2009 BOW REVIEW
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2009. THE VANTAGE SERIES The new Vantage series includes the Vantage Elite and the Vantage Pro. Both bows are geared around the design that was so well accepted last year in the Original Hoyt Vantage X8. Indoor, outdoor, field and 3D archers proved that the Vantage was a perfect design after accumulating numerous wins, records and personal best. It is no secret that I strongly favor a target bow that has a longer, more stable riser that maximizes the torsional stability of the bow in hand. I also prefer a shorter, stiffer and more parallel limb angle. Last year with the Vantage X8 Hoyt made a target bow the really fit my bill. Both the Vantage Elite and Vantage Pro come in at 41” axle to axle and weigh approximately 4.8 lbs. So not only are they favorable in axle to axle length but they are lighter than other comparable size bows on the market. This enables each archer to use their desired counter weights and stabilizers systems to customer the bow for their preferred feel. The Vantage Elite and Vantage Pro bows are both available with different cam options. The
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first option is the ever popular Cam 1⁄2 Plus system. It allows the archer to have maximum adjustment of draw length and is also noted to be extremely smooth pulling and will give you a solid stop on the back wall. The Cam 1⁄2 Plus option will deliver speeds over 300 fps in both the Vantage Elite and Pro. The second system, the new Spiral X Cam 1⁄2 is a modernized and enhanced version of the previously popular Spiral Cam 1⁄2. The Spiral X is geared to deliver more speed, give a more aggressive force draw curve, longer peak weight duration and rock solid wall. The Spiral X does not have the adjustability of the Cam 1⁄2 Plus system but does have the speeds and feel that many archers favored in the original Spiral Cam 1⁄2. It has an adjustable peg to change the let off from 55% to 65%. In my testing I found that the new Spiral X delivers about 8 feet per second more speed than the Cam 1⁄2 Plus system. The original Spiral Cam 1⁄2 was an exceptionally proven cam system when combined with the XT2000 limbs. Both the Vantage Elite and Vantage Pro come fitted with the XT2000 limb. The XT2000 are the perfect match for the riser length and limb angles of these new bows. This XT2000 limb is a shorter rigid target limb that rounds off the solid feel and bow response in the Vantage Pro and Vantage Elite. Finally both of these bows have the Hoyt Integrated grip machined into the riser. This is the same grip that has dominated the tournament circuits by Hoyt shooters. It is no secret that an archers shot starts and stops in the bow hand. Having a torque free ergonomically correct grip design is the key to perfectly placed arrows. For the time being I set this Vantage Pro up with my usual indoor Fita arrows. I wanted to check the center shot tune on this new grip vs. the Vantage X8. The center shot tune was straight down the middle and arrow flight was perfect. THE ELITE ADVANTAGE The Vantage Elite is different from the Vantage Pro in that the Vantage Elite’s riser is machined with the built in STT or Shoot Through Technology. The concept behind the shoot through system is that the machined bridge
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actually increases lateral stiffness, resulting in a more consistent reaction of the bow upon release. The Shoot-Thru riser has been engineered for optimized balance, making the bow easier to aim than traditional open-shelf bows. This is because the extra stiff riser minimizes the torque and the aluminum shoot through arc counter balances the natural weight of a center shot riser shape. When you combine this innovation with the torque free grip you have a perfect recipe to cook up some awesome scores. I think all target archers will agree that they prefer the smallest more comfortable grip they can find. That is why I think the Elite series has been so popular for Hoyt in the past. The Vantage Elite that I was testing for this report was one that came in with the high polished Blue Fusion anodizing. I have always liked the fusion graphics and was glad to see this Blue Fusion make it back into the line up. I tuned the new Elite with my outdoor arrow set up and instantly was on track shooting excellent groupings at 70 meters.
2009 BOW REVIEW
Tale of the Tape Vantage Pro & Vantage Elite Cam 1⁄2 Plus Speed: Axle Length: Brace Height: Weight: Draw Lengths: Color Options: High Polish:
Spiral X
301 308 41” 41” 8” 7-3⁄4” 4.8 lbs. 4.8 lbs. 25.5-34” 25.5-32” Realtree APG HD Camo, Black Out, Pearl White New Blue Fusion, Red Ember, Jade Green, Cobalt Blue, Jet Black
Vantage Elite and Vantage Pro also come standard equipped with Fuse Custom Bowstrings, Triax Limb Pockets, and Alpha Shox string and limb silencers. Vantage Pro comes standard with the Stealth Shot string suppression system continued on pg. 8 ARCHERY MAGAZINE
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