Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Carbon RX-10 Ultra LD is the answer to a question tall archers have been asking for years: how to shoot a compact, quiet carbon hunting bow at a genuine 33-inch draw without switching to a target rig. Launched for 2026 at a $2,199 MSRP, it replaces the RX-9 as the carbon flagship and takes the 33 1/4-inch Ultra chassis to a full 33 inches with a larger HBX Gen 4 LD cam, TXL limbs, and a new roller guard. That long power stroke is what makes it the fastest RX-10 at 355 fps IBO, confirmed at 33 inches of draw in Hoyt's whitepaper. The gen-two carbon riser delivers the dead, quiet shot owners prize, the 7 5/8-inch brace and long axle-to-axle length give the steadiest hold in the family, and the new XTS system tunes out paper tears without a press, often in a couple of adjustments. In my experience the standout is how the long draw smooths an already-flat cycle while adding speed rather than harshness. An excellent bow for the long-draw hunter, 31 1/4 to 33 inches, who wants target-rig draw length with treestand portability, particularly strong on Western spot-and-stalk and long-hold accuracy. Buyers prioritizing a lower price on a long-ATA carbon should look at the PSE Mach 34, and those putting silence first should look at the Mathews Phase4 33. Read full review...

No editors' review yet.

The Phase4 33 launched at $1,299 as the long, steady, forgiving half of Mathews' 2023 flagship line - a hunting bow with a target bow's riser. Its defining number is not speed but sound: 92.9 dB on a meter and a shot so dead in the hand it barely registers, courtesy of the eight-limb Resistance Phase Damping limb design that stops vibration before it reaches you. Around that sits a 33-inch frame that holds a pin rock-steady, a forgiving 6.5-inch brace, and honest chronograph numbers - 320 fps at 350 grains dropping to 283 fps with heavier hunting arrows - that trail the compact Phase4 29 by only a step. Add SwitchWeight's one-bow-fits-all module system and a cam that tunes almost without argument, and you have a genuine hunting, 3D, and target crossover. In my experience the calm sight picture on that long riser is what wins you over - the pin parks and stays. It is an excellent bow for the longer-draw hunter and 3D shooter who values a steady hold and a silent shot, particularly strong when a calm pin matters more than a compact frame. Buyers who want a shorter, more maneuverable bow should also look at the Mathews Phase4 29; those shopping the same long-axle platform for less should look at the PSE EVO NXT 33. Read full review...

• Reaches a genuine 33-inch draw in a compact carbon hunting rig, so a long-draw shooter no longer has to run an oversized target bow to fit
• The long power stroke turns into speed: 355 fps IBO, the fastest of the four Carbon RX-10 models
• Same gen-two carbon riser owners praise for a dead, quiet shot with almost no felt vibration
• New XTS tuning system corrects paper tears without a bow press, often in two or three limb-pocket adjustments
• Tall brace and 33-inch axle-to-axle give a steady, forgiving hold at full draw for the longer-draw archer

• Measured 92.9 dB at the shot - the eight-limb RPD design makes it the quietest Mathews of its era
• Long 33-inch axle-to-axle on a target-length riser holds rock-steady at full draw
• Forgiving 6.5-inch brace height smooths out form errors for hunting and 3D alike
• SwitchWeight modules set peak weight and let-off, so one bow spans 60-75 lb without new limbs
• Tunes fast and predictably - many owners dial it in without touching the top-hat shims

• XTS wedge indicator lines can be hard to read in low light, so some owners set up under good light or a headlamp when dialing tears
• Long-draw geometry runs only on the number 4 and 5 mods, so it fits 31 1/4 to 33 inch draws and no shorter; anyone under that should look at the standard RX-10 or the Ultra

• The rubber Engage grip divides owners - those who dislike it can pop it off for flat side plates or an aftermarket grip
• The 27-inch draw-length floor rules it out for shorter-draw shooters, who fit the Phase4 29 better