Bow question

[TX_bowhunter37]

when looking at bows i see it says axis to axis.

What does this mean?

How does that effect me as a hunter?

How does it get factored in when i get fitted?

[Swanyriver]

Axle to Axle? Basically the height of the bow.

[Mudslinger]

The distance from the center of the top axle to the center of the bottom axle.

[jcbryson82]

axle to axle

the white line is ATA

[bowhuntntxn]

Axle to axle can be used to your advantage several ways. In the past, bows were super long ATA, and were very stable at full draw because of that length. With the increase of ground blind hunting, manufacturers have started shortening the overall length of the bow for ease of handling in confined spaces. This also brought on the revolution of parallel limb designs. This modification allowed for increased arrow speeds in a short, compact sized bow. So it worked well for everyone involved.

The shorter the ATA, the less top to bottom length you have in the bow, so sometimes they have a tendency to be easily torques, and become more sensitive to proper form and grip. Meaning the smaller the flaw in form, the greater the negative results on the front end when shot. Longer brace height can make up for some of it, but not all of it, and you will sacrifice some speed at the same time.

The general mentality for getting fit for a bow is to get a draw length so that the string touches the tip of your nose, as a reference point to assist with a consistent anchor point. A smaller ATA(less than 35ish IMO) creates such a sharp string angle that to do this, a longer draw is needed, or the shooter has to bend his/her head down to touch the string, resulting in an unrepeatable and inconsistent form. This also contributes to the fact that the majority of archers today are fit with bows that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches too long in DL when they walk out the door.

Like anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to everything, and compromises are easily attained if you are willing to make concessions. Longer ATA, harder to move around in a ground blind, but a heck of a lot easier to shoot more accurately. Shorter ATA lightning fast, compact, maybe a little louder, but easily quieted at the cost of speed, easier to carry around in the woods, and maneuver in a tree or ground blind. So it really boils down to what exactly you think you need to fit the particular situation you are hoping to find yourself in. I hope this doesn't confuse you even more than before, and good luck in your search!

[TX_bowhunter37]

Axle to axle can be used to your advantage several ways. In the past, bows were super long ATA, and were very stable at full draw because of that length. With the increase of ground blind hunting, manufacturers have started shortening the overall length of the bow for ease of handling in confined spaces. This also brought on the revolution of parallel limb designs. This modification allowed for increased arrow speeds in a short, compact sized bow. So it worked well for everyone involved.

The shorter the ATA, the less top to bottom length you have in the bow, so sometimes they have a tendency to be easily torques, and become more sensitive to proper form and grip. Meaning the smaller the flaw in form, the greater the negative results on the front end when shot. Longer brace height can make up for some of it, but not all of it, and you will sacrifice some speed at the same time.

The general mentality for getting fit for a bow is to get a draw length so that the string touches the tip of your nose, as a reference point to assist with a consistent anchor point. A smaller ATA(less than 35ish IMO) creates such a sharp string angle that to do this, a longer draw is needed, or the shooter has to bend his/her head down to touch the string, resulting in an unrepeatable and inconsistent form. This also contributes to the fact that the majority of archers today are fit with bows that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches too long in DL when they walk out the door.

Like anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to everything, and compromises are easily attained if you are willing to make concessions. Longer ATA, harder to move around in a ground blind, but a heck of a lot easier to shoot more accurately. Shorter ATA lightning fast, compact, maybe a little louder, but easily quieted at the cost of speed, easier to carry around in the woods, and maneuver in a tree or ground blind. So it really boils down to what exactly you think you need to fit the particular situation you are hoping to find yourself in. I hope this doesn't confuse you even more than before, and good luck in your search!

Awesome thanks for breaking that down for me very interesting read

[txdukklr]

Axle to axle can be used to your advantage several ways. In the past, bows were super long ATA, and were very stable at full draw because of that length. With the increase of ground blind hunting, manufacturers have started shortening the overall length of the bow for ease of handling in confined spaces. This also brought on the revolution of parallel limb designs. This modification allowed for increased arrow speeds in a short, compact sized bow. So it worked well for everyone involved.

The shorter the ATA, the less top to bottom length you have in the bow, so sometimes they have a tendency to be easily torques, and become more sensitive to proper form and grip. Meaning the smaller the flaw in form, the greater the negative results on the front end when shot. Longer brace height can make up for some of it, but not all of it, and you will sacrifice some speed at the same time.

The general mentality for getting fit for a bow is to get a draw length so that the string touches the tip of your nose, as a reference point to assist with a consistent anchor point. A smaller ATA(less than 35ish IMO) creates such a sharp string angle that to do this, a longer draw is needed, or the shooter has to bend his/her head down to touch the string, resulting in an unrepeatable and inconsistent form. This also contributes to the fact that the majority of archers today are fit with bows that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches too long in DL when they walk out the door.

Like anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to everything, and compromises are easily attained if you are willing to make concessions. Longer ATA, harder to move around in a ground blind, but a heck of a lot easier to shoot more accurately. Shorter ATA lightning fast, compact, maybe a little louder, but easily quieted at the cost of speed, easier to carry around in the woods, and maneuver in a tree or ground blind. So it really boils down to what exactly you think you need to fit the particular situation you are hoping to find yourself in. I hope this doesn't confuse you even more than before, and good luck in your search!

that would sum it up nicely

[Brock Middlebrook]

Is 32" considered short by today's standards?

[Buck assasin]

No i do think that is more the medium mathews makes one that is like 28 " i do beleave but usually with a shorter axel to axel the draw lenghts ar going to be smaller as well.

[bowhuntntxn]

32 is actually a fairly common ATA. All manufacturers offer something at that length or really close to it. 28 is SHORT!! by today's standards 37 is LONG and anything longer than that is "for target shooting only"!!

[flatwoodshunter]

Short Bows make great Hunting Bows. I like the ones with parallel limbs, which makes the riser longer. These Bows shoot very accurate.

[Loreva13]

Axle to axle can be used to your advantage several ways. In the past, bows were super long ATA, and were very stable at full draw because of that length. With the increase of ground blind hunting, manufacturers have started shortening the overall length of the bow for ease of handling in confined spaces. This also brought on the revolution of parallel limb designs. This modification allowed for increased arrow speeds in a short, compact sized bow. So it worked well for everyone involved.

The shorter the ATA, the less top to bottom length you have in the bow, so sometimes they have a tendency to be easily torques, and become more sensitive to proper form and grip. Meaning the smaller the flaw in form, the greater the negative results on the front end when shot. Longer brace height can make up for some of it, but not all of it, and you will sacrifice some speed at the same time.

The general mentality for getting fit for a bow is to get a draw length so that the string touches the tip of your nose, as a reference point to assist with a consistent anchor point. A smaller ATA(less than 35ish IMO) creates such a sharp string angle that to do this, a longer draw is needed, or the shooter has to bend his/her head down to touch the string, resulting in an unrepeatable and inconsistent form. This also contributes to the fact that the majority of archers today are fit with bows that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches too long in DL when they walk out the door.

Like anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to everything, and compromises are easily attained if you are willing to make concessions. Longer ATA, harder to move around in a ground blind, but a heck of a lot easier to shoot more accurately. Shorter ATA lightning fast, compact, maybe a little louder, but easily quieted at the cost of speed, easier to carry around in the woods, and maneuver in a tree or ground blind. So it really boils down to what exactly you think you need to fit the particular situation you are hoping to find yourself in. I hope this doesn't confuse you even more than before, and good luck in your search!

Couldn't of said it better!

[Ksig512]

Another reason to like TBH.... Great info for the new guys......

[Patton]

Good info here