Each year there is a perceptible buzz surrounding the release of the new Mathews flagship bow. Online chatter always picks up weeks ahead of launch. Archers around the globe chime in with their predictions and ideas for making industry-leading bows even better. And I’ll bet nobody predicted what they got with the new Mathews Phase 4.
At the heart of the Phase 4 is Mathews new Resistance Phase Damping (RPD) technology. RPD sandwiches a layer of vibration-dampening material in the center of each limb, removing up to 37% of measured vibration from the bow. And when you remove more than 1/3rd of the vibration of an already low-vibration bow, the difference is noticeable.
Most of us have been screwing on, sticking on, or wedging some sort of vibration-dampening devices onto our limbs since the early 2000s. Twenty years ago, we knew that much of the vibration and noise we observed from our bows came from the limbs, and it’s been a battle to tame that beast ever since.Â
Until now, nobody has built the dampening material into the center of the limb, and it seems to have made a world of difference in how the Phase 4 shoots. It may sound like a broken record, but this is truly the most noise and vibration-free bow to ever come out of the team in Sparta, Wisconsin.
Also new for 2023 is the Bridge-Lock stabilizer technology. Continuing the trend that started with the integrated rest and sight mounting options, the Bridge-Lock stabilizer system mounts directly into the bow’s riser, providing a stiffer and more secure mounting option than traditional methods.
The included quick-disconnect knob allows you to adjust the length of your stabilizer in 1/2-inch increments, allowing you to customize your setup to find the sweet spot that works best for you. Bridge-Lock stabilizers are available in 8″, 10″, and 12″ lengths, and a rear-mount bracket is also available.
When it comes to the on-paper specs, the Phase 4 shares them verbatim with the V3X.Â
Phase 4 – 33
Brace Height: 6.5″
Axle-to-axle Length: 33″
Weight: 4.68 lbs
Speed: 336 fps
Draw Lengths: 27″ – 31″
Draw Weights: 60, 65, 70, 75
MSRP: $1,399
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Phase 4 – 29
Brace Height: 6″
Axle-to-axle Length: 29″
Weight: 4.48 lbs
Speed: 340 fps
Draw Lengths: 25.5″ – 30″
Draw Weights: 60, 65, 70, 75
MSRP: $1,299
Unfortunately for you all, the feel of a bow when you shoot it is not something that can easily be conveyed in words or in a video. It truly is something you need to feel to understand. Which makes this review somewhat anti-climactic, I know.Â
You’ll just have to take my word for it and go find a Mathews Retailer and shoot one for yourself. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.Â
