Switchback or Prestige

[Moose]

When I finally persuade her with my wallet that a new bow is the best idea since sliced bread what is the better bow

I have an Outback and it is a nice bow but I also like the look of the Switchback and the Prestige

I only have one concern about the prestige and that is the grip, I like the grip on the Outback and the Switchback

Before I get inundated with suggestions about buying a Hoyt I have tried many types and do not like them they do not feel right to me yet my daughter loves hers

So which one is better and why

[Bald Eagle]

Bowtech, I'm very biased!!!

[greydog]

Don't know about better, the Prestige cam has 65% let off, whereas the Switchback will go to 80%. Speeds are about the same and from what I've heard they are both very smooth bows to shoot................if you want speed and accuracy, what about the Merlin XS with Viper cams

[jadlem]

I have been shooting a Switchback recently, the feel of the shot is incredible comapred to the more traditional style compounds. The string supressors and the parallel limbs make it nearly silent. There is no vibration at all. My only major gripe is the shape of the grip although there are other grips available for it. I find that the grip is so low that at 90m I get too much tension in my forearm and wrist.
The cams are also very agressive, incredibly steep at the early part of the draw and they only let off in the last 2 inches. I quite like this, though it tires you out in long competitions.

The prestige is beautifuly smooth to draw on the other hand but the grip is very narrow, much more so than a hoyt, it digs in to the palm considerably.

I'd recommend as always that you try them out in a shop. Although if you have an outback and like it, the Switchback isn't a significantly different beast.

[Zanda]

Originally Posted by jadlem

I have been shooting a Switchback recently, the feel of the shot is incredible comapred to the more traditional style compounds. The string supressors and the parallel limbs make it nearly silent. There is no vibration at all. My only major gripe is the shape of the grip although there are other grips available for it. I find that the grip is so low that at 90m I get too much tension in my forearm and wrist.
The cams are also very agressive, incredibly steep at the early part of the draw and they only let off in the last 2 inches. I quite like this, though it tires you out in long competitions.

The prestige is beautifuly smooth to draw on the other hand but the grip is very narrow, much more so than a hoyt, it digs in to the palm considerably.

I'd recommend as always that you try them out in a shop. Although if you have an outback and like it, the Switchback isn't a significantly different beast.

with regard to the digging in to the palm problem, have you tried using tennis racket handle grip, you get it from sports shops, and it softens the grip a little and because its tacky rubber it also stops the handle of the bow moving around in your hand, its a cheap way of easing a problem

[GeoffT]

I got a shrew grip for my Switchback. Prefer it to the wooden lump. Marcus sells them in his Urban Archery shop.

I was shooting opposite Chris White at Lilleshall, and his Prestige did not have cable/string rollers. Thought they were one of the best bits of a Mathews. Or perhaps his wasn't a Prestige.

[Fugue]

I have been using the Switchback (57lb, 65% let off) for about 15 months now, and it has been a reliably good bow, other than replacing the cables and string once I have not had much maintenance to keep it in good working order. Also I have shot some very nice scores with it including getting my 1250 rose last year.

The grips which come on the bow are awful, the only good thing about them is there is plenty of good wood to carve away at. (Which is what I did on my first shoot with it at Chester last year ), also I am not keen on the ridge of metal in front of the grip on the thumb side, which has also seen a bit of filing. If you don't fancy carpentry there are alternatives, I believe Cartel make side plates for the Switchback.

Once you have sorted out the grip the bow is very smooth to shoot with very little recoil, I have tried other bows before (Merlin Legend, Hoyt Defiant and Ultratec 2004 and the Mathews Ikon) of these bows the switchback for me has the best balance of speed (useful for maintaining good groups at 90m) and low recoil (useful for not getting a sore front shoulder )

The smoothness of the draw on the switchback like most compounds is largely determined by the let off percentage, 65% let off tend to be smooth continuous draw, but slightly slower bows. 80% are more radical on the draw but faster. I prefer the 65% option, it is easier to aim especially in wind.

There are a lot of good bows on the market at the moment, I have seen a few archers who really like the Merlin X range this year, Greydog for example has been shooting some great scores with his this year. It is always worth taking the time when you are changing to check out the other bows on the market, you never know the perfect bow for you could be on the next rack...

I really like my Prestige. It is very quiet and very stable, it doesn't weigh a ton and is very fast. It really is a joy to shoot.