Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Prevail FX is the compact, fast, short-draw member of Hoyt's flagship target family, and it asks one honest question of its buyer: do you want the smoothest draw, or the firmer wall and a touch more speed? From 2017 through 2019 it stayed remarkably consistent - a 35-inch axle-to-axle, 4.7-pound platform on the TEC Shoot-Thru riser with XT2000 limbs and the 4-angle modular grip - and it let the archer answer that question with the cam, X3 at 319 fps IBO for the smooth draw or SVX at 327 fps for the firm wall and the fastest number in the Prevail line. What sets the FX apart from its longer siblings is reach: a draw range starting at 23 inches, and a dedicated Short Draw configuration that drops to a 22.5-inch draw on shorter XT1000 limbs, putting a real flagship target bow in the hands of the very-short-draw competitor for the first time. The trade for that compactness is a short 6.5 to 6.75-inch brace that rewards a clean release, which is exactly why the smooth X3 pairs so well with the frame for an archer who wants some forgiveness back. In my experience the smartest way to read the FX is by draw length and shot style: if you draw short or shoot a crowded indoor line and want a quick, maneuverable rig, this is the Prevail for you. Hoyt did not publish a hard MSRP, placing it at flagship target-bow pricing, and since it left production after 2019 it is a used-market find today. An excellent bow for the freestyle, field, and 3D archer who wants a short, fast, short-draw-friendly platform and a choice of cam personality, particularly strong on a crowded indoor line and an unknown-distance 3D course. Buyers who prioritize Mathews' build and a higher let-off should also look at the Mathews TRX 36, and those who want a longer, taller-braced, more forgiving target frame should look at the PSE Supra. Read full review...

The Mathews TRX 36 is the fast, stable middle of the 2020 TRX target line - a 36-inch bow that pairs a 334 fps IBO speed rating with the smooth, linear C3X draw and the dead-in-hand shot that is the Mathews signature. Launched at $1,849 as a bare bow, it asks the buyer to add a rest, sight, and stabilizers on top, the way any competition rig does. What I keep coming back to is how quiet and planted it feels for a bow this quick - the caged riser and 3D Damping give it a stillness at the shot you expect from a hunting flagship, not a speed-brace target bow. The two-mod let-off lets a shooter pick between an aggressive 70V wall and a relaxed 80% valley, both backing up against a back wall firm enough to feel like limb stops. Real chronograph readings land around 290 fps at 60 pounds with a target arrow and climb past 300 with lighter shafts or full weight, so there is genuine speed on tap for long 3D and field shots. The Engage grip is the one part most competitive owners swap for flatter side plates, an easy and expected fix. An excellent bow for 3D and field archers who want speed and a rock-steady, quiet shot in one platform, and it is particularly strong as a longer-axle crossover for the archer juggling target seasons and fall hunting. Buyers who want maximum on-the-line stability should also look at the Hoyt Invicta 37 SVX, and those who want more let-off flexibility and a more forgiving brace at the same price should look at the PSE Citation 36. Read full review...

The 2013 PSE Supra Max is a redesign of the Supra (2011) and the Supra ME (2012). With new technologies in the riser, cams and limb pockets, this rig is a common sight at any archery competitive event. The cutouts in the riser reduce the weight by approximately 20 percent, yet continue to offer a very strong and solid platform. The redesigned limb pockets reduce the weight slightly, but not only look nice, the also provide a solid housing for the split limbs while eliminating any slippage or limb twist. The redesigned Mini Evo cams offer a shorter power stroke, smooth draw, and plenty of speed. The limbs and this new cam system will definitely perform and launch an arrow at or near IBO with the accuracy one would expect from a competition bow. This rig is commonly found at most competitions. Although the Supra Max has a 37 1/4" ATA and a very forgiving 7" brace height. The split limb system also comes in a variety of weight from 40# - 70# peak weights, and each set are adjustable in 10# increments. If the shooter is looking into getting into competition shooting, the Supra Max is affordable enough to get started, yet possesses the quality that even the most experienced completion shooters seek. Read full review...

• Shortest, fastest Prevail on the line - 35 inches axle-to-axle and up to 327 fps IBO put a compact, maneuverable frame under the archer who does not want a 40-inch bow
• Two cam personalities on one chassis - pick the smooth, easy-drawing X3 or the aggressive, firmer-walled SVX without changing the riser, grip, or platform you have learned
• Back-wall feel is yours to set - the Cam Back Wall Customization peg firms the wall and shortens the valley or softens both, on both cams, to match your shot style
• Grips to your hand, not the other way around - the 4-Angle Modular Grip System swaps four plates to dial the wrist angle for repeatable, low-torque contact on the line
• Covers draws no full-size target bow reaches - the standard FX spans 23 to 30.5 inches, and the Short Draw config drops to a 22.5-inch draw for the very-short-draw competitor

• Quiet, dead-in-hand shot with almost no vibration or grip feedback - the 3D Damping pulled straight from Mathews' hunting flagships
• Rock-solid, limb-stop-firm back wall from the new C3X cam shape that holds the pin dead-steady on the middle
• Smooth, linear draw with no hump into the valley - the cam builds to the wall without a speed spike or a dump
• Caged riser above the grip drops the weight off the top hand, lowering the center of gravity for a planted, stable aim
• Genuinely quick for a target rig off the 6.5-inch brace, with the quiet signature to double as a longer-axle hunting bow

• Easy to tune and shoot
• No noticeable vibration
• Quiet
• Easy to tune
• Solid shooting platform

• The short 6.5 to 6.75-inch brace trades a little forgiveness for speed - archers who want maximum float should weigh the longer-brace Prevail 37 or 40, or simply run the smoother X3 cam here
• The SVX cam is genuinely aggressive off the peak - a shooter who wants an easy cycle can choose the X3 version instead, or soften the wall and lengthen the valley by pulling the back-wall peg
• Out of production since 2019 and used-market only now - a target archer who wants a new Hoyt rig should look at the brand's current target lineup

• Some owners find the Engage grip a touch round in the back and easy to torque - the flat side-plate option or aftermarket inserts drop straight on for a flatter, more defined hand
• The 70V mod runs an aggressive, short valley that keeps you pulling hard into the wall - shooters wanting a deeper, relaxed hold should fit the 80% mod

• Spongy back wall; recommend changing the factory stop and re-adjusting