Elite!

[Jellymon]

I never thought it would happen, leaving Hoyt for another brand.  I've owned Bowtech, Mathews, Diamond, and Parker and none were as good (for me) as my Hoyts, until now.

Stopped in Evergreen archery and picked up an Elite Answer. Great guys by the way. I cannot believe how easy these things are to shoot and tune. The draw cycle is smooth as butter, ramps up quickly but about halfway through the weight just seems to disappear! Then it rolls smoothly into an amazing valley and wall. It's hard to explain, usually this much letoff,80%, and this big a valley equals an unsteady sight picture, not so with this bow. It's as steady as my 65% letoff  Hoyt Vantage Elite that I shoot 300 40+ X 5spot games with! The wall is hard as rock, ZERO give, and to let down you almost have to push it down, yet it doesn't yank your arm when you exit the valley, very smooth letdown as well. These are great traits for a hunting bow. The grip feels great as well, feels like a mixture of Bowtech and Hoyt sideplates. Speed will be around the same as most companies 7" brace bows, 330IBO, with the option of speed mods to go to 340FPS. I'm sticking with smooth though. Finish IMO is the best on the market. It's not a dip that rubs off in a year, and it looks great! Zero shock or vibration on release, just a soft small bump in your hand. It's very quiet as well. The only thing I have to complain about is my 27" draw length.

Never had a bow tune this quickly. After getting it home I put my accessories on it, Spot Hogg Hunter, QAD HDX, and my tight Spot. Set my rest to just under 7/8" centershot, 1/16" nock high. It's dark by now so I had to wait. Next day I go out shot one arrow just to get my sight close(I don't paper tune) looked to be flawless arrow fight. Shot another arrow. Made a small sight adjustment. Then I shot a broadhead, bullseye. Shot a fletched field point and hit the shaft of my broadhead arrow! Then I shot bare shafts, every one was within about 1" of my field point/broadhead groups! I literally never touched my rest, string, or cables, and it's basically tuned! Now I'm going to do some longer distance shooting tomorrow to do some walk back tuning, but I've never had a bow not walk back tune when broadheads and field points were together, so I'm very optimistic.

Anyone looking for a bow, shoot an Elite AFTER you shoot everyone else. Don't buy a bow based on the name (Unless you truly do like it better) You'll see what I'm talking about. Did I mention the lifetime transferable warranty that's good no matter who owns it without registering? Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch, Ive just never been this happy with a bow. Every time I pick it up it makes me smile, and I don't want to stop shooting it. And that's all that matters.

[EvergreenArchery]

Glad you like it Jellymon! 

[RadSav]

Nice! 

Poor Hoyt lost another one.   If this continues maybe they will start listening and respecting their customers.  One can hope anyway

[mountainman]

Nice! 

Poor Hoyt lost another one.   If this continues maybe they will start listening and respecting their customers.  One can hope anyway

maybe get some decent sales reps at the same time and get rid of the old ones! Broadhead is a joke!

[Jellymon]

Thanks guys! I still like my Hoyt and it's staying as my backup, but honestly I've had more problems with it than any other bow I've owned. Even though it is the second best shooting bow for me. What I don't understand is why Hoyt, Mathews, and Bowtech can't make a durable finish that stays on, but these newer companies do. From what I've heard Bowtech is getting better. Heck, I had a $300 Parker for years and the finish looked the same when I got rid of it!

[dkecoleman]

Congrats man, Elite makes a great bow. Last year when I was trying to decide what bow to get, that was one of my top 3. In some ways I kinda regret not getting it. I also went with Hoyt. The finish is starting to wear off the front of my grip of my Spyder 30. Kinda makes me mad, but I do love the way it shoots.

[Come Get Some]

Nice! 

Poor Hoyt lost another one.   If this continues maybe they will start listening and respecting their customers.  One can hope anyway

maybe get some decent sales reps at the same time and get rid of the old ones! Broadhead is a joke!

 What is wrong with Gary???

[ollie]

Congrats man, Elite makes a great bow. Last year when I was trying to decide what bow to get, that was one of my top 3. In some ways I kinda regret not getting it. I also went with Hoyt. The finish is starting to wear off the front of my grip of my Spyder 30. Kinda makes me mad, but I do love the way it shoots.

My buddy had the finish on his carbon element rub off this summer maybe just a 2013  model defect? i bought the same bow haven't had any problems so far. The Elite was nice just wasn't the best fit for me, so it was between the Carbon Element or Prime. Got a deal on the Element and have been happy with it so far!

[xXx Archery]

Nice! 

Poor Hoyt lost another one.   If this continues maybe they will start listening and respecting their customers.  One can hope anyway

your right I cant keep the Elite bows on the shelf..real nice bows

[RadSav]

Nice! 

Poor Hoyt lost another one.   If this continues maybe they will start listening and respecting their customers.  One can hope anyway

maybe get some decent sales reps at the same time and get rid of the old ones! Broadhead is a joke!

 What is wrong with Gary???

My comments have never been a reflection on Gary.  For us he has been one of the few exceptions to the arrogant Hoyt rep rule.  But, I do hear the same thing as Mountainman on a regular basis.  I've never asked for details why so I'm not sure what they are about.

[Come Get Some]

Which shop did or do you own??

[RadSav]

Which shop did or do you own??

We are wholesale manufacturing only.  Don't deal with reps much anymore unless they work for us.  Had to hobnob with them a lot while I shot for Hoyt years ago.  Back then the Hoyt reps were the worst.  Maybe that's why I tend to appreciate Gary   Suppose things could be different if I owned a shop.

[Come Get Some]

Are we talking back in the Tom Byers days

[D-Rock425]

Yes I've found the hoyt bashing thread.

[D-Rock425]

   anyway very nice bow.

[Jellymon]

Yes I've found the hoyt bashing thread.

Not my intention. I love my Hoyt too. 

[D-Rock425]

I know jellymon you were

[RadSav]

Are we talking back in the Tom Byers days

Tom Byers was a hoot!  He and I hang out quite a bit back then.  One year at the Archery Trade Show he checked his jacket when we went in for a private Nugent concert.  The young girl behind the counter says, "Don't I know you?"  Tom says something like, "Nope, never been here before" and walks off.  I go up to the girl and ask her if she got his autograph.  The girl all excited says, "I knew that was John Denver!  He's much more of an arse than I thought he would be."

[mountainman]

Nice! 

Poor Hoyt lost another one.   If this continues maybe they will start listening and respecting their customers.  One can hope anyway

maybe get some decent sales reps at the same time and get rid of the old ones! Broadhead is a joke!

 What is wrong with Gary???

My comments have never been a reflection on Gary.  For us he has been one of the few exceptions to the arrogant Hoyt rep rule.  But, I do hear the same thing as Mountainman on a regular basis.  I've never asked for details why so I'm not sure what they are about.

He is a pleasant man to visit with and talk bowhunting, but as a rep, I have found him to be a little on the lazy side..Tries to sell what you may not need or desire, but not checked in when you want or need anything else. When it is my dollars going out, I would expect a little more from a rep, as all of my other reps provide. Who works for who type of thing. Sorry, I do not want to change anyones feelings, just my experience with him...

[dreamingbig]

I have no complaint with my Hoyt Maxxis 35 but I really want to shoot the new Elite Energy 35 to see how it feels.  It looks like a pretty decent bow; would be a nice addition to the fleet!

[Jellymon]

Alright the honeymoon phase is over, this is what I've found. After going though quite a few bows my elite answer and hoyt vector turbo fit me perfectly and aren't going anywhere. I have found my primary and backup.
Here's what I found, winners in each category-

Grip- Elite
Finish- Elite
Draw- Elite
Valley- Elite
Balance- Hoyt
Wall- Elite
Noise- tie
Speed- Hoyt
Vibration- Elite
Recoil(handshock)- Hoyt
Accuracy- Tie
Hold on target- Hoyt

[D-Rock425]

  hoyt wins

[RadSav]

hoyt wins

Oh NO!  Say it isn't so   

[D-Rock425]

hoyt wins

Oh NO!  Say it isn't so   

made my day!

[RadSav]

I guess a 6" brace height isn't all that bad for you Umpa Lumpas'.   



But if you guys do get a chance to try the new Xpedition Xcentric please do so.  I really was impressed with it for a 6" brace height bow.  Extremely quiet for a speed bow.  And the 350ibo should put a little something extra in your pocket.  If you're going to shoot a 6" bow you might as well get the additional speed at the same time, shouldn't you?

[Jellymon]

We prefer pigmently challenged little people.   

Real world speeds that bow and mine are probably within 5 fps of each other, not enough for me to notice. That new bowtech RPM 360 on the other hand.......
By the way Radsav, have you shot the RPM? How's the draw cycle? I noticed Bowtech is using ATA to rate the speed of that bow, nice to see more companies using that and posting real speeds.

[RadSav]

We prefer pigmently challenged little people.   

My apologies 

By the way Radsav, have you shot the RPM? How's the draw cycle?

I did get a chance to shoot it!  It was definitely nice for a low brace bow.  But, I don't think the one I shot was anywhere near 70#.  Sort of hard to give apples to apples comparison on how hard the draw cycle is. It definitely wasn't an Experience I'll tell you that!!!   While it was nice and I like the new grip I couldn't help but compare it to the Xcentric which I liked a whole lot better.  Maybe the Xcentric fit me better

I thought guys sold their soul for 5fps.  I know I get letters all the time from guys who say they were going to shoot our peep until they found out it was 1.5 grains more than someone elses.     Back in my retail days I had a guy try to sue us for a ruined elk trip to Wyoming because he missed a trophy elk at 80 yards.  Apparently he told us to cut his arrows at 29" without one to match.  When he got to elk camp he found out our arrows and his previous arrows were almost 1/8" different and that is why he missed   So 5 fps...that's almost as fast a quarter falling from your pocket.  That's HUGE 

[Jellymon]

1.5 grains heavier? I'm not buying your peeps anymore! Thats 1/3 of 1 fps! You can't kill an elk with that kind of speed loss!

I love RAD peeps! That's all I'll buy anymore.