Maxed Out

Larry Godfrey gives you the lowdown on Win&Win’s top-end riser, the Inno MAX

The latest instalment of the Inno range from Win&Win, introduced in 2013, is considered the big brother to the Inno CXT – the Inno MAX. The designers at Win&Win have been listening to their pro archers and designed a new bow while taking their recommendations into consideration. Using the world’s best archers to design and create a bow will ultimately push the boundaries of excellence on the World circuit.

Innovative designs include the contained ‘T’ limb pocket; enhanced bow geometry; more bow balance capability; a new ergo-grip; and all new colour options. Win&Win says the Inno MAX is designed to “minimise torque in drawing. Multi-axial carbon applied on a riser prevents it from twisting and reduces unnecessary movement at the moment of shooting. This special carbon pattern makes the riser absorb the vibration and shock quickly. In addition, unidirectional carbon and royal cross carbon applied to a riser maximise a property for the most stable shooting.”

Limb pocket 

The contained ‘T’ limb pocket design means your limbs won’t rest on the riser

I am very impressed with the new design of the ‘T’ type centre shot adjustment system (TCSAS). Problems encountered on other limb pocket designs include the back of the limbs touching the riser in certain limb positions. When the limbs touch the riser, alignment of the limb pocket dowels stop working and the alignment of the riser takes over. This is obviously fine if your riser is machined correctly. However, if your riser is not machined perfectly accurately then the limbs will rest on the out-of-alignment riser, and twist your limbs out of perfect alignment. This is why you can sometimes set your bow alignment correctly, and then adjust your bow poundage and find the limbs have gone out of alignment. The new ‘T’ type centre shot adjustment system removes all these problems as the limbs are always in contact with the moving part of the ‘T’ pocket.

Bow balance

The Inno CXT bow balance system gave the archer the option to add weights below the grip, to customise the weight and feel of the shot. In addition to the standard stabiliser fixings, one in the centre of the bow, one on the top pocket and one on the bottom pocket, the Inno MAX has an additional fixing below the back of the grip. This can now provide the same extra weight requirements that the Inno CXT offered but with the addition of the ability to add a damper to the weights if required. It is very important to have this function to be able to customise the stabiliser setup to get the optimum feel and functionality of the stabilisers on and off the shot.

A new grip is designed to minimise torque

Grip

The grip is also a new design. Even though a lot of people customise their grips to their own specifications, W&W had provided a grip that will reduce torque and improve drawing and holding the bow. For my specifications I have maintained the profile of the grip, but raised the angle at the base of the grip a bit to create a higher shooting position.

Bow geometry

The basic bow geometry is similar to that of its sister bow, the Inno CXT, keeping the technological advancement of focusing on the string follow-through. The science of string follow-through will determine the feeling of the shot, through the smooth power curve during draw and at the moment of release

Stability has also been a focus of the bow design, with features intended to give it the capability to reduce the vibration and shock of the bow after the release of the arrow. This is highlighted in the graphs that show the differences between a normal aluminium riser, a carbon riser and the Inno MAX. As you can see from the green vibration lines, the Inno MAX shows far less displacement.

Accuracy during the shot is the riser’s ability to reduce bow twist to keep the limb and riser in alignment throughout the shot. It also helps in terms of keeping the balance between the top and bottom limbs. This will ultimately give you a better tune and, from there, better scores.

The Inno MAX weight options allow dampers to be added under the grip

Bow reaction 

The Inno MAX has been designed to maximise the absorption of shock and vibration at the moment of shooting, to create the stable-shooting feeling. In order to gain this advance technology the Inno MAX has a higher mass than the Inno CXT. The sight window has also been made thicker to reduce bow torque (twist of the riser) at the moment of shooting. Tests were carried out against the Inno CXT and an aluminium riser to test this.

An Inno MAX riser torques/twists by 0.4 mm

An aluminium riser torques/twists by 0.7 mm

An Inno CXT riser torques/twists by 0.5 mm

The new Inno MAX set up allows for a fast, stable smooth shot. I’ve shot the TF Apec for three years, and have always said it would take a special bow to take its place – I have found that bow in the Inno MAX. I have changed my stabiliser set up so it’s slightly different to that on my Inno CXT, where I’ve added a back weight and additional side weights. From the first shot I enjoyed my reaction and cannot wait to shoot it internationally.

Note: all tests were completed using a 68 inch bow, 28 inch draw at 42lbs.