Mathews TX-5 Review

Editors' review

The 2019 Mathew TX-5 is a sweet little rig made for those with a draw length range within the 23.5-29.5-inches. The TX-5 sports a pretty short 5-inch brace height, which may scare some shooters away, although the speeds up to 345 feet per second given the shorter draw range is pretty appealing. The TX-5 is decently heavy tipping the scales at 4.58-pounds given its relatively short 28-inch stature, but its compact size will still make it a great option for a hunting bow. The Crosscentric Cam has been used on several bows in recent model years and on 2019 models, which does a great job creating acceptable performance with an easy drawing system. Mathews has a ton of nice looking finish options to match the personal style of every shooter as well. Although this is a new bow, it is tough not to think the TX-5 is simply a Triax with a 5-inch brace height. The two new grip options are awesome, and will be a welcomed addition to the 2019 lineup. For those wanting a quicker, shorter draw length bow hunting bow, the TX-5 is a great choice in three new bows from Mathews for 2019.

Finish

Mathews shines in the finished product department, and has for several years now. The dipping process is well done, and ever since Mathews opened their line back up to popular camo patterns, the variety has been outstanding. That is not to say the proprietary Mathews camo was not appealing, because it was great looking; shooters are just better able to match accessories and hunting clothes to the more popular brand offerings available in 2019. For designer camo options, the Mathews TX-5 is available in Gore Optifade Elevated II, Gore Optifade Subalpine, Under Armour Ridge Reaper Forest, Under Armour Ridge Reaper Barren, and Realtree Edge. For shooters wanting a colored bow and riser, the black or stone options look great as well, and may be the option of choice for those primarily hunting from a blind to better blend in with the darkness. No matter which pattern shooters decide to go with, buyers can feel confident the finish will look great, properly cover the entire bow, and last under normal shooting conditions for a very long time. Aluminum risers have historically ended up looking great with the dipping process, and Mathews has this basically perfected.

Riser

As one would imagine, the riser of the 28-inch axle-to-axle TX-5 is on the short end of the spectrum. However, it still maintains a stable feel, which can in part be contributed to how heavy the bow is weighing in at 4.58-pounds barebow. What does this mean in the real world though? For the most part, shooters will get all the benefits of having a maneuverable bow for tight spaces, without it ever feeling like a flimsy or hard to aim rig. The old weight standard used to be the 4-pound barebow mark. Anything over that was heavier and anything under that mark was considered a relatively lightweight bow. The last several years, Mathews has chosen slightly heavier bows to cut down on the noise and vibration after the shot, and allow shooters the ability to hold a little more dead on target, especially at longer distances. Some shooters will look at the 4.58-pounds barebow measurement and say the rig is too compact to be that heavy. However, it does not feel that way in hand, and the benefits of it being a little heavier will generally outweigh the benefits of the bow being a bit lighter and having more shock and noise at the shot.For riser technology, the TX-5 does not have anything new to the market from Mathews, but it does incorporate some older technologies to give shooters the best overall feel possible. For starters, the 3D dampening technology, when paired with the DeadEnd String Stop is pretty outstanding. The harmonic stabilizer is bumped out a bit just above the limb pockets on the bottom of the riser. For years, Mathews added this basically to the center of the riser, which they found to work well, but it works better when moved more to the front of the riser like the new design. As always, these can be swapped for different color choices if wanted as well. The riser also has a dual cage above and below the handle to sturdy things up a bit, and add a little more mass to the riser. The cable containment system continues to be the reverse assist roller guard they have used for a few years as well. One thing worth mentioning that is not incorporated into the TX-5 riser, but is present on some other Mathews' models is a rear mounting stabilizer bushing. Shooters wanting a back bar will have to use a mount to get that feature on the TX-5.

Grip

Mathews has changed up the grip for 2019, and it is a nice addition to the new lineup. The new Engage grip is thinner than past versions with a flat back. The Mathews grip is a composite one-piece grip with the Mathews logo proudly displayed on the side. Along with the Engage grip, Mathews also has a brand new side plated grip shooters can opt for as well. Both grips truly feel great, and it is nice to see Mathews offer shooters a couple options so they can decide what feels best. The grip is a pretty individualized part of any bow in regards to what shooters want, and having a couple options allows for more interest from a variety of shooters. Early reviews of the 2019 choices are overwhelmingly positive with the standard Engage grip, which is really nice to see.

Limbs

The limbs storing the energy for the TX-5 remain split for 2019. This design allows for the best configuration and keeps things as compact as possible without compromising strength and longevity. The limbs themselves are relatively short, but the wide stance and connection point to the pockets are some of the best on the market for performance and being problem free. The graphics on the limbs are pretty simple displaying the cursive Mathews logo and block lettering for the TX-5 bow name. Upon closer inspection, the cam name also gets a shoutout on the limb graphics. Overall, the limbs and pockets are pretty typical of recent Mathews ingenuity and shooters can feel comfort in knowing they are buying a bow with long lasting limbs. The poundage available for the TX-5 is fairly limited though with only three configurations. Shooters have the option between maximum draw weights of 50, 60, and 70-pounds. Granted, this does cover the most popular 30-pound draw weight range, but it would be nice to see 40-pound maximum limbs perhaps for female or younger shooters given the overall size of the TX-5. Mathews does not install any dampeners from the factory, but they can be added later if shooters choose to do so. It is fair to say most shooters will more than likely not add anything to the limbs because the bow is already very quiet and vibration free.

Eccentric System

The Crosscentric Cam System has been featured on popular Mathews bows including the Halon series, the Triax, Traverse, and now the TX-5. These cams are a combination of several Mathews designs to fully optimize the best draw cycle for the most performance all while keeping optimal nock travel throughout the entire draw cycle. The TX-5 was created for shorter draw shooters in mind, and the draw lengths available are between 23.5-29.5-inches, with half-inch increments available through a module system. The Crosscentric Cam System allows shooters to choose between a 75% or 85% let-off option as well. This cam system has a 5-inch brace height helping produce quicker speeds, which has an IBO rating up to 345 feet per second.The Crosscentric Cam takes a fully circular centric cam, and cuts part of the perfect circle away. This combines with the Advanced Vector System (AVS) to produce the most speed possible from the smoothest drawing cam their engineers can create. This cam system has a comfortable feel for shooters upgrading from a recent Mathews model and a favorable draw cycle for those in search of a new rig.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

Mathews created this cam to be a shootable system with favorable speeds. They have stuck with this cam for a few model years because of how well liked it has become in the hunting industry. The large diameter of the cam looks agressive, but the feel of the cam is really outstanding.The draw weight does stack up a bit right off the start. As the bow reaches peak weight, shooters are at a comfortable spot to control the weight so it does not ever feel overbearing. Some shooters have claimed the draw weight is less than the actual draw weight simply because of how well thought out the transition points of the cams are in relation to overall shooter comfort. The let-off also comes at a perfect spot in the draw cycle, and the transition to less holding weight is easy to manage as well. Shooters can opt for the higher 85% let-off module, or the quicker 75% depending on how much speed or holding weight they prefer. The back wall is solid also, and keeping the pin on target is pretty effortless. If shooters need to let down, it is done without much effort to keep the string from ripping forward. Perhaps the best part of the draw cycle is the feeling after the arrow is released. More appropriately, the lack of feeling after the shot is impressive. The 3D dampening of the TX-5 riser gives one of the greatest after shot feels from a Mathews bow ever, and the arrow speeds are impressive with the 5-inch brace height.

Usage Scenarios

The TX-5 is a compact hunting bow for shorter draw archers with a little added speed coming from the 5-inch brace height. With the 28-inch axle-to-axle measurement, the TX-5 lends itself well to every style of bowhunting archers can throw its way with the ability to maneuver well in any situation. The barebow weight is slightly heavy, but it still works well as compact hunting rig.

Mathews TX-5 vs. Mathews Vertix

Bow	Mathews TX-5	Mathews Vertix
Version	2020	2020
Picture
Brace Height	5 "	6 "
AtA Length	28 "	30 "
Draw Length	23.5 " - 29.5 "	26 " - 30.5 "
Draw Weight	40 lbs - 70 lbs	50 lbs - 75 lbs
IBO Speed	345 fps	343 fps
Weight	4.58 lbs	4.67 lbs
Let-Off	75% or 85%	80% or 85%
Where to buy Best prices online	Not available now. Please check later.	$900 to $2000 Compare prices
	compare more bows

The Mathews TX-5 and the Mathews Vertix are really great hunting bows with more compact designs for 2019. The TX-5 is specifically designed for shorter draw archers wanting a little more speed. However, the Vertix has the latest and greatest technology Mathews has to offer. Both rigs are great shooting bows, and will make shooters very happy. For those wanting a little more speed and a smaller price tag, the TX-5 is the best choice. However, if shooters must have the most advanced bow they can purchase, the Vertix will more than likely be the best bow.

Summary

The TX-5 is a Mathews bow specifically designed for shorter draw archers in mind. Although some will look at the TX-5 and say it is nothing more than a Triax with a 5-inch brace height, those interested in the extra speed are not going to care too much about what the TX-5 resembles. The Triax was a popular bow last model year, the those wanting a quicker arrow from the same package will be thrilled to have it available. The color options for the Mathews lineup are awesome for 2019, and so well done the finished product looks like a work of art. Some shooters may shy away from the 5-inch brace height based on some information floating around the shorter brace is less forgiving. However, those looking at the TX-5 are already aware of potential trade offs for increased speed, and it will more than likely not be a major area of concern for those the bow is designed for. The new grips are great additions to the Mathews family, and having more than one option to choose from is always a good thing. For those interested in a compact hunting bow, with some bonus speed from a shorter brace height, the $1099 price tag may be worth a new bow.