| Ben Pearson Archery has been around the archery business since 1938.
Now that tells me they know a thing or two about it. Fundamentals
necessary to stay around that long shows Pearson's innovation and drive
to bring archers what they want. For 2002 the innovation has continued
with the addition of the VIB~X system. Customer satisfaction has
not fallen behind either with the introduction of Lifetime Warranties on
their bows. I was very pleased to find out I would be evaluating
their ever popular Diamondback bow with the new VIB~X technology.
 The
first thing I noticed when I picked up the Ben Pearson Diamondback VX was
how comfortable the handle is. It is angled to fit the natural position
of your hand when extended in front of you. On drawing my notion
held true as the bow felt like an extension of my hand. I immediately
knew I had to get this bow dressed for a target date and I rigged her up
with an arrow rest, string loop and site. While setting up and going
over the Diamondback VX I also noticed the factory installed "velvet antler
finish" around the riser shelf area as well as the Superflauge Camo.
The velvet antler finish diminishes any unwanted noise if an arrow should
mistakenly clink against the riser. Features such as this let you
know that Ben Pearson acknowledges the efforts of a hunter. After
final adjustments were made we drove off for our target date.
Before I get to the results of my testing lets take a closer look at
the construction of the new 2002 Diamondback VX model:
Riser
The riser is quality machined and decked out in Superflauge Camo created
by Lynch World Wide. The dipped finish was first class with no blemishes
or imperfections noticed. The riser cutouts lend to an attractive
design as well as keeping this bow well balanced and a little over three
and a half pounds. It comes with standard AMO mounts for sight, rest,
and stabilizer. The riser of this short design doesn't allow for
an integrated quiver. The Diamondback VX reflexed design no doubt
attributes to the blistering 302 fps from a 31" axle to axle bow.
You may think a bow of this length with such speed would tend to jump out
of your hands, but this is where Pearson's experience shines. They
have developed a chamber within the riser, located directly below the handle,
and filled it with a polymer gel called Vibasorb. This is the heart
of the Vib~X system. Pearson's research has determined that most
vibration occurs around the center of the bow where the handle is located.
By placing the VIB~X system at this
location, the Diamondback VX displays great shootability as well
as being quiet. Don't take my word for it because The University
of Alabama College of Engineering proved that VIB~X not only significantly
reduces vibration but noise as well. The only noticeable noise upon
release of an arrow was the twang of the string. This can be overcome
by simply applying a set of cat whiskers. Also integrated within
the VIB~X system is a stabilizer insert, from front to back, enabling the
archer to satisfy his individual shooting style. The stabilizer mount is
not machined into the riser but held within the Viabsorb material.
If for some reason it becomes stripped it can be replaced rather than having
to machine into the riser.
As mentioned earlier the natural fit of the handle makes the bow one
of the most comfortable on the market. A 20-degree bio grip
is the design behind the comfort. This natural position helps to
alleviate shooting fatigue as well as arm slap.
Other features of the riser include an integrated cable guard located
above the shelf. This position brings it towards the middle of the
bow, which aids significantly in balance upon release. The walnut
grip, although a little large, fits nicely into my low wrist, open-handed
grip. It is held in place by one screw within a brass housing.
Limbs and Eccentrics
At each end of the riser the limbs are held securely in place by limb
pockets and limb retainers machined from lightweight aluminum. It
is also decked out in Superflauge. To help secure the limbs as well
as reduce stress and wear from being against the aluminum is a pliable
leather-like material within each pocket. The limbs themselves are
of split limb design. Pearson's tested design enables the 14 1/2-inch
quadra-flex split limbs to withstand over 300,000 cycles. No
newly designed bow ever leaves the factory without succumbing to rigorous
testing, including dry firing. The limbs combined with the eccentrics
allow for a smooth draw that comes to full poundage quickly and is maintained
until relieved by a high let-off of 85 percent. The advancement
of the new catapult weighted Whisper Cam combined with the reflex design
makes speeds of over 300-fps IBO attainable. Thanks to the Whisper
Cam's PhD (perfect horizontal delivery) single cam, a modest 7 13/16" and
wide track idler wheel, an arrow leaves t
he bow without any unwanted oscillation.
The bow comes standard with yellow and black strings as well as cables.
The ever-popular cam module can change draw lengths from 24 to 31 inches.
By removing two screws and replacing the module, the draw length can be
changed in minutes without a bow press. This adds to the attractiveness
of the bow. Cable length measures 34 1/8" while the string comes
in at 86 ½".
Now for the real test, how does she shoot?
The Diamondback VX was rigged with a string loop, NAP 1000 Quiktune
rest and Montana Black Gold fiber optic site. Arrows used were ACC
360 at 28.75" tipped with 100-grain field points and three white 4" vanes.
Total weight came in at 420 grains. Shooting at 70 lbs. put the ratio
at an even six grains per pound, which I prefer for hunting. The
release was a Win Free Flight trigger release model with a fairly light
tension. Upon the release of the first test arrow, it revealed a
speed of 256 fps as it hit the target with a solid thump. Matter
of fact, other than the string noise, the thump was all I really heard.
A friend of mine stopped over who has been shooting a Ben Pearson Anaconda
the last few years. After shooting a few, he himself was amazed at
the forgiveness of such a short bow. After many more volleys and
the target taking a beating from all ranges we both came to the same conclusion.
The Diamondback VX with the VIB~X technology can stand toe to toe overall
with any bow in the short axle to axle class.
The angled handle is a feature that attributes most to the comfort of
the bow. The natural manner of how it lays in your hand helped in
settling the pins, especially at longer distances. The short axle
to axle made this bow very maneuverable. I recently purchased my
first blind and this bow will be a real plus when shooting from a seated
position. Even from a makeshift ground blind I have no trouble drawing
while sitting on the ground.
Camo 4.5 of 5
The dipped Superflauge by Lynch World Wide was nearly flawless on the
riser and limbs. There were a few slight areas not covered however
a call to the factory proved these misses were the result of putting a
rush order on my bow to enable me to do this review quickly. I was assured
standard bows were completely covered with camo, with no missed areas.
Superflauge is one of the better camo patterns on the market for a bow
as it has a fair amount of dark areas to make it look similar to a tree
limb.
Engineering 4 of 5
The machining of the aluminum riser was a marvel to look at.
Combine this with the technology and engineering of the VIB~X system as
well as the claimed PhD straight nock travel and this bow shooting bullet
holes in no time. Tolerances between parts were similar to a tight
jigsaw puzzle, especially with the riser, limb pockets and limb retainers.
The seven-inch draw lengths are exceptional for this short axle to axle
bow and will accommodate up to 31-inch shooters.
Grip 4.0 of 5
The grip of the 20 degree offset is one of the most comfortable I have
ever encountered. The angle combined with the walnut grip feels like
an extension of your hand.
Shootability 4.0 of 5
The VIB~X system makes the bow a pleasure to shoot. The bow is
well balanced and didn't produce any noticeable handshock that I would
expect from such a short axle to axle bow. The chronographed speed was
certainly adequate considering the arrow weight I was shooting. Higher
speeds would come with a lighter set up for those more interested in speed.
Specifications
Riser Reflex
Limbs 14 ½"
Cam Whisper PhD
Module M Series at 85% Let-off
Idler Widetrack
IBO Speed 302 fps
Physical Weight 3.8 lbs.
String 86 ½"
Cable 34 1/8"
Draw Weight 50, 60, 70 Adjustable 10 lbs. Down
Draw Length 24"-31"
Brace Height 7 13/16"
Axle to Axle 31 7/16"
For further information on this or Pearson Archery
producta contact:
Pearson Archery
P.O. Box 327
Brewton, AL 36427
Telephone (251) 867-8475
Fax (251) 867-9005
Email: www.benpearson.com/contact.asp
Web: www.benpearson.com
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