Free: Contests & Raffles.
Money, money, money!!! The amount of winning one gets from bow and arrow contingencies is enough to rule out Bowtech from the serious target archers. The money these top shooters get from the Hoyt and Mathews contingency isn't chump change. I know two pro shooters that actually liked and shot more consistent scores with Martin when they had a good contingency program. Both switched to Hoyt when the Martin money was no longer available. Not that they thought it would help them win, but because that's the direction the money trail was leading.I think the Bowtech Specialist would compete with any bow brand if it were in the hands of one of these top shooters. But, that simply isn't going to happen. These guys work hard and train hard to get where they are. And when they win they want something in return! Doesn't mean the Specialist isn't a great bow and couldn't win. But few will ever try it if there is no compensation and we can hardly blame them for that.It does suck when you are the Average Joe and want to buy a nice Hoyt or Mathews at a decent price. As upwards of probably $100 in your purchase price is going towards the top shooters. Those high prices aren't because it's a better bow or better materials. They all cost basically the same to make. It's that Hoyt and Mathews pay shooters better and advertise better. That adds to the overhead and then that gets past on to the end consumer. Just watch Elite in the next year or two. I guarantee you that Levi and other top shooters aren't making the switch because they feel it's going to improve their chances of success. Sure it's a good product and they believe they can win with it. But without the money no way would they be making the switch. I expect those bows to progressively meet or exceed Hoyt and Mathews prices soon. You really can't start from the bottom in the competitive market and grow without it effecting prices rapidly. Just the way business works.
Elite is already spending time on the podium this year, I believe they are paying 15K for first place finishes while Mathews, Hoyt and PSE are 10K