Every year, bowhunters are excited to see what bow companies have done to outdo themselves from the year before and there is no question bow companies have outdone themselves in 2011. The 2011 bow lineup is faster, quieter and more high tech than ever before. Below are a few of the latest and greatest bows to hit the market for 2011.
MATHEWS Z7
The Mathews Z7 was a huge hit in 2010. For 2011, Mathews spiced up the Z7 and called it the Z7 Extreme. It is like the Z7, but more efficient, shorter, easier to maneuver on the ground or in a treestand and is still extremely easy to shoot, thanks to a 7 3/8-inch brace height that makes it very forgiving. The Z7 Extreme comes with many features Mathews fans have come to expect including the Grid-Lock riser, harmonic dampers, and roller guard.
IBO Rating – Up to 330 fps
Axle-to-Axle length – 28 inches
Draw Weight – 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 pounds
Bow Weight – 3.98 pounds
Let-off – 80%
Draw Lengths -24″- 30″
Brace Height – 7-3/8″
MISSION CRAZE
Mission Archery, owned by Mathews, has a new bow called the Craze that is sure to become a craze with beginning bowhunters. The Craze is virtually a one-size-fits-all bow that can be shot by kids and adults. It has a draw weight range between 15-70 pounds and a draw length range of 19-30 inches, making this a great starter bow for kids that will adapt with them through adulthood.
IBO Rating – Up to 306 FPS
Axle-to-Axle Length – 28 inches
Draw Weight -15-70 pounds
Bow Weight – 3.6 pounds
Let-off – 80%
Draw Lengths -19″-30″
Brace Height – 7.5″
BOWTECH INVASION CPX
Bowtech newest offering is the new Invasion CPX and is one of Bowtech’s best bows ever. At the heart of the bow is a deflexed riser. Most bows have a reflexed riser. According to the folks at Bowtech, a deflexed riser eliminates riser torque and twist to create a more accurate flying arrow. Other key innovations include hardcore limbs which are extremely tough, FLX cable guard which eliminates torque and Bowtech’s unique binary cam system.
IBO Rating – 343 FPS
Axle-to-Axle Length – 31 1/32 inches
Draw Weight – 50, 60, 70, 80 pounds
Bow Weight – 3.9 pounds
Let-off – 80%
Draw Lengths – 26″-30″
Brace Height – 7″
PRIME CENTROID
G5 has a new line of bows called Prime. The flagship bow for 2011 is the Prime Centroid. The bow has a binary cam system like many two-cam bows but is unique in that the cam takes up the string on both sides of the cam eliminating cam lean that has plagued two-cam systems for years. The cam on the Prime looks like two cams fused into one. The Prime has a 7000 series T6 aluminum riser which is stronger than a normal 6061 riser used by many bow companies. The Centroid comes with a TI-Glide flexing titanium cable guard system which drastically reduces cable stress at full draw.
IBO Rating – 332 FPS
Axle-to-Axle Length – 32 1/4″
Draw Weight – 50, 60, 70 pounds
Bow Weight – 4.3 pounds
Let-off – 80%
Draw Lengths – 27″-31″
Brace Height – 7-1/4″
HOYT CARBON ELEMENT
Hoyt’s flagship bow for 2011 is the Carbon Element. As the name implies, the bow is made up largely of carbon. The riser is a hollow carbon tube. Carbon tubes are known for their high strength-to-weight ratio which allows Hoyt to produce a bow that is stronger than ever and feather light. The Carbon Element tips the scales at 3.6 pounds, making this the perfect bow for backcountry bowhunters who demand a lightweight bow or the treestand bowhunter who wants a bow that he can hold onto for hours without his arm getting sore. Another nice feature on the Carbon Element is the fact that carbon is much warmer to the touch than aluminum so when you are hunting the rut and the temperatures are in the single digits your hands won’t get cold as you grip the bow.
IBO Rating – 323 FPS
Axle-to-Axle Length – 32″
Draw Weight – 40, 50, 60, 70 80 pounds
Bow Weight – 3.6 pounds
Let-off – 80%
Draw Lengths – 24.5″-30″
Brace Height – 7″
Bows are getting shorter, faster and more efficient than ever. The nice thing about this years’ line up of bows is they are all so fast that you can actually crank the poundage down which allows you to draw easier, hold steadier and not hurt yourself while achieving extremely fast arrow speeds. Many of today’s bows set at 60 pounds produce as much speed and kinetic energy as a 70-pound bow built a few years ago.
As always, shoot a few different bows before purchasing one. Sometimes the bow you least expect to be your favorite might fit you like a glove and shoot like a dream.