs, and speed isn't everything. You can only get so fast, and you are bowhunting. If you want to shoot 2,000 f/s get a firearm.

mathews has been the smothest bow iv,e shot. thats what i love about them. speed on the other hand. I liked the pse x-force, but then agin its a little louder and not as smooth at all.

I'm confident and comfortable with saying that my Mathews Switchback is the best bow I've ever hunted with. However, I own a Bow Tech General too and like it in different ways than my Mathews. The BT is not as quiet, but it does have a solid feel and shoots really smooth. It is not as forgiving as my S-back and a good bit heavier. The new Hoyts are super smooth and fast and I shot one bare bow and admit I was impressed, infact it is the smoothest of all the new bows IMO. I still like that quiet forgiving solo cam for taking to the woods.

Quote
My biggest complaint with Mathews bows are the grips. The grip is so critical in making a bow forgiving and eliminating and/or reducing the possiblity of torqueing the riser, which makes all the difference in the world when trying to shoot fixed blade broadheads accurately and consistently. Quote
The grips are the reason I don't like the hoyts. They just don't feel as good as a Mathews to me. I guess thats why they make different kinds of bows.

Mathews

Never thought about it, but I do like the grip a lot better.

I have shot a buddy's Bowtech, but it sure doesn't feel right. I guess it all depends on what you are used to. Sort of like driving your truck....when you get into your wife's vehicle and have to adjust everything just to back it out of the driveway, it just isn't right. It's what you get used to.

I own a Bowtech Patriot and a Mathews DXT. The Mathews is a lot smother, quieter, and just fits me better, my groups are a little tighter with that bow.

BTW, the new Mathews are completely different than the old ones, not in a good way. The Reezen and Monster shoot like speed bows, big humps in the draw cycle and a little more effort needed to draw them.

I just bought a Reezen and I haven't noticed that at all. I have an Outback and the Reezen draws smoother and takes less effort to draw than my Outback.

I have both - Still prefer the Switchback overall, but the 82d Airborne Bowtech sent me while I was deployed to Afghanistan is a great shooter as well and says alot about the people who run the company. Soo Mathews for whitetail and Bowtech for Elk... Don't mind all the Hoytie Toytie wannabees who feel some weird need to chime in on every Mathews and Bowtech Post! Hoyt makes a darnn good bow, and if I were a target only archer, then I would shoot a Hoyt. So, The best advice was given early, shoot them all and decide which one YOU like the best. All the top name manufacturers make good bows. Ignore the "fan-boys".

FWIW, I don't own or shoot ANY of the brands/models mentioned in this post, though I shoot them all every year just to see if I can find something that will make me want to change. As has been the case since 2006, I stayed with what I have once again. The best hunting bow that God ever allowed to descend straight from heaven, down to this earth hasn't been mentioned in this post.

That's ok JH. Mine is an 04 Bowtech with archaic 2 cams. Care for a little fun on the 3D range?

MATHEWS!

Estimating range would be my downfall. Let me use my rangefinder, like I do while hunting, and I'll spank that old arse for you.

I like being spanked!

Boy, I asked for that one, didn't I?

Yep!

MATHEWS

So, BUCKMAN26......which bow brand do you like?

I shoot whatever Shaw brings me when he gets a new sponsor.

When Hoyt picked him up, I took his old Mathews Q2, and killed a bunch of deer with it, while he missed a bunch with his new Hoyt.

When Mathews lured him back, I took his Hoyt Tykron and killed a bunch of deer with it, while he missed a bunch with his new Mathews.

That's not entirely true Outback. I don't believe I ever missed or lost one with the Trykon. And if I recall, I'm battin' .1000 with my old Q2 since getting it back. Now with the Switchback XT and the Drenalin, it's a different story. Probably why the only hunting bow I currently own is that old Q2. How many did you get last season? :p

MATHEWS

I love my 82nd BowTech Airborne and have never owned a Mat. I do know one thing as speeds seems to be looked upon as evil and it's said that speed comes with a price (price as in giving up noise, less shock, smooth draw, etc...)

I think that's yester-year's thinking. Speed "used" to come with a price but not as much anymore. Bows are getting very high tech with lots of improvements and now, speed, smooth draw, low noise, low shock etc... can come in one package!

I never doubt technology but I wonder just how fast bows will get?!?!?!?

That gives them both a perfect record.
I killed every deer that I aimed at with the Trykon .... So Far.

And the only I didn't take, with that Q2, was the one I missed the day I lost my release and had to shoot with fingers.

Mathews

Sooo you are only hitting 1 in 10 :p :p

M A T H E W S

I didn't know it until recently that Bowtech owns Ross......literally.

http://www.huntingpa.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=683020

I thought that deal fell through - and I think he was talking about a PSE anyway

I was watching some bowhunting show the other day and they were talking about Ross bows and how Bowtech owns them. I don't know how old the show was. Maybe something did fall through? Not sure.

MATHEWS!

HOYT!

Which one of them has a Life Time Warranty? (serious question)

A company that knows that they put out a GREAT product will stand behind them. That is the one I would go with. thats why I am still shooting my 05 Hoyt UltraTec.
I'm not saying its better than any of the others, but a company that will overnight a set of limbs to you at NO COST because a limb splintered 1 week before opening day, deserves my money when I get ready for a new bow

Can't argue with that.

If I ever buy another bow, I can't say today what brand it would be. But I'll probably remember how supportive Bowtech was providing bows to GI's in the desert.

I have one of those GI bows and I really appreciate that ONLY BOWTECH has a program to provide bows to deployed service members. BTW, Mathews has a lifetime warranty as well.

You Hoyt fanboys crack me up - at the same time it is sad that you can't leave the other brands alone and be secure in your choice (yes Hoyt is a good bow, but the OP didn't ask about them...)

MATHEWS

Hoyt, all the way! I have a question, I have noticed at some of the ASA shoots alot of Alpine Bows what is the deal with those things?

As far as I know, Ross DOES now belong to Bowtech.

I'm not saying that Hoyt is better.. I just happen to know that thier Warranty & Customer Service is A1 and would highly recomend that people look at this before paying out thier hard earned cash to a company that only backs thier product for 1 year or less in some cases.
That is why I asked "which one has a Life Time Warranty?"
I'm not one of those people that has to have the latest and greatest things out, but I do expect the things I buy to be worth what I pay, and the company I purchase it from to stand behind thier product.
That is what I look for in a company

The question was "Mathews vs Bowtech". The post wasn't about Hoyt or PSE or Ross or Elite or Martin or Darton or Bear or Browning... All of which are good companies that make good bows.

BUCKMAN, I was asking a question about Alpine Bows. I know Alpine offers money to people that shoot and win with their bows but I just was asking some opinions on them.

mathews all the way. People talk about them just being hype, but hands down they are the best ALL AROUND BOW on the market. Sorry......I'm a fan

Most all to the original owner. Two of the most reputable is Mathews and Martin. Ive seen Martin take care of problems that werent from the original owner.

I owned a Mathews Outback and a Drenalin. Love the Outback. Never could get comfortable with the "slim limbs" on the drenalin.

Bought a Bowtech General last year and sold the Drenalin. Never had a robin hood in my life until I got the bowtech and I had about 6 or 7 last year. (broadhead and fieldtip)

My shooting form didn't change I just finally found the bow that fits ME. I still shoot my Outback good (and it is a smoother draw) but not as good as the general.

And for whoever said the general was louder than the mathews............NOT. Mine is way quieter than both the drenalin and outback.


Go shoot several brands and models, on seperate occations! Thats the only way to find the bow that fits you and your shooting style. Trust me, it will save you money in the long run.

I know Mathews is good, Bowtech is good, Hoyt, Parker, PSE, etc. But my last Mathews was a Rival Pro. I never got to shoot the bow first. I was overseas and ordered it from a dealer I dealt with in NC where my previous assignment was. At the time I was shooting a Mathews 3D Vapor which had MAYBE 5.5" of brace and a severe draw force curve. I shot the bow pretty good and it spit out arrows pretty fast for the days. I had it for 2 weeks and came in the top 20% at the IBO Worlds in the MBO class back in 1995. So when I learned more about bows, quit worrying about speed, learned high brace heigth was "suppose" to be a good thing (7-7.5" brace I think it had), longer axle-to-axle length was "supposed" to be a good thing (it was 40" I think), the Rival Pro I ordered had all those characteristics to be a tack driver ON PAPER. The reviews were good, so I ordered it. I was never happy with that bow and my shooting suffered. I then changed brands just to make a change and got a Bowtech Dual Cam Pro40 Dually. I've had it for 5 years and with an IBO around 330+, have no reason to change. You have to have confidence in the bow no matter what the brand is or the characteristics.

Mathews

I shoot PSE for years and killed alot of deer with them. I Then went to a BowTech Justice VFT. I shoot one pin and killed two deer that season @ 50+ yards. I then shot a Mathews LX and fell in love with it. I like the grip on the M better and it is more forgiving and quite than the BT. I still own both and still shot both but when I head to the woods I want the M in my hand. I still just shot one pin but it is adjustiable. I was shooting the other afternoon for the first time this year and was grouping like crazy at 40 and 50 yards. I have never shot a bow as good as I can the M. I killed a 176+ in Norhtern Mo last year with the M.(I tried to post pics but can get them to go through). So the M is my pick. That being said I do like the BT but I like the M just alittle better. It all comes down to which one feels the best to you and which one you can shot the best. Because that is what realy matters. You have to be able to hit what you are shooting at. After all there are still some out there that still like to shot tradtional and some of those guys can rely shot.

Good luck All!!!

I have never shot a bowtech. I would like to,but that Mathews is hard to put down.

These debates are pointless. Go look at'em shoot'em & buy the one that makes you feel fuzzy inside & never look back. They all kill deer & there all gonna be within about 20fps of each other.
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Oh yea, by the way "Hoyt is the best"

What does a deer say when you shoot it with a bow?

Do you not think that 20fps makes a difference at 40yds?

Not as much as noise.
I limit my shots to 30 while hunting myself, but if you have your pin "set for 40" shooting 280 or 300 fps it hits the same spot & neither one is gonna get there before the deer reacts.

I just bought a slightly used Bowtech Tribute for $300.00 three weeks ago and I gotta say so for I really like it. It is smooth and fast. I am used to the old Alpine Mustang (35% let off)and trying my hand at shooting tournaments so this thing is a dream.