Editors' review
Mathews has been effective in the target archery world for a while now, and the TRX 7 is the latest installment of that championship lineage. For a target rig, this model has a great deal to be excited about including a long and stable 40-inch axel-to-axel measurement on a straight riser with a cage on the top and bottom of the riser. The 4.92-pound bare bow mark is heavy for those used to hunting bow weights, but for a long target bow, it does not feel overly heavy. The nocking point is also located in the true center of the bow, which gives Mathews engineering the ability to eliminate some tuning issues, which may come up with the nocking point not being in the true center position. The Mathews finish looks great as always, but it would be nice to see them offer more than 4 color options from the factory. The price tag is pricey as well with an MSRP of $1799. Overall, the TRX 7 is what championship archers have come to love and appreciate from the industry giant known for placing shooters on the podium year after year. For those able to spend that much coin on a target rig, it is hard to find much wrong with the TRX 7.
Finish
The finish options are somewhat limited for the TRG 7 with only four factory options offered. The colors for the riser includes black, blue, red, and white, and the limbs match the riser colors on certain configurations to give the target bow a universal design. Each of the colors look great, but it would be nice to see some other options straight from the factory for those wanting a little more flair on their money maker. With that being said, the finish is well done, and looks outstanding on the bow. It feels rugged, and should last through the wear and tear a target bow goes through during a tournament season.
Riser
The riser on the TRX 7 is long, but is not as heavy as one may think given the overall length. The riser design, even with the bridged design on the top and bottom of the riser is still under the 5-pound bare bow mark. For those used to the hunting side of archery, this number may seem large, but for those on the target side of things, this is still in the optimal range of overall mass. The riser features a few positions for mounting the sights exactly where shooters need to for their style of shooting. Like all target rigs, the TRX 7 has a front mounting stabilizer hole for shooters to utilize their preferred stabilizer weight. This hole is directly in front of the rear mounted string stop system, so any vibration is transferred away from the shooters hand and down the front stabilizer bar. A back stabilizer bar mount hole is located relatively low on the riser, which makes better use of the weight added. For most shooters, it will be possible for less overall weight to be added, while still having a strong impact on how the bow feels on target and responds after the arrow is fired. The cable slide system is fairly simple as well, with a solid carbon rod and an integrated roller system. The cable slide does not flex, or do anything fancy, but the roller guard used is a tried and true design proven to simply work. The riser also has the harmonic dampeners inserted in the riser near the limb pockets to help cut the vibration as well.
Grip
The grip is a standard Mathews target grip, which is flat on both sides of the and pretty thin with the throat being a little thicker. There are some after market grips for the Mathews rigs, and some target archers even resort to adding some grip tape to get the exact feel they are looking for. For those shooters, the thinner grip design works well because they can add to the girth of the grip without making it too thick or uncomfortable. The flat back grip is a composite black grip, which is not overly appealing to look at when compared to other options, but it does function like it should and is comfortable enough to be a repeatable and keep the shooters hand in the correct position for the best accuracy.
Limbs
The wide split limbs on the TRX 7 are short and parallel to each other. This helps the longer riser obtain the 40-inch axel-to-axel measurement, and the parallel design will help absorb and minimize the shock and vibration caused after the arrow is fired. The limbs are offered in three configurations, including 50, 60, and 70-pounds, which should meet all shooters needs for the target side of things. The limbs are black of color matched to the riser depending on the riser color choice. The limb graphics are a little different than the normal block letters offered on other Mathews models. The TRX logo is a little more rounded than other models, still looks great, but not the same as we have seen from Mathews recently.The pockets are great in function as well, and the engraved Mathews logo on the side of the pocket adds a high-end look many models do not have. The pocket system also features a pretty wide stance, which is accompanied by the "Top Hat" system for the cam bearings and beefed up axels to make sure the limbs are spaced equally throughout the entire limb configuration.
Eccentric System
The Mathews TRX 7 is powered by a newly designed Mini-Crosscentric cam system, which features the AVS technology to give it the quickest speeds possible. The result is an IBO rated target bow shooting 332 feet per second. Now, some shooters may be thinking, who cares about speed on a target bow. However, when the speed is so easy to come by, and the draw cycle is so smooth, the added speed is a welcomed addition for any style of shooting. The draw length is adjustable from 23-30-inch draw length range with a rotating module and no press needed. The let off offered include 70%, or 80%, although many target archers prefer more holding weight at the back end of the draw cycle. The back wall is aided by cable stops on the top and bottom can, which offers a pretty solid back wall feel.The Advanced Vectoring System (AVS) is not new technology for Mathews, but the mini version designed for target archery is. For those who do not know, this two-cam design mounts a bit differently than other two cam systems. Instead of the harnesses attaching the axels, Mathews engineers have attached them to a wheel inside the limbs, which also features internal bearings. As the bow is drawn, the wheel rotates slightly off center to store more energy meaning faster arrow speed.The cams and the riser also work together to place the nocking point directly in the center of the bow. It stays there throughout the draw cycle as well, which means the arrow is never off the perfect horizontal plane in the center of the bow. In regards to arrow flight, that means the arrow is not moving up or down and the high efficiency of the cams goes directly into the speed of the arrow.
Draw Cycle/Shootability
The Mathews TRX 7 has a very smooth draw cycle, but some have stated it is a bit on the stiff side. For a target bow, shooters will be hard pressed to find something with a better draw cycle. The valley transitions very smoothly, but it is hardly felt. For a hunting bow, this may not be a desired trait, but for a target bow, this is a nice feature because the arrow will not bounce on the commonly used launcher style rest. Most target archers like to pull through their shot, and prefer to have more weight at the back end to keep them in proper shooting form. For that reason, the low let-off may be the most popular option. For a 40-inch axel-to-axel bow with a long riser like the TRX, shooters would expect a bow with an even heavier feel. With the nocking point in the center of the bow, the bow feels really balanced in hand, and at full draw. With the rear stabilizer hole being so low on the riser, shooters may not need to add as much weight as they normally would to get the feel they like. On target, the bow feels outstanding. It stays downrange with minimal pin float, and is totally vibration free after the arrow is released. The arrow is noticeably zippy in reaching the target, and the long riser and brace height is going to be easy to get used to. For a target rig, this thing can shoot lights out and feel great while doing it.
Usage Scenarios
The Mathews TRX 7 is a target archery bow designed for the most serious professional and amateur archers in the world. Mathews continues to place in competitive indoor archery and major 3D shooting events, and the equipment they produce for those participating at the highest level is outstanding. With the performance of the TRX, it is possible for some shooters to use this rig as a hunting bow, but there are better options available for those wanting a dedicated hunting rig. Anyone interested in 3D, spot, or target archery bow will know Mathews equipment will put them in a spot to be very successful.
Summary
The Mathews TRX 7 is an outstanding platform for target shooters, and is responsible for earning shooters a great deal of money by winning tournaments all over the world. It may help that Mathews has some of the best shooters in the world on their pro staff team, but the TRX 7 is a great piece of engineering and deserves all the recognition it receives. For shooters wanting a longer, faster target bow, the TRX 7 is hard to beat. The price is a bit tough to stomach with an MSRP of $1799, but for those expecting to win money every weekend launching arrows, it may be worth the initial investment for the potential long-term winnings.
