Bess, as a archery instructor each year I try out all the many types of bows from different companys. When a student asks me which bow should they buy I ask how much money do you want to spend. Then I give them my top pick for each company within their price range, I do try to be unbiased. Many archers do put Bowtech, Hoyt, and Mathews in the top 3, like Chevy, Ford, and Dodge. But there are many other companys that also make quality bows, I don't think there is a bad bow company in business today. If someone does make junk you can bet they will not be in business very long. I purchased the SwitchBack this past year, it was my first Mathews and I am very pleased and happy with it. Before that I shot a Martin for seven years and before that I shot two different Golden Eagles. I still own my older bows because they have killed elk and I can never part with a bow after I have taken a elk with it. I look foward to hunting with my SB for several years. Being honest I also liked the Bowtech Alegence too but just not as much as the Switchback. If money was no object I would love to own them both. Remeber when choosing a bow it doesn't matter who likes what, what does matter is what you like and feels good to you. I like the feel of the bigger/fatter grips of the Mathews, on the other hand some hate it, prefering the narrow grip of the Hoyts. The SB also feels the most smooth and dead in my hand, while others say its the hoyt,bowtech or another brand that feels best to them. All of us are correct in our statements when we say well I choose and bought brand so and so because it felt the best to me. Where we as archers error is when we assume that because brand X feels the best to us, we think that it should feel the best to everyone else as well. Your right about haveing many many choices with archery equipment, thank heavens there is because there is not one bow that is perfect for all. My advice to all is own and shoot what feels best to you and don't worry about what others think or say about your bow.
