What is LaunchTec?
LaunchTec is a revolutionary replacement blade for Trophy Taker 1 & 2 hole, available in Ex narrow, narrow and wide versions. Also now available for the AAE Freakshow in Ex narrow, narrow and wide and also Beiter Ex narrow, narrow and wide.
Over the years archery, and in particular compound bow archery has become increasingly technical and complex. Modern archers use advanced launcher blades in their arrow rests to improve their accuracy and consistency from arrow shot to arrow shot.
N.B. The wider blades, which have to cope with both heavier point weights and/or up to 5″arrow overhang are now available. They are equivalent to 12 thou steel.
LaunchTec blades will also fit Spot Hogg and all others rests that use the Trophy Taker blades, such as the Mac Apollo, Cartel Midas 2 and Bodoodle Timber Rattler 2 rests.
Care should be taken if using some Spot Hogg rests as the leading edge is sometimes sharp, which can damage the softer blade, just give the edge a rub with some emery paper and make sure you don’t over-tighten the fixing screws as they are smaller than the Trophy Taker screws.
*Attention* If you have the Spott Hogg Edge rest, please change the countersink screws to 4-40 UNC buttonhead, as the countersink will damage our blade causing it to fail.
Launchtec blades are designed and individually optimised in the UK
These are the suggested sizes of blades to choose for your arrow type
| Arrow Spine | Dia.mm / Dia. ins | Suggested Blade Size |
|---|---|---|
| 2314 etc. | 9.15 mm / 0.360″ | Wide |
| 2014 etc. | 7.95 mm / 0.313″ | Wide/Narrow |
| 1814 etc. | 7.15 mm / 0.281″ | Narrow |
| 1616 etc. | 6.35 mm / 0.250″ | Narrow |
| 3L-04 750 | 5.8 mm / 0.228″ | Narrow |
| ACE 430 | 5.2 mm / 0.205″ | Narrow/X Narrow |
| X10 450 | 5.0 mm / 0.197″ | X Narrow |
These are the suggested sizes of blades to choose for your arrow type
Why LaunchTec? (from the launchtec website)
I have been in engineering all my life and thought that there must be a better material than spring steel to use in a launcher.
In my opinion the spring in the steel causes the rest to vibrate in such a way that it may interfere with the back of the arrow as it passes over it when it vibrates over centre, as shown in the video on the Development page
The material I am using, which is an Aerospace quality epoxy composite, has a much lower ‘bounce’ and so will settle much quicker than the equivalent steel rest.
LaunchTec Facts
-
Fact Launchtec blades have less chatter on draw.
-
Fact Launchtec blades will not rust.
-
Fact Launchtec blades are quieter than steel blades.
-
Fact Launchtec blades do not suffer from fatigue, so have a more consistent performance.
-
Fact Launchtec blades have no sharp edges which can damage a carbon arrow.
LaunchTec Results
- On a reasonably set up compound bow the Launchtec blade is better in my opinion than it’s steel counterpart.
- I have been using one myself for 5 years now and have not noticed any variance in the rest due to weather conditions, I have shot in the heat and in the snow!!
- In fact Frank Maguire a GB Para Archer, won a team gold medal in the Bangkok world championships using a Launchtec blade, and to quote Frank ” It was hot!!”
A few tuning tips if you need them
Tuning the Launchtec blade is very simple but these tips are provided in case you need guidance or just need to know a bit more. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us
Nock height
Although the launchtec blade will shoot well set at zero to 3 mm above square I have found paper tuning yields the best tune.
Centre/shot
If you were happy with the centre shot on your original blade, using the reverse side of a business card with one edge against the riser draw the inside of the the V of the blade onto the card.(See picture) Use this to set your new blade.
For the more technically minded……….
To prove your centre shot, set your sight at 50 metres, adjust windage so you are hitting the centre of the target.
Leaving your sight set at 50 metres move to 5 metres and shoot at the vertical edge of a small face, move your windage to constantly hit the edge of the face.
When set, move back to 50 metres again and see where arrows hit.
Adjust centre shot so you again hit the centre of the target.
Move back to 5 metres again, shoot and see where the arrows hit.
Move windage so you hit edge then back to 50 metres and adjust centre shot to hit the middle.
Repeat until centre shot and windage co-inside.
You should now be able to shoot all your distances without moving your windage in calm conditions.(that will be the one day of the year you can’t shoot)
To recap
-
adjust windage at 5 metres
-
Adjust centre shot at 50 metres
To make this as accurate as possible, use your bubble.
