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Golden Key-Futura sure has their name right. First and foremost they saw into the future many, many years ago. Their products are worth their weight in gold to millions of archers. And, they hold the key to success for many archers both in the woods and on the target line. Their line of Arrow Rests, Stabilizers, Release Aids and accessories have set the standard for the industry. Being a finger shooter I tried their HuntMaster Arrow Rest the first year it came out and it has been on every bow I have ever owned. "Enough said." The VIBRA-STOP is a new item from Golden Key, so be sure and look for it at your local Pro Shop. Your first comment is probably going to be like mine, "What the heck is this?" It looks strange. A round metal wheel with three springs connected to the outer ring and attached to a metal washer in the middle.

In the package with it, is a short stabilizer rod tapped on one end 5/16-24 and threaded on the other end with a short 5/16-24 extension. Also included is another piece that looks the same but is one third the size. Also included is a washer and screw. The VIBRA-STOP unit can be used three ways as I soon found out. Depending on the length that you want, you can adapt this product to one, two or  three lengths. The first two lengths may be used as it sits in the package.

Using this you do not need a stabilizer. Just decide which length you want and screw it into your stabilizer insert on your bow.

I used a P.S.E. Lightening Force bow set at sixty pounds for all these tests. This bow has metal cables with teardrops and dacron string. So if there is going to be vibration, this bow should have it. The bow zips along about 220-225 fps shooting a 2213 at 27 inches. It shoots as well as I can which at 20 and 30 yards is a group about 4 inches in diameter. Using a 7-inch stabilizer I thought it was fairly quiet.

Shooting a Saunders finger tab (for the last fifteen years) I marched to the target to try this new item. My friend was working in his yard about fifteen yards in back of me and stopped to watch me shoot. 

I first shot about 12 arrows without the VIBRA-STOP in place. I was quite happy with the group I shot. I then attached the VIBRA-STOP to my bow with my stabilizer to the "extension". Within half a dozen shots my neighbor walked up and asked what that strange thing was. I explained to him what I was doing and asked him what he thought. He told me that, "At the distance he was away, 15-20 yards away he could hear the vibrations when I shot my first dozen arrows. When I shot the second five, with the VIBRA-STOP he could hear none, even at five feet. I could feel the difference, but he could actually 'hear' the difference. 

At this point I removed the stabilizer and shot with only the VIBRA-STOP attached to the bow. SAME RESULT. I not only noticed a reduction in vibrations but my neighbor also noticed how much more quietly each shot was. For bowhunting, this is a major step forward. 

While I can't tell you exactly how the VIBRA-STOP works, I can tell you it does work extremely well to dampen noise and vibration. It is easy to install and while I would prefer it to be slightly smaller, it is small enough to not be a bother.

Golden Key-Futura's web site is at http://www.gkfarchery.com.

Ratings 1 is low 5 is high.

• Ease of assembly - 5
• Effectiveness - 5
• Weight - 5
• Size - 2