Stabilisers for Compound Bows

I know that this is an area that has been canvassed previously but I thought I might put up some results I have done of testing a variety of stabilsers in the hope that someone contemplating a new purchase can benefit from my experience.

Both of my compounds, a Martin SlayR SE and Mathews Prestige, kick quite a bit without any stabilsers fitted and the Martin is particularly noisy and unpleasant.

I have tried the following stabilsers on both of these bows:

Genesis 5 star
Cartel 30 inch long rod plus end supreesors and weights
Easton Black Max
Cartel Blakan multi rod (Beiter imitation)
Arco Sport Spigarelli Super Carbon with Bernardini TFC
DoinkerA-Bomb 31.5-Inch Carbon Elite Graphite Stabilizer

To cut a long story short, none of the above stabilsers did very much at all in terms of taming bow vibration and kick EXCEPTfor the Doinker.


When I first tried a Doinker, I could not see how this stabiliser was going to do anything that every other stabilser I have tried hadn't already done.
Well, I was genuinely surprised. This stabiliser really does dampen out all of the vibrations from both of my bows and eliminates kick such that both bows are extremely smooth and in particular my new Mathews Prestige which was a pretty pleasant bow to shoot without any stabilisation is now totally vibration and kick free and dead silent on shooting. The Doinker has turned it into what for me is the smoothest shooting compound I have ever used.

And in case you are wondering I am NOT getting a commission for saying any of this nor am I on Doinkers staff.

What is it about the Doinker that makes it so effective? It's hard to say precisely. It is well made, but conservative in appearance. I don't know much about the carbon in the rod but the rod itself isn't all that thick, certainly not in the same league as the fashionably fat stabilsers that seem to adorn many bows these days. The A bomb suppressor on the weight end seems to have a remarkable dampinig effect and is obviously something more than simple rubber. The suppression chamber on the base end is a strange looking device, which does what precisely, I can't say however the total package works perfectly and I don't use a TFC with it either - it doesn't need one.

I haven't tried the Doinker multi rods as they are too expensive to buy just for a play with and a trial but I can't imagine them being any better that the Carbon Elite I am currently using.

None of the Doinkers are cheap however the one I bought works - REALLY works - and so I can genuinley recommend it to any compound shooter contemplating a new stabiliser. I can't comment on how effective it is on a recurve. I'm happy with my current TASA set for my WIN & Win Xpert.

Hope this helps some of you.

Best regards

[sky_high30]

Be interested to see what it's like on a recurve...i'm considering a set.

[Jerry Tee]

Originally Posted by timujin

Genesis 5 star
Cartel 30 inch long rod plus end supreesors and weights
Easton Black Max
Cartel Blakan multi rod (Beiter imitation)
Arco Sport Spigarelli Super Carbon with Bernardini TFC
DoinkerA-Bomb 31.5-Inch Carbon Elite Graphi.......

What was you opinion of the genesis 5 star as far as construction and quality goes I am considering buying one for my Pro Eagle Not too much in the way of hand shock or kick on that bow. So how did the 5 star do in the other catagories of performance, like stability at aim etc?

The 5 Star is very well made in all respects.

As regards performance, I had to make a heavier weight to go in the slider to give me good stability. You may not need this - it's a personal thing.

I found that the stabiliser didn't attenuate shock and vibration very much and contrary to the claims made about it, I could never affect my group shape/size by moving the slider as is recommended

It has a lot of screws on it which can work loose, so they need to be watched.

Frankly I was never greatly in love with mine. It simply isn't in the same class as the Doinkers. I can't in all honesty recommend the 5 Star for any bow. My own view is that you would do much better with a Doinker but if you have your heart set on the 5 Star then buy it. Your decision and a case of caveat emptor.

If you wish to visit the website and get a look at it and read about it here is the URL:

http://www.genesisarchery.com/index.htm

Hope this helps a bit

[Adam]

Originally Posted by timujin

The A bomb suppressor on the weight end seems to have a remarkable dampinig effect

I agree. I have A-bombs on the carbon rods I use outdoors, and they certainly seem to work. The variable weight on the base of the A-bomb is handy too.

Adam