First Look: The Bowtech Prodigy

Bowtech's new Prodigy represents a beginning for the company. It's a new way to offer customers and pro shops more choices, more flexibility and more adjustability all on one bow that has the ability to adapt right along with the archer over many years and situations. Bowtech's all new PowerShift Technology is the key to this horizon.

Before we go further down that road, let's take a high-level look at all the other technologies and features the Prodigy has to offer. First, the new PowerShift Technology is built on the company's popular Overdrive Binary Cam system, which is known for excellent speeds, draw length adjustability on a rotating module, forced synchronization and perfect-center arrow tuning.

In addition, this rig is based on Bowtech's signature Center Pivot Extreme (CPX) riser, which interfaces with the limbs over an extended length, bringing the pivot point of the limbs closer to the shooter, and thereby creating a more forgiving and low torque platform.

The FLX-Guard cable containment system acts much like a limb, bending during the draw cycle, and reduces torque before springing back to position upon release, moving the cables out of the way of passing fletch. Other things to look for on the Prodigy include: Octane string and cables; Revolver Riser dampeners; string stop; pre-loaded, beyond-parallel limbs; and a one-piece grip.

In an effort to get a feel for this new PowerShift Technology, I decided to run a few quick tests using the bow's max weight, the 29-inch draw length setting and a 540-grain arrow.

I set up the bow on each of the PowerDisc positions and recorded some basic information — without adjusting anything else other than the PowerDisc:

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	Position #1 - Performance	Position #2 - Classic	Position #3 - Comfort
Draw length	29	29	29
Draw weight	70.7	70.9	70.5
Speed	268	264	259
Kinetic Energy	86.14	83.59	80.45
Dynamic efficiency	86.86	87.04	87.09

After drawing the bow dozens of times in the three settings and reviewing the force draw curves, I could positively identify each of the offerings without even looking at the disc position. There is an obvious change from one to the other on the back side of the draw curve and in the holding weight. The bow's draw weight and draw length stayed nearly identical regardless of disc position.

Switching between the positions is quick and easy, however, this isn't something you change in the field as your arrow speeds, and in turn, impact points will change — unless, of course, you plan to sight-in on the new setting.

Be sure to watch future issues of Petersen's Bowhunting for a complete High Grade Bow Report on this innovative series of new Bowtech bows as well as other 2015 makes and models.