The new simplistic or even ascetic design by Mathews combines forgiveness known from its predecessor Z7 with surprisingly low weight. Creed with its short A2A of only 30”, high speed, low weight and comfortable and forgiving 7” brace height is an ideal setup for a bowhunter. It is also highly praised for very smooth draw cycle which is due to application of advanced SimPlex Cam technology.
Mathews Creed comes with the Geo Grid Lock riser known from from Heli-M. Its further improvement of the Grid Lock technology based on interlocking bridges connecting riser’s front and back edges and giving it extreme stiffness along with low weight. The recent improvement in this technology resulted in introduction of GeoGrid Lock riser bringing the weight even lower. Creed comes with either Walnut SlimFit Inline grip or Focus grip depending on the finish you choose. The first one is quite slim yet very comfortable. It has a distinct line at the back facilitating proper hand placement. Being made of wood it’s nice and warm in touch. Focus Grip is also slim and ergonomic with a line at the back. It’s made of rubber and there are several colors of this grip to choose from.
Limbs
After extensive studies of efficiency Mathews decided to use split limbs with Creed making it the first single-cam bow in the history of this company with type of limbs. They are in parallel position and can be adjusted in the range of 50 to 70 lbs.
Cam
The new SimPlex Cam that was used in Creed is made of 7075-T6 Aluminium which makes it extremely strong and lightweight. Due to its shape the draw cycle is very smooth. The efficiency is further increased by application of sealed bearings which minimize friction. One can choose a draw length in the range from 26” to 30”. The draw length can be adjusted in half-inch increments.
Finish
Mathews Creed comes in three versions:
Black,
Lost Camo,
Tactical.
It is possible to mix the first two together. The Tactical finish is often slightly more expensive and features Focus Grip instead of Walnut SlimFit present in Black and Lost Camo versions. Further customization can be achieved by changing colors of the dampeners and rubber of the grip (Focus Grip).
Vibration and noise reduction
Any string oscillation after the shot are captured by the Dead End String Stop Lite which is a lighter but equally effective version of Mathews Dead End String Stop. Riser vibrations are deadened by two dampeners, one on the top and one on the bottom of the riser. The upper one is Mathews Harmonic dampener while the lower one is its lighter version, Mathews Harmonic Dampener Lite.
PSE Prophecy gained its popularity by being the fastest single-cam compound bow on the market. This rig offers unparalleled smooth draw for a bow that produces 340 fps IBO speed. It’s definitely a great choice for those who are looking for a fast compound bow but also appreciate the reliability of simple designs. The neutral 32″ AtA length makes this bow universal. This bow has been reviewed by both advanced users as well as people with very little experience and both groups found it extraordinary. For our review of PSE Prophecy see the article below, specifications of the bow are at the bottom of the page.
PSE Prophecy comes with a riser technology reserved for high end models. The planar flex riser reduces both sideways as well as front to back torque increasing the accuracy of the bow. It was achieved by application not only high tech materials but also a specific architecture based on straight lines. This structural changes were introduced in order to maximize the precision of this rig. It is difficult to spot with a naked eye but the effect of this changes is appreciated by anyone who shot this bow – the accuracy is nothing but amazing.
Depending on your preference you will be able to mount your preferred sight with no problems as the riser of this bow is equipped with several holes for your convenience.
Another feature of the riser aimed at increasing accuracy is the Raptor grip that forces proper hand hand placement. It’s thinner than average grip but comfortable in use. Both sides of the grip include small rubber plates that can be either black or red.
Cam
The AMP cam enables the bow to shoot at 340 fps, which is impressive for a single cam rig. As all PSE cams it provide an extremely smooth draw and thanks to its unique design enforces a perfect nock travel. It it extremely durable and lightweight. For additional efficiency the cam was equipped with sealed bearings and wide grooves preventing the string from derailing. The inner cam is easily adjustable (range: 25-30 inches, increments: half-inch). You wont need a bow press or any special equipment for the adjustment. The cam has engraved markings and posi-lock pin to make it even easier if needed.
Limbs
The PSE’s new, ground-breaking X-Technology enabled to cross the barrier of 330 fts with single-cam rig. These split limbs sit tight in pivoting limb pockets enabling easy draw weight adjustment whilst keeping the perfect limb to riser adjustment. The limbs are pre-stressed and parallel to each other which eliminate limb vibrations and after-shot kick.
Finish of the bow
As all bows by PSE this model features high standard of finish. There are no issues with longevity or uneven wear. PSE Prophecy comes in four different versions: Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity, Skullworks, Black Camo and Black. As with all PSE bows the materials are of highest quality which makes them durable and elegant.
Vibration and noise reduction
To minimize vibration and noise the split limbs sit tight in Brute X pivoting limb pockets. Limb vibrations are also dampened by Vibracheck limb band dampeners that are included in the package and can be changed without a need of a bowpress. The string oscillation is captured by adjustable Vibracheck Backstop 2 to eliminate noise.
PSE (Precision Shooting Equipment) Archery is one of the leading compound bow manufacturers in the world. The company was set up in Illinois in 1971 and since then secured a number of patents for compound bow’s innovations. Among other manufacturers PSE Archery boast the longest tradition in compound bow production. Stinger is by far the most popular bow ever made by PSE. Due to its low price tag combined with quality of build this model is often recommended for beginners. More experienced users talk about it with undisguised affection. Recently PSE decided to redesigned and modernize its famous bow. The works on Stinger began many years ago, every couple of months some slight change was introduced making it better and better. The latest version of PSE Stinger 3G is the product of all that effort and time spent on finding and eliminating even the slightest imperfections. All the knowledge and experience that PSE gained developing its high-end models was focused on producing this affordable bow. It has been also substantially upgraded. In fact the upgrades are so extensive that if you compare the parameters of Stinger with bows from much higher price-range you will find no differences. Introduction of such model into the market had a tremendous effect – most archery shops admit that PSE Stinger 3G is their top seller and scores highest reviews.
So many things were changed in this design that it could easily be sold as a different model, a much higher price-range model. The most important changes introduced by PSE to its latest Stinger include:
thinline grip reducing vibration;The thinline grip of PSE Stinger 3G
metal pivoting limb pockets for additional noise reduction;
integrated string stop;
new cam system;
riser based on PSE X-Force model.
Our review of PSE Stinger 3G
The fist impression is always important and with Stinger it was nothing but positive. All the parts are made of quality materials which not only makes this bow to be a top performer but also look aesthetically. It comes in three different finish versions: Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinty (greenish camouflage), Skullworks Camo (black and white camouflage) and Black (black riser with Skullworks Camo limbs). The Skullworks Camo version is a default one and also the most popular one. All finishes are of high quality, do not fade over time and are durable even in harsh conditions during hunting sessions.
The setup is very intuitive and user friendly, even if you have no experience with compound bows (the manual is very comprehensive). You will be able to make all the necessary adjustments yourself to perfectly tune the bow to your needs.
Riser and limbs
Latest version of Stinger 3G features completely redesigned riser made of machined 6061 T6 aluminum, which provides exceptional structural stability. By being very light it also enables to keep the overall weight of the rig to minimum. As it was mentioned before Stinger was developed on the basis of best concepts that have been tested and proved to be successful. The design of the riser that after few tweaks is used in new Stinger 3G can be found in one of the previous models of PSE bows, namely X-Force.
The riser also features a new grip called Vibracheck which is made of special rubber. The shape is ergonomic and nicely fit in the hand. Additionally the material used in the grip was designed to dampen vibrations.
At its ends the riser features firm and durable aluminium limb pockets. They hold the limbs in such a way that keeps them almost parallel to each other. Thanks to parallel limb design vibrations and after-shot kick are eliminated. The limbs are kept pre-stressed at rest which gives optimal performance. The limbs bolts in this bow are exceptionally long which gives a huge room for adjustment if needed. unlike most bows that offer 10 pounds adjustments range, this model offers 30 pounds! If you wish you can instantly reduce the draw weight of the bow by 30 pounds using adjustment screws. No special equipment or knowledge is needed.
Eccentrics
Stinger 3G is a single cam bow featuring a HP cam system. It produces a smooth draw and is easily adjustable. The draw length can be easily adjusted using Allen key. Adjustment is available in a range between 25 and 30 inches in half inch increments.
HP cam used in Stinger
The smooth draw cycle of Stinger is nothing but amazing. This is probably the single feature of this rig that most archers and bow hunters keep in their memory even after many years and many other bows.
Summary of Our PSE Stinger review
Stinger 3G is already a legend. There is no archer or bow hunter that have not heard of this bow and this is probably the best recommendation to get this bow.
Best bow for beginners
In numerous surveys PSE Stinger 3G was voted the best compound bow for beginners. The forgiveness that comes with the 7 ¾ brace height and an exceptionally smooth draw cycle provided my the single cam makes it very accurate even in untrained hands.
You do not have to worry to outgrow Stinger in the near future. The quality of the design, its performance, extras coming with the bow and unmatched price make this bow also a very popular choice among more advanced users that are short on cash.
New Stinger 3G has been notably praised by numerous users for the minimal level of vibrations and noise. As all the previous generations of this great compound bow the overall quality is comparable only with much higher priced bows. Similarly as its predecessors Stinger 3G scores very high in numerous customer and professional reviews. With its renowned accuracy and forgiveness the PSE Stinger is definitely the best dollar-for-dollar deal you can find on the market.
Pros:
Price,
High quality,
Easily adjustable draw length
Modern design
Forgiveness
Low level of noise and vibration.
Cons:
String. Some users noticed peep sight rotation and decided to upgrade the bowstring after some time.
