For 20 years, Mathews Inc. has set the bar For pIoneerIng InnovatIons.

shaping the
world of archery
For 20 years, Mathews
Inc. has set the bar for
pioneering innovations.
n by steve bartylla
50 | M at hews | Bowhunting Whitetails I will never forget the day I met Mathews’
founder and CEO, Matt McPherson. I’d been writing for just a
couple of years, and a magazine editor called to say he and the
magazine’s top ad guy would be in my home state of Wisconsin
to interview McPherson. He suggested I meet them for lunch.
Although McPherson is extremely gracious and disarming,
I admit I feared I wouldn’t really fit in. After all, I’d only written about 10 articles and was by far the least important person
sitting at the table. To my surprise, I never once felt like that the
entire meal. In fact, despite the magazine staffers being there to
do a piece promoting Mathews, McPherson seemed to spend
more time making sure I felt like the most important person at
the table than he did promoting Mathews. I left Sparta that day
the newest member of Mathews’ Pro Staff, without ever having
asked for the honor. Fifteen years and more than 700 articles
later, I still look at that day as one of the most significant in
my career.
Yet, Mathews has done so much more than help me step into
this industry. This amazing company has shaped the archery
world. Nearly every advancement they’ve unveiled has been
major, and there have been truckloads of them.
M a t h e w s i nc . c o m
T h e
w o r l d
o f
a r c h e r y
Doing the Impossible
us,” McPherson said. “Particularly with the SoloCam,
Before I dive into the impressive technologies Mathews
because when we released it, it was so new and different
has brought to the bow world, I think it’s important to
that we needed a way to educate the public on how and
note how they have been able to pull off the seemingly
why it was better.”
impossible feat of not only breaking into the highly
The other critical component of Mathews’ startling
competitive bow market, but becoming the leader in the
success is rarely mentioned. McPherson created a familyfield and remaining there — all in just 20 years.
like company, where everyone feels great loyalty to the
It is an inspirational story of the American dream: A
consumers and the products. A man of strong faith, he
rise from a startup two-man shop back in 1992 to become
treats everyone as equals.
the only archery company ever to
“Really, everyone wants to be
make Inc.’s Top 500 list of fasttreated with respect and appreci“What drives me is that I’m
est growing companies (in both
ated for what they do,” McPherson
always working on making
1998 and 1999), producing their
said. “I do my best to treat all of my
the shooting experience
millionth bow in 2010 and holdemployees like that.”
ing the crown as the largest bow
I sincerely believe that’s as
better. It means making bows
manufacturer in the world.
significant as all of Mathews innofaster, lighter and smoother,
It begins with having a passion
vations in allowing the company to
and an idea for a better product. but those goals fight each other. achieve such impressive success.
And for McPherson, it started as a It’s like trying to build a race car If someone feels appreciated and
child. His mother didn’t like guns,
sees others around them taking
so bow-hunting was the only that rides like a luxury car and has pride in their work, they push
the fuel efficiency of a hybrid.” themselves even harder to do the
option for the McPherson boys.
Matt was 6 years old when he made
— Matt McPherson best they can. It has fostered a
his first bow. At age 13, he made
company of innovation.
his first compound. In fact, before starting Mathews, he
started and later sold McPherson Archery. This springIt Started with a Revolution
board allowed him to fine-tune his art, creating a better
Mathews was founded with innovation — specifically the
mouse trap by pioneering the first high let-off bows.
revolutionary SoloCam. The Solocam Standard was the first
“What drives me is that I’m always working on making
dual-feed single-cam bow ever introduced, and it served as
the shooting experience better,” Matt revealed. “That’s a
the first step toward revolutionizing the archery world.
different approach. It means making bows faster, lighter
The advantages of a single cam are both many and
and smoother, but those goals fight each other. It’s like
significant. However, the biggest is simply synchronizatrying to build a race car that rides like a luxury car and
tion. With one cam, the bow can’t come “out of sync” like
has the fuel efficiency of a hybrid.”
traditional two-cam bows. Those of us that have shot twoObviously, McPherson’s creative mind, desire and the
cam bows (one sign of how significant Mathews’ innoright approach have been key ingredients to advancing
vations have been is how many folks no longer fall into
the bow world. However, as is often the case with new
this category) realize how difficult it can be to keep them
and innovative products, McPherson needed a vehicle for
tuned and timed properly. It’s a never-ending struggle,
showing consumers why his products are superior.
and critical for maximizing accuracy and efficiency. With
“That’s why an aggressive ad campaign is critical for
a single cam, those concerns are eliminated.
2008/09
Reezen Cam
1992
Original Solocam Standard
1998
Straightline Maxcam
2005
Dual Perimeter Weighted
Straightline C1 Cam
SoloCam Revolution
There is no questioning the pure simplicity of the Single Cam
bow. Subtracting a cam resulted in highly efficient, faster, more
accurate, more forgiving bows with solid draw walls, less noise, less
recoil, less vibration and no synchronization problems. These cams
have continued to evolve and become even more advanced.
M a t h e w s i n c.com
2010/11
ZX Cam
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T h e
1996 Mathews Feather Light
Axle to Axle Length: 38”
Riser Length: 17 5/8”
w o r l d
2000 Mathews Q2
Axle to Axle Length: 33 7/8”
Riser Length: 23”
o f
a r c h e r y
2006 Mathews
Switchback XT
Axle to Axle Length: 31”
Riser Length: 25 1/2”
2007/08 Mathews DXT
2010/11 Mathews Z7 Xtreme
Axle to Axle Length: 29 3/4”
Axle to Axle Length: 28”
Riser Length: 22 7/16”
Riser Length: 25 16/25”
Parallel Limb Revolution
In 1996, Mathews introduced the Signature which featured a proportionately longer riser and shorter, more parallel limbs. Because the limbs
were more parallel, the vibration and recoil generated by each canceled. Since 1996, Mathews bow models have featured limbs that continue to
become more and more parallel. Over time other bow manufactures start to copy this revolutionary design concept first developed by Mathews.
Single cam bows are also quieter,
provide a solid wall, offer increased
accuracy, have less recoil and vibration,
are more forgiving and require less
maintenance.
Although Mathews makes numerous advancements in SoloCam technologies every year, the next massive
breakthrough was the MaxCam. With
the introduction of perimeter weighting, the MaxCam cancelled much of
the vibration, helping the bow shoot
smoother. Also, the design lengthened
and strengthened the power stroke,
creating the fastest bow of its era.
Next, the MQ1’s StraightLine
MaxCam introduced the bow world to
straight-line knock travel. This brought
accuracy and consistency to new
52 | M at hews | Bowhunting Whitetails heights, as well as resetting the bar for a
smooth, quiet shot.
From there, Mathews cam designs
have been constantly increasing efficiency, performance and accuracy,
as well as producing smoother and
quieter bows with each new generation.
After years of advancements, it almost
sounds simple. It’s anything but.
“We’ve really got to the point where
we are splitting hairs to get the most
out of each new cam,” McPherson said.
“Some of the bigger improvements were
the Switchback Straightline C1 Cam,
where we designed a rounder cam. With
the Reezen cam, we increased efficiency
and output more than any before. The
Z7 and ZX Cam are tweaked to be the
most efficient cams I had ever seen.”
Make no mistake about it: Each
new cam might be “splitting hairs” to
improve upon the previous, but those
split hairs make a significant difference.
Anyone who shoots a new Mathews
from one year to the next realizes
each one is noticeably more accurate,
smoother and quieter than the previous
year’s models.
Cutting Edge Ideas
Of course, new cams aren’t the only
reason for increased performance and
a better shooting experience. A bow is
more than its cam, and Mathews has
also made huge breakthroughs in bow
design.
One of the biggest changes between
bows today and those of the past is
M a t h e w s i nc . c o m
M a t h e w s i n c.com
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T h e
Shooting Tips
20. “When learning to shoot instinctive, begin
shooting at moving targets with flu-flu arrows.
Flu-flus will ensure recovery of all the shots you
will miss. Your brain will learn a lot quicker and
will train your body how to proficiently hit the
center of moving targets. You won’t have time
to aim. Your brain takes over and eventually
calibrates the shot for you.”
-Tim Wells
40. “Always take into consideration the size
of your string loop when determining your
proper draw length. The loop will usually add
½ inch.”
-Kelly Ray
36. “Shoot every shot without fear of missing.”
- Kelly Ward
87. “I never aim directly at the 12-ring if the
target is over 35 yards. Aim just above it and
don’t force yourself to be perfect on yardage.
It could save you points.”
- Randall Jones
2. “The most crucial part of accurate shooting
is hand to bow fit. Wherever you put pressure
from hand to bow, it will effect your left to
right or up and down. Low pressure will create
high arrows, high pressure will create low
arrows, inside or outside pressure will create
left or right arrows. Your knuckles should be
at a 45 degree angle and the center of the
grip should follow the lifeline in your hand.
Place your hand in this position and let the
bow pressure your hand.”
- Burley Hall
49. “Keep a log of shooting flaws or problems
during the season. It often takes thousands
of repetitive shots to correct these problems.
Work on them during the offseason. There
are often fellow shooters that have dealt with
these problems and can offer suggestions that
have worked for them.”
- Robert Clark
62. “Hold your sight pin on the target until
the arrow hits. A common mistake shooters
make is that they move the bow while the shot
is being fired, which causes the arrow to miss
its mark. Remember to focus on the target
and follow through.”
- Michael Anderson
22. “Your release hand should come straight
back and touch your shoulder.”
-Chris Stachler
76. “Blank bale practice (no sight, no target,
or with your eyes closed) is a great way to
build muscle memory.”
-Bill Lewis
38. “I always mount a camera on my bow
to record my follow through after each shot.
This also adds a little extra weight to the bow
which helps build my endurance and trains
me to not drop my arm.”
- Freddy Harteis
54 | M at hews | Bowhunting Whitetails 1992 Mathews Standard:
Original Cable Slide
w o r l d
o f
a r c h e r y
1996 Mathews Signature:
Teflon Composite Cable Slide
2005 Mathews Switchback:
Angled Double Damper Roller Guard
2003 Mathews Legacy:
Ball Bearing Roller Guard
2009/10 Mathews Z7:
Reverse Assist Roller Guard
Roller Guard Revolution
Mathews first introduced a carbon cable guard with a Teflon slider to combat noise. Mathews then
came out with the roller guard to reduce friction even more. In 2002, Mathews angled the design
and incorporated Harmonic Dampers to deaden vibration. In the fall of 2009, Mathews released
another major innovation with the Reverse Assist Roller Guard. By reversing the cables — placing
them in the front of the roller instead of the back — Mathews reduced friction, and people soon
dubbed the Mathews Z7 the smoothest bow ever designed.
parallel-limb design. It’s an important
part in creating a highly-efficient, topperformance bow. Simply put, parallel limbs cancel vibration and create a
smoother, quieter bow.
Back in the early 1990s, Mathews
designed a perfectly parallel-limbed
bow, but no bow presses were designed
to handle it. Realizing hunters needed
archery shops that were able to set up
their bows, Mathews took the approach
of gradually bringing them more and
more parallel, allowing the bow presses
time to keep up.
“In 1996, the Mathews Signature was
our first step,” McPherson said. “We
designed it to have a longer riser and
shorter limbs. Each year, we took it a
step closer to parallel. Now, our limbs
have moved to being beyond parallel.”
Mathews has also revolutionized
the cable guard. Traditional metal rod
guards were a source of high friction.
They also squeaked in damp conditions. Obviously, neither are good
things for hunters. To combat that,
Mathews first introduced a carbon
cable guard with a Teflon slider. The
design created a smoother, quieter shot
in all conditions.
Never settling, Mathews then came
out with the roller guard, reducing friction even more. In 2002, Mathews angled
the design, again reducing friction.
Finally, in 2010, Mathews released
another major innovation with the
Reverse Assist Roller Guard. By reversing the cables — placing them in the
front of the roller instead of the back
— Mathews reduced friction and
improved the smoothness factor yet
again. The improvement in ease of
draw is nothing short of amazing.
The Silence of Success
I’m a fanatical whitetail hunter, so for
me, some of Mathews most significant
innovations have been the ground-breaking technologies that reduce bow noise.
The biggest cause of bow noise is
vibration. Mathews realized that if they
could stop vibration, they could reduce
most of the noise. Thus, many of the
advancements created to help make the
bow smoother and more comfortable
also helped to quiet it. Parallel-limb
design, roller guard advancements and
the SoloCam itself are all examples.
But for sound fanatics like me, the
introduction of Harmonic Dampeners
was huge. This amazing design absorbs
vibrations, quiets the bow and reduces
shock. Since its release in 2000, it has
been incorporated into roller guards,
sights, quivers, risers and string suppressors. The addition of the Harmonic Stabilizer in the fall of 2008 reduced up to 75
percent of residual vibration and has
M a t h e w s i nc . c o m
T h e
w o r l d
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a r c h e r y
Extra Tips
2000 Harmonic Dampers Introduced
2003
V-Lock Limb Cup System
2008/09
Harmonic Stabilizer
Introduced
2006/07 Sphere Lock
Pivoting Limb Lock System
The Latest Limb Technology
2010/11
SE5 Composite SlimLimbs
Mathews limbs are cut from engineered composite plates on two state-of-the-art Flow
Waterjet machines. Today’s revolutionary SE5 Composite SlimLimbs are dramatically thinner,
yet subsequently more durable than other designs. They are attached to the bow with the
revolutionary V-Lock Zero Tolerance Limb Cup System, which forces the bow limb into very
positive and consistent alignment where it is attached to the bow handle. The result is consistent
bow performance in terms of accuracy and an increased confidence level of the archer.
become a mainstay on Mathews’ risers.
In addition, the String Suppressors,
released in 2002, and the Dead End
String Stop offered in 2009, result in
less string slap. These technologies
drain noise causing vibrations from
the string faster than ever before. More
silencing technology arrived in 2009
with the release of Monkey Tails to
further reduce string vibrations.
These technologies have changed
the way I shoot at deer. I used to always
aim for the heart. That way, if the deer
dropped due to bow noise, I’d still get a
lung hit. I no longer aim low. I’ve shot
26 deer in the past four seasons with
Mathews bows. Not a single one has
dropped the shot. I now simply aim
where I want the arrow to hit.
No End in Sight
Amazingly, all of this barely begins
to scratch the surface of the innovations
Mathews has brought to the archery
world in the past 20 years.
Mathews’ advances in riser technolM a t h e w s i n c.com
ogy, such as the Grid Lock design, have
lightened and strengthened the riser.
The SE Composite SlimLimb design
reduces bow weight. Sphere Lock technology ingeniously locks the limb in
place and combines with Limb Turrets
to spread stress across the limbs, allowing limbs to be smaller and lighter.
String Grubs help nudge the speed
envelope further than ever before. The
list of Mathews’ innovations is literally
endless, and there are still many more
to come.
This is the reason I shoot a Mathews,
and why I will until either they stop
making bows, or I can no longer draw
them.
Steve Bartylla is a 15-year Mathews
pro-staff member. He prefers Mathews
Z-Series for its smooth-drawing Reverse
Assist Roller Guard technology.
11. “If you have a little remote clearing in one
of your bowhunting spots, you can turn it into
a deer magnet by planting an alfalfa and clover
blend seed mix that doesn’t require any plowing
or heavy equipment to plant.”
- Dick Scorzafava
97. “Always invest in the next generation:
What we have is theirs and if we don’t include
them now, all our efforts and memories are for
naught.”
- Thomas Allen
95. “Do your research extensively on an
outfitter. Ask for references from hunters
who did not tag out. Those will be the most
accurate.”
- Justin Martin
59. “Save all your hunting licenses and
document your hunting trips in a journal. It’s
nice to have documented proof of legal harvest
as well as info as to where and when animals
were taken.”
- Tom Miranda
71. “Carry an eyedropper of vegetable oil with
you for those unexpected squeaks that you may
encounter while on your adventure.”
- Mike Beatty
12. “Use a short piece of yarn tied to your
stabilizer for a wind indicator.”
- David Hale
84. “Buy a pair of clear safety glasses for
navigating through the woods in the dark. They
will help prevent you from getting a stick in
the eye.”
- Josh Cottrell
57.“Always be sure to tune your broadheads
so they fly exactly like your field points. The
broadhead should spin perfectly with no wobble.
If it doesn’t, rotate the insert inside the arrow
shaft slightly and spin again.”
- Stan Potts
74. “You should never set your bow to a peak
weight for whitetail season. Here’s why: The
longer you sit on stand the less your muscles
want to react at full power.”
- Mark Kayser
47. “Most of the time, bow hunting is a oneshot deal. But if you bow-hunt long enough,
there will be times when you might be able to
get off a second arrow. Practice for this scenario
or you’re bound to blow it.”
- Gary Clancy
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