Compound Bow Comparator

The Mathews Halon X Comp is a crossover competition bow that does its best work when one archer wants a single rig for indoor spots, 3D, and field. At its $1,399 launch MSRP it undercut the pure-indoor specialists while delivering the thing that actually wins target rounds: a dead-in-hand, vibration-free shot behind a rock-solid wall and a pin that settles the moment you reach full draw. Its 37-inch frame and true 32-inch draw reach make it a natural home for long-draw archers, and the redesigned grip fixed the ergonomic complaints that trailed earlier Mathews target bows. Real-world speed sits around 300 fps with a heavy target arrow at a realistic competition setup, which is exactly right for a discipline that trades velocity for a forgiving, controllable shot. The only cautions are cosmetic and practical rather than structural - inspect the finish on early used units, and remember that draw-length and let-off changes ride on cam modules. What I keep coming back to with this bow is how still it sits after the shot; that stillness is what keeps arrows in the middle when a long round wears you down. It is an excellent choice for the competitive archer who refuses to own a separate bow for every game and is particularly strong across mixed 3D and indoor seasons. Buyers who shoot exclusively indoors and want the steadiest possible hold should also look at the Hoyt Invicta 37 SVX, and those chasing the same long-draw target capability for less should weigh the PSE Citation 36. Read full review...

An MSRP of $1899 is a ton of money to spend on any compound bow, regardless of the style of archery or brand. The Hoyt Invicta 37 SVX is expensive, and for some shooters may be really hard to justify. For others, having a Hoyt target bow designed to put shooters in the best possible position to win tournaments and prize money, the confidence and dependability from a really trusted company may be worth the cost. After the initial sticker shock, which again is a sizable amount, the Invicta 37 is an outstanding bow. There is a finish option for every shooter, the specifications allow shooters to use this model for indoor or 3D leagues, and the draw weight range puts this bow as a contender for anyone on the market for a high end target rig. There is a ton of technology packed into this model, a fair amount of customization to specifically match individual setups, and the modular grip are all areas providing shooters with a great overall experience. This model will more than likely not be a staple at the local bow shop to try out before buying. Shooters will more than likely need to trust Hoyt and the design team on hitting a homeroom, or attempt to attend a shoot where some models may be located to take a test shot with. As a true target bow, the Invicta 37 SVX has a great deal to offer the serious archer needing the edge to earn a few more points to get on more podiums. Read full review...

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• Dead-in-hand shot signature - the harmonic-damped riser sends almost no vibration into the hand, the trait target archers care about most
• Rock-solid back wall with a pin that settles the instant you drop into the valley, giving a repeatable anchor shot after shot
• Redesigned grip is a clear step up from earlier Mathews target bows - low-torque, comfortable, and easy to index the same way every time
• Long-draw-friendly 37-inch platform covers 26 to 32 inches of draw yet stays more packable than a 40-inch pure-indoor rig

• Modular grip options
• Technology driven platform with proven success
• Fully designed target bow from a major company

• Early-2017 units wore Mathews' first in-house paint, which came out thin and slightly inconsistent - later-2017 runs improved sharply, so on a used bow inspect the finish or favor the black powder-coat, which sprayed most evenly
• Changing draw length or let-off means buying a new cam module (around $65 a set) rather than rotating one in place - worth factoring in if you expect to move your draw length around

• The sticker price is $1899