Why did you choose to shoot a Matthews?

[TidwellExt]

First off, let me just make this perfectly clear. This is not a Matthews bashing thread!!! I've been out of the archery game for a few years and am now just getting back into it, and as I start to reaquaint myself with all the new gear that is out there, the main thing I have noticed is that it seems like almost everyone is shooting a Matthews bow. And from reading here on the forum for the last few weeks, it seems that the overwhelming majority of guys on here are using Matthews bows. So what I'm wondering is, why did you personally choose a Matthews? Smoothness of draw, speed, quietness,....you get the idea.

Around Weatherford where I live, Martin has always been big because that was the local pro shops main line of bows. Especially in the late '80's through most of the '90's, Martin dominated the local market. Oh there were always other brands around, Hoyt, PSE, and Jennings was real big around here for a while, but I would say that Martin was the biggest. Then when the Matthews Solo Cam came out, you started seeing a lot of Matthews bows being bought.

I still have the Jennings Uniforce that I've had for the last 12 or 13 years, but I'm definately looking to update. I went to the local shop (David's Outdoors - stop in and see 'em if your ever up here, good people) the other day and tried a few new bows that he had in stock. I tried a Matthews XT, some model of Bowtech, not sure what the model was, and about 4 different Martins, and for me, far and away, the Martin Saber felt the best. The XT just did not feel comfortable to me at all. Now granted, it's only one model that they have, but for me, it just didn't feel that great.

Just got me to wondering why everyone is shooting them.

Remember, I'm not bashing Matthews at all or saying that any one brand is better than the other so there's no need to wheel out the snack bar, just wondering what made each of you personally choose a Matthews.

Thanks.

[Chance Love]

I started with a Hoyt, until I shot my first Mathews. I am on my 5th or 6th Matthews now. I have always played around with the other brands, but just did not like them. They just didn't "feel" right to me. Kinda like what you were talking about. I have yet to find a bow that is as quiet, smooth, ect. as a Mathews. That is why I started shooting one, and why I will continue to shoot one. At least until someone makes a better bow, but that hasn't happened yet.

[Lulhorse]

Im sorry but I have to bash .....
Just Kidding

[Epack]

i started with hoyt and i presume ill die with hoyt lol, id definantly shoot the new hoyt if i were you b4 you decide on anything, mathews is a name just like beretta, or mercedes for lack of better terms. i love mathews bows, they are smoothe and quiet , everything you could ask for in a bow but just not as smoothe and quiet as that new vectrix,

as for martin the new bengal is a very nice bow with all of the features of a high end bow for about half the price, ive personally sold 2 of them to customers who were buying their first bow, and funny that 1 of them came in and said he wanted a mathews switchback xt all loud and proud , and i asked him if he had shot it and he said ive never shot a bow before, so i asked him why he speciffacly asked for mathews and he told me because he saw it on tv and from what he saw it was the best!!!!! lol shoot em all, theres no better way to find out what you will likee more

[TidwellExt]

Alright lulhorse, but if this thread goes south, it ain't my fault!!!

[trailboss]

I shot Hoyts for many years and kept my last one for over 10 years. You could carry that thing all day and then scratch your ankles without ever bending over! Heavy!!!

I run an outfitting business and 9 out of 10 of our clients were shooting Mathews. I was perfectly content with my old Hoyt, but with the overwhelming majority of hunters at the ranch shoothing Mathews, I felt I just had to try one to see what all the hype was about. Shot one - sold the Hoyt and bought one. Mathews Legacy. Loved it. Figured I had bought the last bow I'd ever need.

Then a friend gave me a Switchback for my birthday and I was amazed how much better it was than the Legacy. Sold the Legacy.

Then along came the Switchback XT. I couldn't imagine it being any better than the Switchback, but it was. I now own a Switchback XT.

And now the Drenalin is out - I see a pattern emgering here!

Bottom line - there are many good bows on the market. Shoot several and you'll know which one suits you best.

Trailboss

[Cleaner]

I have owned 5 Mathews bows over the past 8 or so years. They were used for hunting and 3D. Did not think that I would ever find a different bow to shoot. Went to upgrade my hunting bow this year and went in the pro shop to buy a XT and came out with a Bowtech Tribute. I am very glad I made a switch. I am going to look at buying another Bowtech for 3D. The Tribute to me felt great, shot great and is a more efficient bow as far as energy transfer. My thoughts were "If it shoots good in my hands, feels good in my hands, & shoots faster with the same amount of brace height, why not? So I did.

Mathews are good popular bows, but other company's are starting to give them a run for their money. JMO

[Rattler]

I started with PSE, Hoyt, PSE, Jennings, Pearson, Hoyt, and now gonna test between the new Hoyt and the Elite Synergy......from what I am hearing the Synergy is a shooter. I have shot a Mathews a bunch of times Legacy, SQ32, Switchback, XT, BlackMax, and all were pretty dang smooth on the draw (which I think is a big draw to new shooters) but something never felt right to me.....I cant explain it. That was just me. different strokes for different folks. Hopefully there will be an Elite report tomorrow

[Texas Grown]

I started with recurves and then bought an old used Indian with pullys on hangers. Stll have it too. Then I bought a Bear Whitetail Legend. That was a long ATA bow with 65-80 lbs and 50% let off. (Wheeeew. Heavey too!) So when I decided to buy the next bow, I wanted something that was not going to weigh me down, something I might thunk an elk with (still hoping to someday), and something that was easy to tune and keep in tune. They have a lifetime warrenty, vertually no hand shock (remeber this was in 2000 when they first introduced the harmonic dampeners), a much shorter ATA that I can draw sitting on the ground, and the draw was way smooth compaired to my previous bow. Still shooting it today and it still keeps let-m bleed

[qzilla]

I shoot a Mathews now because it is the fastest bow on the planet. I just seriously doubt that my tastes would fit you though.

I would shoot them all. I like the Hoyts but to be they feel heavy in my hand. The grips are really good but it seems like they carry a lot of weight out on the limbs?

I really liked the Bowtechs when they made true 2 cam bows. I hate the mushy feel of the newer ones.

No one else really offered true speed bows so I have not messed with them. Most likely anything you shoot will feel really nice if you updating from an older bow.

Shoot them all and pick the one you like, there are a lot of quality bows out there.

[TidwellExt]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. Certainly the kind of responses I'm looking for. I guess I should point out that I'm not really looking to buy a Matthews so much as I'm just wondering what was the selling point for all of you guys. I certainly wouldn't rule them out as I'm sure they are fantastic bows, as I'm sure are Hoyts, Bowtechs, etc...this is just more of a curiosity thing for me than me looking for recommendations.

I started out in '85 or '86, can't remember that far back, with a Martin Tiger. 50% let-off, God that thing was a shoulder wrecker. Then went to a Martin Prowler with the Mega-Cam (Anyone remember those?), then a Browning Mirage, and finally to a Jennings Uniforce which I still have.

Not even sure that this thread has a true purpose other than just to satisfy my curiosity about why Matthews seems to be so dominate in the market right now.

Thanks and keep the replies coming!!!

[Hog_Hunter]

The reason I got a Mathews over all the other bows was it felt smoother and had no handshock. Every other bow was nice, but nothing felt as good as a Switchback.

[TSpradlin]

Tidwell Hummm that name sounds familiar. Well I to shot the Martin for many years up until 05 to be exact. I bought all my bows from David and still do. I was shooting the Martin Phantom Mag. when I heard all the cahtter about the Switchback so I said I would try one out. So I went and did just that and I thyought about it for about 2 seconds and had mine ordered. I sold the Martin and got the Switchback 3 weeks later. The main selling point for me was the quietness man compaired to my old bows it was like a whisper now grant it I have heard some that make mine sound like a shot gun goinig of now but the bottom line is that I have shot several deer with the Switchback and had the other deer that were standing near by not even flinch and just keep on going about there business. But as I have allways said shot them all and than make your decision. I mean come on I even shot a Trykon that other day and I must say it was very nice and I have even been known to barrow my nephews Tribute and take it with me every once and awhile.


P.S. Next time your up at Davids shoot the Drenaline it is not too shabby.

[JW]

I don't know what Planet Mathews is the Fastest but it must be Mars. Bowtech and Elite and this other little Company called APA, make th fastest bows on THIS PLANET...

[Rotag]

Because I can I like it and the last one I sold was 4 years old new 549.00
resale 4 years 3 strings and cables 5 dozen arrows 6 targets and lots of days in the stnd rain shine snow or sleet and it sold for 350.00 to a friend could have gotten more on Ebay.