Prime is another G5 company, and Prime’s new-for-2011 bows are the Centroid and the Shift. These are engineers’ bows. (And we mean that in a good way.) They are not pretty—until you shoot them, at which point you might consider them beautiful. A lot of bows claim to be very fast and very smooth-shooting, but some come closer to that ideal than do others, and the Prime bows are among those that come closest. The Parallel Cam Technology no doubt contributes to that. Addressing the problems of cam lean and torque is a major trend in this year’s new bows, but Prime’s approach is unusual. Prime’s cam system balances the load on each side of the cable, effectively centering the cable so it is in-line with the draw, greatly reducing if not eliminating cam lean and torque. The TI-Glide Titanium Flexing Cable Guard System reduces side load on the cables, further reducing torque. Another cutting-edge feature of the Prime bows is the forged 7000 Series T6 Aluminum Risers, roughly twice as strong as traditional 6061 aluminum risers, which increases riser stiffness and reduces hand shock. The G10 materials used in the grip repel water and odor and stay comfortable in any weather. Gore Fiber Strings & Cables further reduce vibration and noise.
Interestingly, both these bows shoot at top speeds of 332 fps, and both offer brace heights of 7 inches. The difference? The Centroid is 34 inches axle-to-axle, weighs 4.3 pounds, and offers draw lengths from 27 to 31 inches, while the Shift is a more compact 30 inches, weighs an even 4 pounds, and offers draw lengths from 26 to 30 inches. Both come in draw weights of 50, 60, or 70 pounds, and both are available in finishes of Black, Ice Blue, Optifade, Open & Forest, and Realtree AP HD. Every Prime bow comes fully assembled and tuned. Each bow has been cycled at least 100 times to be sure the string and limb pockets have settled in. Each bow sells for a retail price of just under $1,000. www.g5prime.com
