My thoughts on the Mathews Drenalin

[idahoelkinstructor]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-07 AT 03:29PM (MST)[p]This past friday, the shop was realy realy slow, ( for those who don't know I work part time in a Mathews dealership) so some friends at different times (including Idahoelk, John who is a member here) and I realy put the Drenalin through some tests. First off we already knew it was light, which will be so nice for elk hunters and others who pack in and walk many of miles. We started out trying for accuracy, we set it up with a Ripcord rest, toxonics HD 5 pin site, a doinker stablizer, wrist sling and I even had a Mathews arrow web two piece raised quiver out of the package so we put that on too along with 5 arrows. It was set up and paper tuned then sighted in at 20 yards, the lenght of our range at the shop. Over all it was ready to go out the door like it would be in the field for either 3-d or hunting. It was a true test of how it would shoot for the average hunter! To say it balenced well in the hand is a understatement. One of my friends Dave is a huge target shooter, and one of our shop shooters so I gave it to him to shoot a game with imn our upstairs range, he droped 2 shots and ended up with a score of 298 out of 300. Not bad for right from the get go. After that we all shot it and I had the most troubles with it reguarding accuracy simply because I am a lefty and that bow was right handed. We did have two leftys in stock but I didn't want to set two bows up with one just for me. I can shoot ok right handed but not the best. Which is better than most right handed guys shooting left handed bows. lol But even with my poor shooting I can safely say that its a very accurate well balanced bow. Next we tested it for speed. Idahoelk/John was there for that part. Again I was very inpressed, At 71 pounds with a 404 arrow and 30" draw it was spitting it out at 301-302 f/s, time after time. I didn't have a lighter arrow in the store, and didn't want to make one just for this test. Up till this year in Idaho, to be legal our arrows had to be 400 grains or more. This year that law is now changed to 300 grains or more manly for the out of staters comming in to hunt. Around here not many archers are switching over becasue a heavy arrow is sure nice for elk, it gives you plenty of KE which is needed for them. Anyway I too will soon have a Drenalin, just waiting for Mathews to offer them to dealers at the once a year special, Dealers and Dealer employies only price. Overall the drenalin is a very nice well balanced light weight bow that is also very fery fast to boot, it will be a winner for sure. For comparison we also shot my 05 Switchback, John's 2002 Mathews Legacy, and Dave's 06 Switchback XT. One thing that surprized me was that the Legacy, Switchback, and the XT all were within 5 f/s of each other, and the Drenalin was about 10 f/s faster than that. I am going to compare my own 06 Switchback XT and my 06 Switchback and a new 07 Switchback just for fun of it next week. I know that you can take the same two bows with the same arrow and get differet speeds, so it will be intresting to see the results, I'll post the results. Jason

 

[mike111]

I also shot the Drenalin and thought the light weight was the biggest advantage. It was a smooth shooting bow, but the first part of the draw seemed a little tougher to draw than the XT. I didn't set the Drenalin up all the way like you did, but from taking a few shots it did seem like a well balanced bow. With the Drenalin shooting over 300 fps with a 400 grain arrow is very impressive. I believe the XT would shoot the 400 grain at around 290 fps. Currently I have my XT at 345 grains @315 fps w/85 grain broadhead set up for speed and hopefully a pass through. Plugging those numbers in the KE calculator I get 76.03 ft lbs, which is more than my first set up at 360 grains, 100 grain broadhead @303 fps at 73 ft lbs. I've also tried shots below IBO, with a 75 grain broadhead and shot it through the chrony putting the 335 grain arrow at 330 fps where the KE calculator says it would be around 81 ft lbs. My question is when does the KE calculator become inaccurate with too light of arrow. Thanks for the info on all the bows, it will be interesting to see what results you come back with.

 

[idahoelkinstructor]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-07 AT 08:46PM (MST)[p]"I am going to compare my own 06 Switchback XT and my 06 Switchback and a new 07 Switchback just for fun of it next week."

Dang just saw this was trying to edit it and it said I couldn't after 300 minutes. OK didn't know about that anyway my Switchback is a 05 not a 06.

 

[huntntrail]

Idahoelk....I sent you a PM awhile ago...if ya don't get it let me know...just wondering what the price tag is on the new Drenalin. Here it's about 750.00 but have read about numerous places around having them for 700.00 flat.

 

[Idahoelk]

I Think the price at Idaho Archery was 809.00 for The Drenalin. Jason can correct me if that price is off. I'll have to go check my pm's I never seem to notice I have any, PM's that is.

 

[Idahoelk]

well I had the icon showing new messages but when I opened my inbox just 10 old messages. I don't know what the limit on messages is but I deleted the old ones if you want to try again. Unless I answered your question above.

 

[AZtrophyhunter]

Thanks for sharing those results. I just purchased a Drenalin & can't wait to get it all set up & ready to shoot.

 

[elkaddiction]

I shot one last weekend. My thoughts were as follows: Its fast for a single cam bow. It balances well for the light weight though I wonder if the addition of a quiver won't have more of an effect given its light weight. It's light weight brings some noted vibration you don't feel in the SBs although I suspect the addition of an STS and a stabilizer would take care of it. Nice bow--I think they'll sell a buch. If I were in the market for a Mathews, I personally would stick with one of the SB variations. I'd like to see a head to head comparison with the new Ross Cardiac!

 

[idahoelkinstructor]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-07 AT 07:32PM (MST)[p]OK was back in the shop today, it wasn't slow this time, but between customers I was able to find time to shoot my Switchback, my Switchback XT and the Drenalin. Again all were 30" DL and all were set to 70-71 pounds. I had 5 different arrows ranging from 386 grains up to a very heavy 640 grain arrow. Here are the numbers for the three different bows!


2005 Switchback, with Loop, rad peep and string leaches installed

386 Gr. Lightspeed 400..................................294 f/s
404 Gr. Bemon Black Max 400.............................286 f/s
450 Gr. Gold Tip XT 7595................................273 f/s
525 Gr. Easton AC Super Slim 300........................257 f/s
640 Gr. Est Gamegetter II (full length) 2219............235 f/s




2006 Switchback XT with loop rad peep and string leaches installed.

386 Gr. Lightspeed 400..................................291 f/s
404 Gr. Bemon Black Max 400.............................283 f/s
450 Gr. Gold Tip XT 7595................................277 f/s
525 Gr. Easton AC Super Slim 300........................255 f/s
640 Gr. Est Gamegetter II (full length) 2219............232 f/s



2007 Drenalin with loop and rad peep installed.

386 Gr. Lightspeed 400..................................309 f/s
404 Gr. Bemon Black Max 400.............................301 f/s
450 Gr. Gold Tip XT 7595................................286 f/s
525 Gr. Easton AC Super Slim 300........................268 f/s
640 Gr. Est Gamegetter II (full length) 2219............243 f/s

 

[idahoelkinstructor]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-07 AT 07:14PM (MST)[p]I also shot a 2007 switchback with a bare string other than a loop, and another 2006 SBXT with loop only Both of these were 30" set at 70 pounds. These two bows almost matched my bows on the numbers with all 5 arrows. I say almost becasue they were faster with each arrow by one or two feet per second. I am guessing my bows are a bit slower because of the loop, peep and sting leach.

 

[Boskee]

I'm not in the market for a new bow but if I was I'd consider the Drenalin. It looks like a pretty nice bow to me and I've shot Hoyt for quite a few years now. One of my buds just bought one and it's really nice!

 

[nmhs]

I shot the drenalin a week ago and its a nice bow, but for 800.00 bucks I think I will stick with my outback for awhile. Unless the price drops in the fall. I remember buying my outback in the fall after it had been out for 10 months and I payed 650.00 Nice bow though.