Compound Bow Comparator

The Alpha series is an awesome offering from Hoyt in 2020, and the carbon RX-4 Alpha bow is worth a test shot. This RX-4 Alpha is the most compact hunting bow Hoyt has ever produced, and it came about with input from customers and shop owners from across the country with whitetail hunting in mind. For that style of hunting, the RX-4 Alpha truly shines. Anywhere maneuverability makes sense, the RX-4 Alpha will be a great option. The new cams, although redesigned with minor changes, have a great feel much different than previous models. The largest negative with the Alpha is the price. A suggested retail price of $1699 is expensive no matter how much technology is integrated into the design of the bow. Carbon risers have always gotten a premium price tag, but $1699 is a lot of money. It is a shame many shooters will not even give the RX-4 Alpha a serious consideration because of the sticker price. However, those able to spend whatever they want on a new hunting bow have a really great offering, never before seen from Hoyt. Anyone wanting a compact hunting bow, with a carbon riser should give the RX-4 Alpha a serious test shot. Read full review...

The RX-4 Turbo is a great shooting bow. It has a maneuverable frame with a compact 31-inch axle-to-axle measurement, and an ATA rated 350 feet per second gives shooters a lot of options for arrow weight and kinetic energy versus raw speed for each to choose what makes the most sense for them. For shooters nearing the top end of the 30-inch draw length max, the string angle may start to get uncomfortable for those wanting to keep a straight up and down head position. The cams are pretty big, but they may still require shooters to tip their head into the string for an anchor in the corner of the mouth and tip of the nose. The largest negative is the price. For some reason, the Turbo and the Ultra in the REDWRK lineup get an upgrade charge when compared to the RX-4 Alpha series. Ultimately, this annual $50 price increase is going to hurt Hoyt. There are a ton of great bows in the compact hunting bow market, and Hoyt is no longer creating the carbon riser models much lighter than the aluminum risers, which was a huge reason they marketed the original carbon bows so well back in the day. The $1749 price tag is a ton of money, and it really stinks to take up so much time in a review talking about the cost, but there will be a large number of shooters unable to even consider the RX-4 Turbo because of the cost. Read full review...

• Designed as the most compact carbon bow Hoyt has ever produced
• Newly designed ZTR cam is smoother, has a more solid back wall, and quieter than any other Hoyt ever made
• An ATA rated 342 feet per second is pretty fast for such a shootable bow

• 350 feet per second ATA speed rating
• Compact hunting bow design of 31-inches axle to axle
• Lots of finish options

• Some critics feel more changes should have been made
• A suggested retail price of $1699 is really hard to pay, even for those not on a strict budget

• Brace height of 5 ⅞-inches may scare some people
• Suggested retail price of $1749