Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Pro Force FX is the quick, compact answer to a question Hoyt's own target line raised in 2018: what if the new Pro Force were shorter, faster, and able to draw shorter? For 2019 the brand delivered exactly that - a 32 3/4-inch axle-to-axle, 6-inch brace-height target and field bow rated at 332 fps IBO, seven faster than the standard Pro Force despite being three inches shorter, on the same zero-torque ZT Hyper Cam family. What makes it its own bow rather than a trim of the standard model is the cam range: two sizes only, no #4 cam, so it tops at a 30.5-inch draw but reaches down to 25 inches - opening the ProForce platform to shorter-draw archers the standard bow could not fit, and especially to the 3D shooter who wanted more speed. No FX-specific chronograph number was published, so the 332 fps figure is the catalog IBO rather than a measured reading, but the shared cam, shoot-through riser, and modular grip mean the dead-in-hand, easy-to-tune behavior the standard Pro Force is known for carries onto the shorter chassis. At Hoyt target-bow pricing, well under the carbon line, the FX put a compact, fast crossover target rig within reach of a club shooter. It is a single-season 2019 model now found on the used market, so a buyer who wants a new Hoyt target bow should look at the brand's current target lineup. An excellent bow for the 3D and field archer who wants a shorter, faster, more maneuverable ProForce, and particularly strong for the shorter-draw shooter who could not fit the standard bow. Buyers who want the longest, most forgiving hold or a draw past 30.5 inches should look at the Hoyt Pro Force, and those who want the most compact, fastest frame of all should look at the Mathews TX-5. Read full review...

The Hoyt Pro Force is one of the better value propositions in the brand's recent history: a genuine do-it-all target, field, and 3D bow that quietly out-chronographed its faster-marketed rivals and asked far less than a carbon flagship to do it. Across 2018 to 2020 it stayed remarkably consistent - 35 3/4-inch axle-to-axle, 7-inch brace, 325 fps IBO, 4.7 pounds on the zero-torque ZT Hyper Cam - adding only a 70 percent low-let-off option and a tightened cam range for its final year. Real-world it measured 292 fps at a 29.5 inch, 60 pound, 350 grain setup, the fastest of three name-brand target bows tested side by side, so the speed is honest. What I keep coming back to is the shot: owners describe it as crisp and dead in the hand, a bow that tunes easily and groups like a tack driver, with a cam feel close enough to a Hoyt hunting bow that an archer can train it all summer and carry it into the fall without relearning a thing. At Hoyt target-bow pricing well under the carbon line, it put the shoot-through riser, the zero-torque cam, and a true crossover platform within reach of a club shooter, not just a sponsored pro. An excellent bow for the target, field, and 3D archer who wants a long, forgiving, dead-stable platform with a crossover hunting feel, and is particularly strong as a do-it-all rig for the shooter who lives on the line spring through fall and hunts in winter. Buyers who need a longer 32-34 inch draw should look at the Hoyt Double XL, and those who prioritize a short, fast, compact frame should look at the Mathews TX-5. Read full review...

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. Read full review...

• Faster yet shorter than the standard Pro Force - the FX trades 3 inches of axle-to-axle for more speed and easier maneuvering on a 3D course
• Opens the ProForce platform to shorter-draw archers - drops to a 25 inch draw the standard Pro Force could not reach, so short-draw shooters finally get in
• Same zero-torque ZT Hyper Cam family as the standard Pro Force - straight nock travel and easy tuning carry over to the shorter chassis
• Keeps the full Hoyt target hardware - shoot-through riser, sealed roller guard, and the bolt-on 4-angle modular grip are all shared, not stripped down
• True crossover feel for the off-season hunter - the same target cam and grip an archer trains on all summer carry straight into a hunting setup

• Crisp, dead-in-hand shot - owners describe no vibration through the grip and a bow that sits still after the arrow leaves
• Tunes easily and groups like a tack driver - the zero-torque ZT Hyper Cam keeps nock travel straight and cams tracking nose to nose
• Genuinely fast for a long target bow - chronographed as the quickest of three name-brand target bows at a matched 29.5 inch, 60 pound, 350 grain setup
• True crossover feel - the same ZT Hyper Cam an archer trains on the 3D range carries straight into a hunting setup with no relearning
• Practical adjustability - the 4-angle modular grip bolts on and off in seconds, and draw length changes by rotating modules with no bow press

• Award-winning Crosscentric Cam system
• Cam is optimized for draw length range of 23.5-29.5-inches
• Two new grips with the Engage or side plates

• The 6 inch brace height is shorter than the standard Pro Force's 7 inch - shooters who want maximum forgiveness on the line may prefer the longer standard bow
• A single-season 2019 model found only on the used market now - target archers who want a new Hoyt rig should look at the brand's current target lineup

• At 4.7 pounds it is a deliberately heavy, stability-first bow - shooters who want a light rig to carry should know the mass is doing forgiveness work and is the point, not a flaw
• Some owners have noted a drop-away rest cord can rub the shoot-through bridge - a blade rest sidesteps it entirely, and a follow-away rest routed clear of the cage works fine for shooters who prefer one
• Out of production since 2020 and found only on the used market now - target archers who want a new Hoyt rig should look at the brand's current Invicta and target lineup

• 4.58-pounds is heavy for a compact bow of only 28-inches
• Some shooters may shy away from the 5-inch brace height