Accurate field-point groups are a good start. Before hunting, you also need to know where your broadheads hit.
To broadhead tune a Mathews bow, begin with the correct arrow spine and a bow that is properly set up. Compare broadhead and field-point groups at a manageable distance, make small adjustments to your arrow rest, and repeat until their points of impact agree. Then confirm the result at the distances you intend to hunt.
The same range routine can be used across Mathews hunting bows. Follow the instructions for your model when installing the rest, making cam adjustments or addressing other setup details.
Start with the basics
Broadhead tuning works best when your bow already fits you and its components are correctly installed. Check your draw length, draw weight, nocking point, peep alignment, rest timing and vane clearance before making changes at the range. A micro-adjustable rest makes small corrections easier, but the important part is being able to move it precisely and lock it securely.
Mathews lists a suggested center shot of 13/16 inch, plus or minus 1/16 inch. Treat that as a setup reference, and confirm the correct measurement and rest height for your bow. Cam timing, string work and model-specific tuning should be handled according to Mathews instructions, with help from an authorized retailer when needed.
Paper tuning can help identify launch problems. Broadhead tuning adds the check that matters for hunting: how your finished hunting arrows actually group.
Choose matching arrows and points
Use arrows selected from the shaft manufacturer's spine chart for your draw weight, arrow length and total front-end weight. A spine that worked for another hunter may not suit your setup.
For the initial comparison, prepare at least two matching arrows with field points and two with broadheads. Keep shaft model, length, nocks, inserts and fletching consistent. Match the field-point weight to the broadhead weight: compare a 125-grain broadhead with a 125-grain field point.
Tune with the Annihilator head you plan to hunt with. That may be a Double Bevel or Single Bevel three-blade broadhead, a standard or XL version, or a Katana two-blade broadhead. Changing head weight or design calls for another range check.
Before shooting, spin-check each assembled arrow for wobble. Check that the broadhead seats squarely and securely against the insert, and inspect the shaft, nock and vanes. If one arrow consistently misses the group, inspect that assembly before adjusting the entire bow.
Establish your field-point baseline
Begin close enough to keep your first arrows safely on the target, then move back as your sight setting allows. Use a target rated for broadheads and a safe backstop throughout the process.
Shoot repeated field-point groups with a relaxed bow hand, consistent anchor and controlled release. If those groups are scattered, resolve the inconsistency first. Broadhead tuning becomes difficult when you cannot distinguish an equipment change from a poor shot.
When sighting in, move the sight toward the field-point group. Arrows hitting right call for a rightward sight adjustment; arrows hitting low call for lowering the sight.
Once field points group near your aiming point, leave the sight alone for the initial broadhead comparison.
Compare broadheads with field points
Start around 20 yards, or closer if that better matches your ability. Shoot your broadhead arrows and field-point arrows, using the same shot routine.
Use separate, identical aiming spots and compare each group's offset from its own aiming point. This lets you evaluate impact without deliberately shooting sharp broadheads into arrows already in the target.
Look for a repeatable pattern across several groups. Are the broadheads consistently right of their aiming spot while the field points are centered? Are they lower? Or are they scattered?
Fixed blades can magnify launch and alignment problems because they add steering surface to the front of the arrow. A consistent difference gives you something to investigate. Scattered impacts call for checks of form, arrow alignment and clearance before more adjustment.
Make one small rest adjustment
Record or mark your starting rest position. Move only one axis at a time, using a very small adjustment, around 1/64 inch where your rest allows it. Lock the rest and shoot both groups again.
For this rest-adjustment method, the following are starting tests for a compound bow shot with a release aid:
| Broadhead group relative to field points | Initial rest adjustment to test |
|---|---|
| Right | Move the rest slightly left |
| Left | Move the rest slightly right |
| High | Lower the rest slightly |
| Low | Raise the rest slightly |
Check whether the gap between the groups gets smaller. Both groups may move; the goal is to bring their points of impact together. If the separation increases, return to your recorded setting and reassess before continuing.
If you have both a vertical and horizontal difference, resolve one before changing the other. Recheck vane clearance after moving the rest. Avoid pushing it outside the appropriate setup range to compensate for a problem elsewhere.
Once broadheads and field points group together, adjust the sight if needed to center their shared impact.
Confirm the tune at hunting distances
Agreement at 20 yards is an encouraging first result. Move back in manageable increments and repeat the comparison within your effective shooting range.
A small difference can become easier to see farther away. If the groups separate, continue troubleshooting rather than assuming the close-range result proves the whole setup.
Test every broadhead-tipped arrow you intend to carry. Afterward, inspect each arrow and head, and restore the cutting edge using the sharpening method appropriate for your Annihilator model. Durability and resharpenability make continued use possible when the head remains sound; they do not replace inspection.
Finish with practice from the positions and angles you expect to encounter, including elevated shots if you hunt from a treestand.
When a quick tune needs more work
If small rest adjustments do not produce repeatable improvement, stop chasing the setting. Recheck arrow spine, insert alignment, vane contact, rest timing, peep position and bow-hand pressure. A persistent problem may require cam timing or lateral tuning specific to your Mathews model.
A correctly assembled bow may respond quickly. Another setup may take several sessions or help from a qualified technician. Let consistent groups determine when the work is finished.
At Annihilator, preparation starts before the shot. Choose the right arrow, tune with your hunting broadhead, verify every arrow and keep the edges sharp. That gives you a tested setup when the opportunity arrives.
