A lightweight, quiet, and smooth-shooting rig that offers undeniable accuracy and ample speed, Mathews’ Lift 29.5 is sure to make a great compound companion.
by Zach Bowhay
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t obsessed with bows. While there isn’t an excellent reason to dip into the bank account and purchase a new flagship bow yearly, I usually can’t help myself.
Changes and tweaks happen, and I have to know what they are and if they will boost accuracy or shooting comfort. However, the previous year’s bow will be adequate and get the job done. Still, I love new bows. Every year, I can’t wait to see what’s new from all the companies. Honestly, I’d love to test them all out annually. But I can’t, so I stick to those that really grab my attention.
Mathews Lift 29.5
When I first saw the new Mathews Lift bows released, I knew I wanted to try one out. I have always been a guy who likes bows in the 33 to 34-inch axle-to-axle length range. This year, though, I decided to try a shorter bow to see what all the hype was about. For this reason, I ordered the Lift 29.5 instead of the Lift 33.
The Lift 29.5, as the name suggests, has a 29.5-inch axle-to-axle length. The bow is draw length adjustable from 24.5 to 30 inches and comes in peak draw weight options from 55 to 80 pounds. Each bow is adjustable down in five-pound increments from peak. The bow sports a 6-inch brace height and an advertised IBO speed of up to 348 fps. Total bow weight is a feathery 3.99 pounds. The bow is also available in a multitude of finish options: Black, Earth, Green Ambush, Mossy Oak Bottomland, First Lite Spectre, Realtree Edge, Optifade Elevated II, Optifade Alpine, Granite Fade-to-Black, Earth Fade-to-Black, and Green Fade-to-Black.
First Thoughts
I realize that the advertised weight on this bow is 3.99 pounds, which is very light for a non-carbon bow. Still, you need to feel how light it is in the hand to fully appreciate it. The bow is ridiculously light! The bow is similar in appearance to last year’s Phase 4, but the riser is more skeletonized. This is likely where the weight reduction comes from. Another unique feature is the new axle design, which mounts to the top of the limbs, unlike traditional axle designs, which go through the limb itself. Not having the limbs flare out to accommodate this also shaves some ounces.
The bow I am testing is in the new Green Ambush Fade-to-Black, which is sharp-looking. The finish is excellent with a bit of texture, so it’s not slick in the hand.
Technology
As I mentioned earlier, the axles mounted on top of the limbs are something new, and I want to see if this is a fad or if it will continue in the future. I’m also curious if other companies will follow suit. The axles mount on top of the new RPD limbs, which, like the Phase 4, are double split limbs on both top and bottom with rubber sandwiched between both sets of limbs.
This design cuts down on vibration during the shot. The Lift bows also have the new Switchweight-X Cam, which utilizes Switchweight technology, making switching let-off, draw length, and draw weight very simple. Also on the Lift are the new Match bowstrings, and although not standard, Shot Sense is an option. Shot Sense is a module set in the handle that tracks and records shot analytics and provides advanced feedback on demand through the Mathews Shot Sense app.
Setup
I was ultra excited to set up this new-for-2024 rig. Anyone who has read my reviews in the past knows I love the advancements companies are making to allow more streamlined accessory mounting. Mathews is knocking it out of the park in this area. The Bridge-Lock technology for sight and stabilizer is a solid, streamlined setup, with the only limiting factor being that not all accessory companies make Bridge-Lock accessories. All Mathews bows do have standard mounting holes as well.
I got the Bridge-Lock 10″ Stabilizer for my rig and bought a Bridge-Lock mount for my Option Canyon Pounder Sight. I also mounted the new QAD Ultrarest Integrate MX2 rest. The final build was sleek and keeps the overall weight of my bow down. This is nice, considering I lug my setups around the mountains chasing elk all fall. I haven’t got a quiver yet, but after researching, I’m leaning toward the LowPro Detachable Quiver. This quiver has a unique mounting system that is solid, like a two-piece quiver, but allows for quick removal when desired.
Fortunately, the tune was quick after setting the bow up. Unfortunately, you can’t just use any bow press to press these new Mathews bows. I need special Mathews-approved attachments for my Last Chance Archery bow press.
Also, Mathews is still using the top hats for shims. A press is necessary to do any of this tuning. I would like to see Mathews make this process a little easier. After a slight micro-adjustment to my rest, the bow shot a bullet through the paper. The next time I was in the big city, I swung by a pro shop to have them press my bow and install a peep.
Here, I ran into another snag that I thought might happen. My, I guess, overly large head means a large gap between my D- loop and my peep. This put my peep right up next to the top serving on the string. So much so that I could only serve below my peep and not above. This likely won’t be an issue for most, but it’s something to be aware of.
Performance
After setting up the bow and doing some tuning, it was time to shoot. To me, the cam on the new bow pulls a little harder. I decided to go with a 75-pound draw weight for this season, and honestly, it was a little harder pulling than I thought it would be. Like all bows, you get used to the pull after some time, but there is a noticeable hump you have to go over to finish the draw cycle.
This cam, however, does deliver some pretty impressive speed. I cranked it down to 70 pounds (I test all bows at 70) and got out the chronograph. I shot multiple arrows through the bow at different weights for comparison. To start, I shot a Carbon Express Triad 300 spine arrow weighing 545 grains and got a speed of 265 FPS, which coincidentally mirrored my PSE Fortis last year with a 475-grain arrow. Next, a Black Eagle X-Impact at 478 grains clocked in at 280 fps. Next was a Victory VAP at 430 grains, which came in at 295 fps. Lastly, a VAP at 395 grains, which shot 306 fps. Overall, I was very impressed with the speed, and the bow puts my hunting arrows right in that 280-feet-per-second wheelhouse that I prefer.
Even though this bow pulls a little harder, it’s dead in hand and whisper quiet when shot. I’ve always been impressed with Mathews on this front, but for some reason, I expected this bow being so light to be a little more jumpy and noisy. I was wrong.
Sighting in was a little difficult because the pin gap was so drastically different from the bow I had the sight on previously. The higher speeds make pin gaps tighter, but the bow shoots excellent. With all the snow, I have been shooting as much as I can and have been able to stretch my distances to 50 yards. I will wait for some snow to melt before I go much further.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot to love about Mathews’ Lift 29.5. I appreciate its weight, accessory mounting, and how quiet and smooth it shoots. As a bigger guy with a longer draw, I think the 33-inch bow is better suited for me. I’m not saying not to get the 29.5; I am simply stating that if you are a bigger shooter, maybe go shoot them both first, then decide.
The string angle at the longer draw is obviously steeper, and the peep placement can be an issue. For anyone with a 28-inch draw length or lower, I don’t believe it will ever be an issue. Beyond that, I would weigh the pros and cons before deciding. This bow is very nice, which is why I ordered a Lift 33 as well. It has all the features of the 29.5 but checks off some of the boxes I prefer.
I did shoot the Lift 33 at the pro shop, and that hump in the draw cycle doesn’t seem as extreme. The bow seems to draw a little smoother all the way through. Now, I am just patiently waiting for my Lift 33 to show up to put through the paces.
