Editors' review
PSE has done an outstanding job in 2020 rounding out all parts of their offerings in order to have a bow for every single shooter on the market. The Supra Family of bows has been a great offering for target archers in the past, and the Focus XL LD comes in as the physical giant of them all, which also accommodates extremely long draw lengths. The Supra Focus XL LD has a 40-inch axle-to-axle measurement, a deflexed riser to obtain an 8-inch brace height, and still shoots arrow speeds up to 312 feet per second with the beloved Evolve SE style cam. This model also accommodates archers with a draw length range from 28 all the way out to 33.5-inches, with half-inch increments possible with the rotating draw length module. For shooters wanting the most performance possible, out of the largest platform possible, there may not be a better bow on the market. Now many shooters must be thinking this bow must cost a small fortune, but that is not the case with a price tag of $1199. Make no mistake about it, that is a bunch of money, but when looking at what other target rigs cost, this one is pretty competitive considering how well engineered the bow is. There are a few downsides to the Supra Focus XL LD, both of which are getting pretty picky, but also worth mentioning. For starters, three finishes available to shooters will have a premium upgrade cost associated with them. This seems ridiculous in all honesty, and hopefully PSE eliminates this in the future. Fir $1199 bare bow, the bow should come with any available color without needing to pay a premium fee. In addition to this, the bow is only offered in a 50 or 60-pound maximum limb weight configuration. Aside from these two negatives, shooters wanting a long frame bow, should take a serious look at what PSE created in the Supra Focus XL LD.
Finish
PSE has some really great choices for finish options on their target lineup this year, and the Supra Focus XL LD has a ton of riser to be finished. With a 40-inch axle-to-axle measurement, the riser is going to be a major focal point, so it is important the finish is exceptionally done, and in this case it is. Shooters can choose from a variety of colors, which include: Black Cherry, Navy Blue, White, Black, American Flag, Good Vibrations, and Platinum Titanium. All of these finish options are available with standard pricing. Shooters can also get a Supra Focus XL LD finished in Orange, Sky Blue, and Satin Mercury for a "premium color" upcharge. These colors are great looking as well, but in 2020, there is no reason why a bow with a price tag of $1199 has an additional fee for a special color. Maybe, and this is a big maybe, the premium fee would be explainable if there were color matching strings, or limbs, but that is not the case. This is a cost PSE should look to eliminate in the future. Limbs on the Supra Focus XL LD will come in solid black or white, depending on the riser color, and will have the standard PSE and Supra Focus stickers applied on the outside of the limbs. The bows look awesome and truly lives up to the high standards of PSE archery.
Riser
Nothing says target bow more than the riser design, and there are two major riser designs, which end up being associated with target archery. The first is a shoot through riser, and the second major style associate with target archery is a deflexed riser design. The Supra Focus XL LD has a deflexed design, and it truly makes this bow look like a target rig. The deflexed design maximizes the bow's forgiveness, which is a great feature to have on a target bow, but this comes with the sacrifice of performance. However, this model still has a decent amount of performance, especially for shooters interested in shooting spots or known 3D leagues where arrow speed is not as important. In addition to creating a massive 8-inch brace height, the 40-inch axle-to-axle measurement gives the bow a true target vibe as well. The model tips the scales at an advertised weight of 5.3-pounds, which is surprisingly light considering the overall size of this bow. The bow is not super balanced by itself, which is not really a huge deal honestly because shooters will be adding weight with stabilizers anyways. Some shooters prefer to start at a balanced location, and they add weight from there. However, with the bow being a bit top heavy, just about any configuration shooters decide to use for stabilizers and weight will end up in a perfect balanced position anyways. It should not be a deal breaker for anyone, that the Supra Focus XL LD is not balanced as a bare bow, but it is worth noting. PSE also outfitted the Supra Focus XL LD with some standard issue features for a high end target model. For starters, it gets the rear mount string stop system. Although it is nothing fancy, it does function well. There are also front and rear mounting stabilizer bushings to help shooters get the desired balance and feel while holding on target. This model only has a hole on each side of the riser, instead of a high and low mounting location on each side, which some other models have moved towards. Although the two locations are historically the chosen locations for most target shooters, it is always nice to have additional options available. PSE also includes the standard mounting holes for a sight, which give shooters an option to choose the specific height they want on their rig. The multiple sight mounting holes are ideal for getting shooters the peep height and travel out of their rig they really want based on their set up and use of the bow. The cable containment system is pretty standard aslo. There is a stationary rod, which does not flex in and out, but does feature a roller guard allowing the cables to pull in the path they are most inclined to.
Grip
The PSE target side of the company has used machined grips directly into the riser for a long time, and the Supra Focus XL LD continues that tradition. This grip feels like grips from the PSE target side of the lineup from previous years, which is not a bad thing. The angle is comfortable, the width and thickness feels just about right, and the grip seems to be a very repeatable offering for the majority of shooters. It would be nice to see some other grips from PSE, without forcing shooters to doctor the grip with tape, but for those wanting to do that, the slim style grip is really easy to tweak that way. The back is flat, with some rounded edges, and it does feel comfortable, and most important is repeatable shot after shot. For a grip, there is nothing too fancy, but it functions well, is comfortable enough, and helps shooters maintain great form even when the pressure starts to build.
Limbs
PSE and split limbs go together like peanut butter and jelly, and the Supar Focus XL LD gets split limbs to store the energy created by the SE cams. The limbs are the standard issued, wide stance limbs to give the best stability possible from the limb while minimizing the cam lean on the system. The limbs are also held tightly in place with the Wedge Lock Pocket System. These pockets force the limbs into tolerance, and can lock down by wedging the limbs in place, while being fastened tightly to eliminate any movement. Target bows travel on the road a lot, and can often make flights depending on how serious of a competitor the target shooter is. The wedge lock system gives shooters an extra piece of mind knowing things are going to be right where they were left regardless of the abuse the bow takes in route to a competition. Unfortunately, the Supra Focus XL LD is only available in two maximum draw weight configurations, which are 50 and 60-pounds. This is more than likely the draw weights target folks lean towards, but it would be nice to have some heavier pound limbs for those that want the higher poundage. Most shooters will simply adjust the let off to get the desired holding weight they prefer for target archery, but it is always nice to have options, and it would be nice for some heavier limbs to be available.
Eccentric System
The SE cam really needs no introduction as it has been used by PSE on a ton of bows over the years on the hunting side and target side of the lineups. When paired with the rest of the Supra Focus XL LD specifications, the SE cam is capable of a draw length range of 28-33.5-inches, which means this bow is going to fit the XL shooters with no problem. The SE cam has a factory letoff of 65-75%, and shooters can go with a high letoff module capable of 80-90%. The ATA/IBO Speed rating is 312-304 feet per second, which is pretty awesome considering the bow has a 40-inch axle-to- axle measurement and an 8-inch brace height. The bow functions with cable stops, which some shooters may feel is less solid than a limb stop system might be. However, on the Supra Focus XL LD, the back wall seems absolutely solid to most shooters, and oftentimes rivals the feel of the limb stop systems for many shooters. The SE cam is a remarkable system, and shooters love the performance, especially considering how easy it is to draw.
Draw Cycle/Shootability
The SE Cams are amazing, and when on the massive platform of the Supra Focus XL LD, the draw cycle is truly amazing. This bow model is a super easy and forgiving bow to shoot, and with the huge size all leading to increased forgiveness, the Supra Focus XL LD is going to perform even when shooters start to break down a bit as the nerves and pressure builds later in the tournament. The limbs are less parallel than some other PSE target bows, which means there is a little different feeling after the arrow is released when compared to a parallel limb bow. This bow will want to jump forward a bit, even after stabilizers and accessories have been added. It is important to mention this is not a bad feeling, but it will be something shooters used to a more parallel limb system will notice when shooting this model. The draw cycle is amazingly smooth, with no humps or dumps to get used to. Many shooters in the target world are using a blade style rest, and these cams will match that style of arrow rest perfectly. For shooters wanting the most comfortable system possible, with a massive platform, this model is really in a league all by itself.
Usage Scenarios
The 2020 PSE Supra Focus XL LD is unapologetically a target bow. For starters, it is absolutely massive. It has a longer axle-to-axle measurement, a deflexed riser, and target optimized SE cams. The bow is not exceptionally fast, but has great performance considering how little attention was placed on making this bow a high end performance machine. Not everyone in the target world wants a less parallel limb design and a huge frame. However, for those that do, the Supra Focus XL LD is undeniably a superb option. It is also an extremely affordable target rig considering the market value of a flagship target bow from a major company. For those wanting a massive platform, this bow deserves some serious consideration. Although it would work for any style of competitive archery, this model will more than likely be seen on the line for a spot tournament. With slower speeds than some other target models, some shooters will have no problem with this model on known 3D events, but for those shooting unknown distances, many shooters may look to a bow with some more performance to help with slight errors in judging distances. Shooters interested in this bow know exactly what they are getting themselves into, and they will not be disappointed with their design to go with the XL platform.
Summary
PSE bringing the Supra Focus XL LD to market truly shows their level of dedication in creating a perfect bow for every shooter, in every situation. The Supra Focus XL LD is a huge bow, and to be honest it is not for everyone. However, there is a market for a large framed bow like this with draw lengths accommodating shooters out to a super long 33.5-inches. For target archers wanting a more old school kind of target rig with the deflexed riser, and 40-inch axle-to-axle measurement, coming with a forgiving 8-inch brace height, the Supra Focus XL LD is truly in a category all by itself. The Supra family of target models is also amongst some of the most affordable target bows on the market with the XL LD asking price of only $1199. It would be nice for heavier limbs to be available, and it is a little silly to see a premium color upcharge, but aside from those minor cons, there really is nothing to nitpick about the Supra Focus XL LD. For shooters wanting a larger bow, with the maximum amount of forgiveness and performance, there may not be a better offering in 2020.
