Short answer is there ain't no magic bow. What one guy loves, you may hate, and vice-versa. As Ken Beck stated to me in a phone conversation earlier this year, "There's not a nickle's difference in the better bows on the market these days". I agree with that statement 100%. You can find bows that are faster, bows that are fancier, bows that are easier to quieten, bows that feel a bit different to draw, bows that are more forgiving of a particular form error, more forgiving of arrow spine, etc. etc. etc. and even the perception of these can vary depending on the shooter. I've shot bows that to me were pretty finicky, but another guy considered it to be forgiving. Neither of us were wrong, it was just a different perception.
It's no secret I am a dealer for Chek-Mate, and I really like their bows and their service. It may not be in the best interests of my business, but I'd never say that any of their bows (or anyone else's) is THE BEST, PERIOD. There simply is no such bow--if there was, one bowyer or company would have the market cornered and be swamped, plus everyone else would be copying that exact design. You would see everyone shooting that bow, or a copy of it.
To the contrary, I don't recall ever seeing any of the top shooters (the few top IBO shooters I know, plus the guys that regularly win/place in some of the bigger tournaments I go to) shooting the same bow. If there was one bow that was head-and-shoulders above every other, then it only stands to reason that at least the top shooters would all have that same bow.
Of course everyone that answers is going to reply that the bow they like best is the best--and that is obviously true for them--but it's not a one-size fits all deal.
Opinions can help, as long as they are kept in prospective. One guy may rate speed as his #1 priority, another a smooth draw, another how quiet his bow is, another how pretty it is, for another it's the latest addition to their arsenal, and maybe another on how much he paid. To each one, they have the best bow--but that is for them, not everyone.
The only way to find "the" bow for you is to try out different ones. Even that can be a never-ending quest, as it takes time to get familiar with a bow--just shooting a few dozen arrows through 100 different bows won't make you an expert. Then consider just how many different bows there are on the market, with more being added all the time.....it's overwhelming.
Hopefully I haven't offended or confused anyone--it's just not a simple question. Good luck in your search!
Chad
Topic: Best shooting recurve currently made? (Read 13067 times)
