I recently ordered two Shot Trainers from Astra Archery (www.astraarchery.com, though at time of this writing the website is not responding to my request for data, e.g. its down), with the hopes that it would be an improvement upon the old 'formaster' training aid tool that I have used before (albeit my version is a home-made version from cord and seat-belt style material). Since I lent out my formaster (like much of my gear that I don't currently use lol) I thought I would try this shot trainer, especially since travelling to Brisbane, and later to the US and Canada, it would allow me to train without actually shooting at a range.
The device comes in two sizes, a size 1, and a size 2. The pdf (from the website) explaining the size and use is massive and clocks in at a whopping 24.3mb, way too big for a sizing pdf, they should look at cutting that down since the quality is a print-proof quality and just simply excessive download size, especially for their server output rate (I have 24MBit ADSL2+ and it took ages... very slow rates). Something in the range of 1-2mb would be acceptable in my opinion, the image quality isn't really that important so long as people understand how to measure their arms.
So, according to the measurements, I needed a size 2 since my bicep on my right arm is just a touch over 30cm (yeah, I got fat arms lol). I bought a size 1 and a size 2, simply so that I would have a size 1 available for people that I coach to use/try before they buy one for themselves if they can afford it (shipping is a killer for the item coming across from the US).
Presentation upon opening the packaging was quite pleasing. The shot trainer is flat-packed in a clear zip-lock bag with a high quality printed manual on its use, repeating content that is visible on the website. The lot is sealed with a two-staple cardboard top label showing Astra Archery logo and details, and marking that it is a size 1/2. One packet had a hanger hook plastic tab attached, while the other didn't.
Opening it and taking it out, the slim size of the shot trainer size 2 is quite surprising. I had no doubts that it would stretch out. There is a grey striped side and a black side, with a diamond marking the center of the elbow position, with straps stitched onto the black side. The stitching is a cross-weave/diamond pattern and seems quite solid, no fear of them coming apart. A metal spring clip was attached to a buckle-adjustable strap and a pre-tied cord, they call a parachute cord.
In terms of wearing it, there were no distinctive markings on which side was which, in the sense of, which end to slip your arm into. While one side has a long elastic end, and one a short, not thinking, I actually managed to try to wear it the wrong way round. Off it went, and around the right way, with the longer elastic end being the wrist end of the sleeve. it is actually a bit fiddly to get the grey diamond into the elbow fold. Bunching it up and working it on like a sock does work, but you have to wiggle it about a little to get it to sit right.
Putting the cord around my bowstring was no problem at all. Adjusting the buckle strap was easy enough, and clipping it onto the sleeve strap was just fine too. So I gave it a literal shot. Drawing without an arrow, engage at anchor, release, snap! As described in the manual, a bit of stretch occurred as my adjusted approximate 1 inch gap stretched out. I re-adjusted, and tried again. Snap! Well, I discovered that it wasn't particularly comfortable. The cable/strap connection didn't cut across my neck or face, but rather the strap section around my elbow and arm on the sleeve.
Unlike the formaster that I had, and other variants of similar devices, the width of the straps on the sleeve are very very slim, not wide at all. Taking the full strain of the bow (for me, 42lb) onto the two straps made them dig in quite considerably. I wasn't sure if it was just because I wasn't used to it, so I tried a few more shots. My conclusion with the straps however stands, not very comfortable at all! They claim you could train with this, 20-40 shots before shooting, every day. Well, if you did more than 40, you'd possibly find yourself hurting quite a bit where the straps are....
Now, going back to the sleeve itself. I think perhaps they might want to consider a size 3. The olefin stretch material around the bicep is fine, its a little tight, not terribly tight, very very snug fitting. I think if my biceps were any bigger, there might be some problems (blame my years of other physical activities). However, what did make the sleeve more uncomfortable for me was the elastic cuff on the bicep side. The wrist side elastic sleeve (the longer one I so determined) is fine, but the bicep side is simply too tight on my arm. Either I got massive arms, larger than they anticipated for a size 2... or it just isn't big enough. I could foresee shooting this perhaps maybe 30 minutes or so before it would start to be problematic for me.
In terms of what it does, it does it well, I have no problems in releasing and not collapsing, or losing engagement of my active muscles. I don't know how well I will do with an arrow or aiming, but that isn't something I can do inside my house at the moment.
Suggestions for Astra to improve their product:
1) The most important one in my opinion, widen the straps significantly. They should be several times wider if possible, and can be folded over in the segment not on the sleeve where the metal clips attach to. If they are still too wide, use a solid ring that the straps go through before they are stitched, that the clip can be used on without too much hassle. The thin straps is really the killer negative.
They are just 13mm wide each. That's a strain of 20lb per strap for me assuming equal load. Assuming about a 10cm long strap contact length, that is just over 10cm^2, or 2lb per cm^2, or nearly 900g per cm^2, Do your calculations and it comes to 12.8psi (pounds/square inch). Is that a lot? Well, it is nearly 1 atmospheric pressure (14psi), and in range of a car turbocharger boost pressure.... (6-15psi, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounds_per_square_inch#Magnitude). Personally, I think that's a lot.....
2) Make the clip a little larger. While I didn't mention it, I found operating the clip a little fiddly because of its size. If you watch the demonstration video carefully (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5zi-iOa0z0), there is a brief fumble at 18 seconds in, and once again at 1:10. It is far easier to clip the clip on, than it is to take the clip off. A larger sized clip would help this problem.
3) Mark, or mention in the manual, orientation for wearing the sleeve. Its not hard to do really, makes a difference so someone doesn't put it on backwards and go d'oh, I feel really dumb....
4) Make the bicep cuff larger. The measurement of the difference between of the wrist and bicep cuffs is 5mm. Assuming it is the same material so the stretch factor is the same, I can say, my upper arm is way bigger than my wrist, way more than 5mm. Comfort? Make the cuff larger please.
So, there are some of my suggestions. Is it likely that they will be implemented just because of my opinion? Not likely. Will I likely get any feedback from my review? Who knows. When I get back from Nationals in a few weeks, I'll put the size 1 to use on the guys at the club and see their comments.
I won't give the product a numerical value, it really has no point or purpose. Would I recommend it, taking in all of the factors (price, functionality), I would have to say, only if you had the money to spend and you didn't have one available to try first.
I hope you found this review informative, and anyone who has one, I'd love to read your comments (you can leave them on this post) about your experiences about them, or email me directly at flehrad[at]gmail[dot]com if you prefer.
As for Astra Archery, if you read this, I hope it puts some food for thought if you have future revisions for product development.
