Elite bows and cam lean

[MitchellCPA]

I recently purchased a used Z28 as my first venture into Elite. I have heard great things about the bow and company. Unfortunately for me, I am still rehabing a shoulder from rotator surgery, so it will be about a month before I can begin to shoot again. Its torture.

I have owned, set up, and tuned numerous Mahtews bows, and several Hoyts and other brands. However, I have only owned one binary cam; a New Breed, which I never bothered to paper tune since I was shooting it bare bow fingers and getting a good bare shaft and good arrow flight.

All that said, I read over on AT that cam lean, according to some, can be a huge issue for tuning. And apparently for those who are compulsive paper shooters (not a criticism) it can make getting a clean hole impossible.

So what is the real skinny? Do most of you guys paper tune to get bullet holes? Do you have issues with lean? According to some, with cam lean, you will not be as accurate as otherwise; truth or fiction?

Trying to learn here. Thanks.

[stkline81]

I can't help you with your question on lean, but good luck in your recovery. I had rotator cuff surgery in January and have a new Pulse that has yet to be pulled back. I'm hoping the doc will clear me by the end of this month!

[FlinginCarbon]

My cams lean a little bit.

I have no problems with accuracy, in fact today I robin hooded one at 50 yds.

I don't have a problem getting clean paper tears either.

[archer58inPA]

Cam lean is inherent in binary cams. Elite cam lean is slight, but if you see excessive lean you may need to address that problem.
I would suggest a walk back tune and bh tune and don't worry about paper unless there are arrow flight issues.
If you have cam lean issues leading to tuning problems Elite will take care of you. Cam lean is mostly associated with weak limb forks.

[Maybee-R]

Cam lean can influence arrow flight out of the bow. It takes a properly spine arrow to tune. It doesn't mean you cant be accurate though. just means its more finicky to paper tune. some give up and walk back tune or French tune. I use paper and at different distances for finding the best spine and tune.

Heres how I look at it. the string comes off the cams at the farthest point from center, top of cam to bottom of cam.
If the cams rotate forward, slight lean wont bother the strings forward motion.
It would take quite a bit to whip the string side to side. causing an issue. most times arrow spine can correct the lateral travel.
Finger shooters influence the string much more then lean ever will. as long as its repeatable you can tune the bow easy with Robbin hood accuracy.

[elite addiction]

My pulse seems to have alot of cam lean on the bottom cam at full draw but when i did a walk back tune it was fine i also did a french tune that was ok as well but i could not get a bullet hole through paper to save my life (really bad left tear) and my bare shafts were so bad it looked like the arrow was sideways at 20 yards. my arrow flight is good when i shoot outside at 60 yards so iam very confused as to whats happening here, maybe it has something to do with the cam lean i dont know.

[ElitePure11]

I shot my pure through paper(which has some cam lean) and i got a bullet hole..however this was up close. Can somebody explain to me how to walk back tune.

[antlergirl]

Godo question since I'm looking at Elites and that is one of my concerns is tuning...I don't want to be running back to the bow shop a ton...

[archer58inPA]

I shot my pure through paper(which has some cam lean) and i got a bullet hole..however this was up close. Can somebody explain to me how to walk back tune.

It's a simple procedure but is the best way to tune for CS.
Start by shooting an arrow or 2 at 3 yards from the target.
Step back to 20 yards and shoot a 5 shot group. Leave the arrows in the target.
Step back to 30 yards and repeat the 5 shot group with your 20 yard pin.
Step back again to 40 yards and repeat and again use the same 20 yard pin.
Take note of the groups from the 3 yard shots. Your goal is to have all the groups in a vertical line on the target. I put a piece of duct tape on the target vertically as a reference line.
Adjust your rest accordingly right or left and repeat the procedure untill you have 3 groups in a vertical line on the target.
Be careful with the 40 yard group. You may be shooting too low at the target and miss it. Start high on the target with your first aiming point to avoid this.
Adjust your sight also as you progress.
Make your best attempt to keep good form and follow through. If you're not shooting well that day it will cloud the results. Torquing the bow will also cause false groups. Concentrate on the shot.
It's also a bad idea to try this on a windy day or in a constant steady cross wind.

You can also do a French tune. This is done by shooting a 3 yard group and then shooting a 40 yard group. Again using the 20 yard pin for both groups. It's just a quicker method.

Remember the farther back you go 50,60 or 70 yards the more micro tuned and precise your CS will be. You'll need a tall range target to go that far.

[MitchellCPA]

My pulse seems to have alot of cam lean on the bottom cam at full draw but when i did a walk back tune it was fine i also did a french tune that was ok as well but i could not get a bullet hole through paper to save my life (really bad left tear) and my bare shafts were so bad it looked like the arrow was sideways at 20 yards. my arrow flight is good when i shoot outside at 60 yards so iam very confused as to whats happening here, maybe it has something to do with the cam lean i dont know.

I am new to Elites, but I have done a ton of bare shafting, most of it with fingers. If your shaft is that bad at 20 yds there is something going on and I would not quit until I got it way better. I doubt it is the bow, based on what I read about the Elites. A paper tear that is mild is really not a big deal. But what you are describing is beyond that.

For starters, be sure you know how to check the bow for lean. Secondly, I would have someone else shoot it that you know is a good shooter, to see if their results mirror yours. These bows sound like the Mathews in that the grip may be a factor. If you torque the grip, you will tear the paper.

All that said, if your shaft is that far out, I would wonder if it is not matched poorly to start with.