Toelke Whip vs Whistler?

[flint kemper]

Anybody own both and done a comparison? I know a lot of guys have went the shorter bow route for a while. Have never shot a Whip but have heard nothing but good about the bows. They are lookers for sure. Thanks

[yth-mnstr]

I’ve owned several 64” whips, 58” Pikas, and a 60” whistler. Whistler has been my favorite by far with my 30.5” draw. Short enough to hunt with easily, but doesn’t stack at my draw length like the pika did. 64” whip is smooth as silk, but not as convenient in the woods.


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[slowbowjoe]

I have a 62", 42# Whip HS, and "test drove" a 60" 46# Whistler. Both have the typical excellent feel the Toelke's are known for; smooth draw, whisper quiet, easily tuned, and quiet feel in the hand on the shot. Biggest difference for me (other than the 4# draw weight, which is noticeable for me) are the grips. The Whistler is contoured closer to a "pistol grip", with a slightly higher wrist, while the Whip is a very repeatable locator, but a slightly lower grip and a bit more "blocky", for lack of a better word... though still a very natural feeling locator. Both were classic, leather wrapped grips.
When I was talking to Dan, he said the Whistler shoots faster than the Whip for an equal poundage. The 46#er shot my Doug Firs, around 11gpp, amazingly flat and quick. The Whip is no slouch with the 11-12gpp's either, and very quick and flat with the couple of 10gpp Spruce's I have in my quiver also.
Seemed like the Whistler came to anchor a tad quicker; maybe my imagination, or maybe the more forward riser.

Long story shortened... very similar in shot quality; different grip styles; and the Whistler just a bit faster.

[old_goat2]

I like the grip better on my Whip and if I was going to buy again, I'd ask for the Whistler to be built with a Whip Grip and for the shelf to be cut to the same as the Whip, my Whistler seems a little faster in relation to the gpp being shot.

[tzolk]

FWIW. The classic Whip grip and also the Whistler can be trimmed down to a lower position. Mike Storassli has his classic Whistler and Whip grips made low and I followed his lead with that in this 64" Whip right here (I leave the leather off). Dan calls it the Classic Low grip. It feels a good bit slimmer than the normal classic grip. I held Mike's low classic gripped Whistler when Dan made it and I remember saying to him "that feels like home right there!"

[Modad2010]

I'd suggest giving Dan a call and talking to him. He'll ask you about your draw length, the type of shooting/hunting you do, your desired draw weight, ect. Then he'll suggest what he thinks would be best for you and he knows his bows. I called him and was sure I'd be ordering a Whistler or Whip because I had heard that "short bows aren't forgiving". After he found out of my short draw length - 26.5" , need for lower poundage due to a shoulder injury and that I wanted to hunt whitetails inside 20 yards he immediately suggested a 54" Pika 40# @26.5". I mentioned to him about my concerns of short bows and he told me that if I didn't like it to send it back and he'd make something I did like. You can't beat that. I ended up with a beautiful 54" Pika that I LOVE. I shot more than 700 arrows through it the first three days I had it. Now I'm saving up for a 54" T/D Pika - with micarta riser, ,bacote accents and mango veneers.  Seriously, give Dan a call, you won't regret it.

[slowbowjoe]

Modad is absolutely right. While it's helpful getting all the feedback here on the forum, talking with Dan directly will get you the clearest and most thorough understanding of the bows, all with a good sense of what your preferences are. And you WILL end up getting one of his bows...quickly...and loving it!

[SquareHead]

I couldn't make up my mind, so I bought both, and a Pika and a Super D..., etc.

And don't feel bad about calling him.  He likes to talk on the phone!