How to Tune a Mathews Bow

Developed by Matt McPherson in the early 1970s, the patented Inner Cam eventually led to the founding of Mathews, Inc. Through the years, Mathews has engineered compound bows designed for the bow hunter and target shooter following a slogan: "Catch us if you can." (see References 1) Mathews follows this slogan in their approach to the research and development of compound bow technologies. Despite the development of new compound bows, however, one of the most important components to shooting a Mathews bow consistently and accurately is having the bow tuned properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Mathews owner's manual
  • Bow press
  • Laser alignment tool
  • Archer's Allen wrenches
  • Paper tuning machine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the Mathews bow in a bow press to install the nocking point. The nocking point -- the location where the arrow attaches to the bow string -- will vary according to the type of arrow rest, arrow spine and type of release (see References 2). Start by installing the nocking point about 1/2 inch above the 90-degree point in relation to the arrow rest and bow string. Always make sure the strings and cables are properly aligned in the tracks of the cams and wheels after removing the bow from the bow press.

    • 2

      Turn the limb bolts with an archer's Allen wrench -- 3/16-inch or 7/23-inch -- to increase or decrease draw weight. Most Mathews compound bows will feature a 10-pound draw weight range. Turn the limb bolt clockwise to increase the draw weight and counter-clockwise to decrease the draw weight. One full rotation will adjust the draw weight approximately 2 to 4 pounds. Always adjust both limb bolts equally to maintain tuning. Mathews recommends setting the draw weight to a poundage that is comfortable to draw (see References 2).

    • 3

      Shoot several arrows through a paper tuning machine. Having the rest and nocking point properly aligned along with shooting the recommended arrows should improve tuning. Use a laser alignment tool to make sure the rest, string and limbs are in line with each other. The tear on the paper from the arrow indicates how you need to adjust the rest or nocking point. For example, if the tip of the arrow hits left on the paper, adjust the rest to the left until the tip of the arrow flies through the paper at exactly the same location as the nock (see References 4).