After verifying all bow specs, I put 200 arrows through each bow at ranges between 20 and 50 yards to allow for string settling and stretch. Over these 200 shots, I took notes about each bow’s grip, draw cycle, transition to let-off, back wall, full-draw balance, aiming, post-shot feel, and fit and finish.
After that, I paper-tuned each bow—including bare-shaft tuning at 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards—until a dozen test arrows created a perfect bullet hole through the paper.
Next, I shot three-arrow groups at 20 and 50 yards with field points. I also shot three-arrow groups from 80 yards, which was the max test distance. I measured and averaged all the group sizes for each bow. I also shot two 5-Spot Indoor 300 rounds from 20 yards, and two outdoor 3-D rounds with 12 targets between 20 and 50 yards and 50 and 80 yards.
After testing eac bow-and-arrow combo with field tips, I tested each with 100-grain fixed-blade Exodus and Trocar broadheads to 60 yards. I shot three fixed-blade arrow groups from 20 to 60 yards and three field-point-tipped arrows head-to-head against those groups. Results were measured and recorded. I repeated the process with SEVR’s Ti 1.5 4-Blade Hybrid, Speed’s Crosscut, and G5’s T2 mechanical heads. I tested each mechanical broadhead to 60 yards against field points.
I used Competition Electronics ProChrono LTD and Garmin’s Xero C1 Pro chronographs to record three-shot speed averages. (Remember, the speed figures below are not to IBO specs; they reflect my 29-inch draw length and 70-pound draw weight, with a 467-grain arrow.) I measured noise with Reed’s Model R8050 Sound Level Meter, averaging the decibel (dB) readings of three shots. With all the results tabulated, I sat down and scored each bow on a 100-point scale in the following categories:
- Accuracy and forgiveness (20 points)
- Speed (20 points)
- Draw Cycle (10 points)
- Balance, grip, aim (10 points)
- Lack of Noise (10 points)
- Lack of Vibration (10 points)
- Fit and Finish (10 points)
Using all of that data, I picked the overall winner of F&S’s 2026 compound bow test, as well as winners in the categories that mean the most to bowhunters. Here are the results.