Why Stabilizer Size Matters
Since bowhunting has grown in popularity since the mid 2000's, many hunters have wondered the true function of stabilizers. Sure they look "cool" and may complete the look of your bow, but what's the real use of them. Well many hunters are under the belief that stabilizers are made just to eliminate noise and vibration. And by all means these are two big components that help your shooting. But what is often overlook in stabilizers is that they help stabilize your shot. Hence the name. Now I used to be a little misguided in my understanding of stabilizers. I always thought they were primarily there to eliminate noise and vibration. The first few stabilizers I owned were often short and lightweight. In reality these did little to help my shooting but did eliminate some noise and vibration. I recently just purchased a new stabilizer for my new bow but this time before buying just any stabilizer I did some research. I found that the heavier stabilizer the better. Weight helps to stabilize your shot when at full draw. (I was amazed at the difference adding weight made) I also picked one that was longer than most conventional stabilizers. Most hunting stabilizers that are available most commoly are around 3-5 inches long. I did some thinking and thought about how IBO league hunters always shoot long stabilizers. And for what reason? Stability. So why not combine length and weight into a practical hunting stabilizer. I did a lot of shopping and finally settled on Octane stabilizers. The one bought was the 7" model. This was considerably heavier than my previous stabilizers. After shooting with my old stabilizer and then switching to this one, I was amazed at the difference. I shot tighter groups at longer distances, as well as eliminated noise and vibration just like my previous stabilizers did. So before you buy your next stabilizer, keep in mind length and weight. It also wouldn't hurt to shoot several different stabilizers at your local pro shop to narrow down your selection and see which one helps your shooting the most.
