Mathews Phase 4 29 Review: First Impressions and Speed Test

Mathews sent over its brand new Phase 4 29 hunting bow, so I put together this first impressions review and speed test.

This bow has an axle-to-axle length of 29 inches, a brace height of 6 inches and an IBO rated speed of 340 feet per second. There is also a 33-inch version with a 6.5-inch brace height and a rated speed of 336 feet per second.

At first glance, these bows look nearly identical to the V3X we tested last year, but there are some key differences. At the top of the list is the new Resistance Phase Damping technology.

On paper that doesn't mean much, but if you take a closer look you'll notice there is now damping material between the limbs. In essence, there are now 8 limbs on each bow. Two limbs are fused together with the damping material, which results in a shockingly quiet shot.

Also new is a Bridge-Lock stabilizer system. Much like the Bridge-Lock sight we tested last year, the Bridge-Lock stabilizer allows you to insert the stabilizer into the riser and adjust the length in half-inch increments. I have an eight-inch Bridge-Lock stabilizer in for texting, but there are also 10- and 12-inch versions.

As for how it shoots, I’d say very similar to the V3X. The Phase 4 felt maybe a little easier to draw, but that might just be me getting used to a new bow. The difference is after the shot. While the V3X was plenty quiet and vibration free, the new Phase 4 is just different. I think the rest dropping onto the riser was the loudest part of the shot. It’s nutty quiet.

Post-shot vibration on the Phase 4 was hard to detect. Mathews says it delivers 37% less vibration. I’m not sure I can verify that, but this is a bow worth shooting to find out for yourself.

As for speed, I set this bow up with 70 pounds of draw weight and a draw length of 29 7/8” (29 1/2” mods) and shot a 350-grain arrow three times. I registered speeds of 327, 328, and 327 feet per second.

Overall, I’m pretty blown away with my first impressions. I still need to tune the bow properly, as I didn’t have a lot of time to spend with it before putting the video together. I’ll follow up in the coming months with a long-term review. I may test out the 30” draw length mods to see what I can get the speed up to.

[dewboy]

I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a bow, but I'm impressed with the technology, especially the limbs. It's nice to see a bow company put this kind of effort into the design of their bows. Hopefully, PSE and others will up their efforts. Win-win for archers.

[simonaudet]

Hi Lucas!! Great review as usual and I really like the fact that you use real draw length instead of DL written on mods. On my V3 31 I use 28.5” mods and it’s 29.25”on the drawboard, with side plates instead of original grip

[adamlimbach]

That stabilizer price is ridiculous! They all do the same damn thing.

[melvinsacromentoe]

Like the idea of the limbs but dang. Prices get higher and higher every year. Stabilizer prices are ridiculous

[vfonte]

Hi Lucas Great review! Mathews continues to innovate! I see the haters on here....I just have a hard time with these prices especially on the new stabilizer!! I hope you test the new Elite Omnia soon also!

[srooch]

I hope other companies make compatible stabilizers to reduce the price, theirs are expensive!

[markovezmar]

Why no target bow tests anymore? Reckoning 39 G2 will be nice to add to the YT collection.

[Cody_Austin]

As mentioned, get a dB meter to use. It won’t lie.

[jimputnam]

Not enough changes to get rid of my VXR28 yet!

[capricornmagic]

People who are part of the industry seem to be obsessed with the word ' Technology '. If Mathews adds a new screw. it's new technology, if they change the angles of the limbs by a fraction or add a bit of rubber or silicon, it's new technology. Why not just refer to them as additional features because that's exactly what they are. Nothing more.

[indy]

Why don't you set up a dB meter by the chrono for all your reviews? Would hardly take any time at all but would provide useful info.

[SurvivalSavvvy]

I run the MATHEWS Lowpro Detachable Quiver wih a cheap regular site with no issues. You do not the Mathews Bridge-Lock Fixed 5-PIN Sight to have the quiver on. I have a video on it also. V3X 33

[finq]

12fps under IBO sounds about right, that's what almost all the Mathews have done the last couple of years that were advertised above 330. The last bows that were kinda close to the advertised speed was the Halon X and the first gen of the TRX with the non valley mods at 70%.

[CaptainDave_]

dB test Please. Compare the last 3 models of Mathews bows

[HywelOwen]

Surely if you split the limbs then you get more flex between each half? What do you think?

[bradforner]

From personal experience with rubber as a window glazier it will dry shrink and not last. If i had a choice esp being in australia for a new bow purchase id stick with the v3x 29.

[Gibsonlife]

What about them weights and weights or something else man how they interlock I'm not a big old fan boy of Matthews I love what Matt does Matt McPherson the owner but TRX is a bad to the phone though they're hunting bows I used to love them until I shot something else that didn't have such a drop off at the end I tell you now I am shooting the BowTech ss34 this year insane insane it's all I can say it's insane

[davedobson]

This and other reviews I've seen today have these bows coming in at 11 or 12 FPS under the published speed. I think that's probably worse than the other manufacturers. Not that speed is everything, but I think we need to be less forgiving when it comes to exaggeration on the part of the manufacturers.

[danieldarrah]

Lol same bow of previous years with different limbs with rubber in between that will dry rot and fall out

[walteroquinn]

Shot a lot of venison and hogs with a switch back and z. Light bow and a vertic never used a stabilizer don't need one hunting maybe use it for a club ha