Fobs....old news new marketing

[BT]

Keep in mind that the FOB is not going to allow forgiveness as does the vane or feather
The FOB is a guidance system only and not a correctional device.
If anything happens to effect the forward path , the FOB is going to lock that path as the current direction as soon as the fault ceases.

By contrast...a vane will (to some degree) bend like a reed in the wind to such change and works on a gradual basis.
If the error disappears , you will be left with only a percentage of change.
Feathers allow much more error due to the fact that they are going to collapse against the resistance even further.

What I am seeing in both photo displays are errors magnified....I would hazard to guess.

Would the FOB be a good tuner aid?......perhaps , but then again...perhaps not.
The problem with something like this is that if there is an effect on flight , be it the tune , shooter or other...you wont know for sure which it is

[snoodslapper]

Feb 23, 2008 6:36:21 GMT -5 BT said:

So.....if it makes the arrow louder and more visible....why are people flocking to it?

I, too, find no draw to the devices myself, but I think there are a lot of reasons for the sudden resurgence.

First, there, to me at least, seems to be a large turnover in the number of bowhunters. I mean, there seems to be a somewhat small, yet convincing and energetic, truly solid base of avid bowhunters that remain while a larger rotating group go through the revolving door of the sub-culture. Thus, they don't remember these "devices and gadgets" like some (of us). So when someone re-introduces them or puts a new spin on them, these folks like to try them as something "new" or something to new to help them with some of their tuning woes. It amazes me how many people think FOB's just came out recently...

Secondly, and I assume you see the flocking on AT more than anywhere else (at least I do). So, when a charismatic person or people get a product going and that person (people) is/are some of the more well known and vocal posters, something I call the "Pied Piper" syndrome begins. Not always bad, but not always good. We've seen it with many products there: Slick Tricks, STS's/string dampeners, Double Bull Blinds, etc. Some things work, some don't. It's how the term "sheeple" has came about.

Third: new, inventive marketing, and, at times, actually filling a niche or void in the industry that is needed. Not the case in this instance IMO however.


I, years ago, tried turbo nocks. Yes, they did work, but they were the most unforgiving fletch I've ever seen when it came to hitting a branch or something like that. They were also brittle and broke frequently while grouping. They started to get expensive; so much so they are still sitting in my "box" of other bowhunting gadgets that were too good to be true. There were many other negatives that I don't have enough characters remaining for here. They were however, very, very convenient when it came to replacing fletch. THIS is what they are all about. Those who don't know or like to fletch. They are truly no more accurate IMO, which is what fletch is all about; guiding your broadhead to it's intended point in space and time.

FOBs, to me, are just a different flavor of Kool-Aid.

JM2C, .

[bowhunter44]

Interesting observation, the variance in the FOB's being due to magnification of error. I really hadn't thought of that (what? me make errors?!). But I suspect that is the case. When I first got the Hoyt, I had one hell of a time getting it to tune. As it turns out, the majority of the problem was me. In fact, those pics are using a Carter Backstrap release as I am trying to teach myself to use backtension (or die trying!!!!).

Other observations from Snoodslapper and BT are also accurate. e.g. the FOB's are totally unforgiving of contact, in any form. All in all, I doubt they will be on my hunting arrows this fall... although when another new gaget shows up, I'm sure I will give it a try. After all, I need to give my wife (who really is a sweethear) a reason to give me that look of dissapproval for spending even more money on my archery stuff!

[SPIKER]

Regardless of any error, perceived, or real...when a product works for you, you use it. When it doesn't, you don't. If you have to be a rocket scientist to use them, and it magnifies "error", and has all these side affects...well, I'll stick with Blazers, or Feathers, so I can hit what I'm aiming at....(most times)...

[bowhunter44]

Well stated! I'm somewhat partial to hitting what I am aming at too! So I will stick with my Blazers and feathers also...