Hoyt’s new Alpha X 30 measures just 30.375 inches between the axles and boasts a speed rating of 344 fps thanks to the HBX Xact Cam system and Multi-Layered Parallel Split Limbs.
September 20, 2024
By Jon E. Silks
Hoyt Archery, ever present on tournament podiums and in trophy photos from the field, never rests on its laurels and has recently added a number of new-and-improved measurement and analysis techniques to a bow-design process that consistently brings high-quality, high-performance rigs to bowhunters around the globe. The Alpha X is the company’s new aluminum flagship hunting bow for 2024.
Available in axle-to-axle lengths of 33 and 30 inches — the latter being our test subject — the Alpha X features Hoyt’s HBX Xact Cam system, a binary cam design that offers customization of draw length, letoff and back wall feel to suit the shooter’s needs. Longer riser tunnels, top and bottom, are offset for added strength with reduced bow weight, while rest- and sight-mounting options move accessory weight closer to the centerline of the rig for better balance, steadier aiming and enhanced accuracy.
New Tools, New Goals Perhaps the most holistic design in Hoyt history, the Alpha X was crafted from scratch by company engineers employing the latest in advanced measurement and analysis techniques. The Alpha X riser takes Hoyt’s signature Tec-Lite riser platform to the next level. It is built with top and bottom tunnels that are longer and offset, allowing designers to maximize riser strength by adding aluminum where needed most, while removing it from less critical areas to shed unwanted weight. The end result is an extremely stiff and stable shooting platform. One of Hoyt’s goals for the Alpha X was to significantly reduce shot noise and vibration relative to previous generations of its bows, while at the same time keeping overall weight down by removing the limb dampeners. This was a major undertaking, but the goal was attained thanks to cutting-edge noise and vibration modeling and testing.
The Alpha X riser also features an In-line Sight Mount that uses a Picatinny rail machined directly into the riser’s front face, thereby centering the mass of a bowsight close to the rig’s centerline and improving balance and attachment security while reducing accuracy-robbing bow torque during the shot cycle. An Integrate-compatible dovetail is machined into the rear of the sight window, just above the shelf, to anchor and center QAD’s Integrate rests. Traditional sight- and rest-mounting holes are also included. Hoyt also includes its In-line Short Stop 2.25-inch Stabilizer that sits low on the riser to drive the center of gravity lower. It uses the riser’s reflex structure to position the stabilizer farther forward, obtaining the reach of a 6-inch model, increasing stabilization.
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The VitalPoint Grip, made with soft Versaflex material, focuses hand pressure near the middle of the grip, rather than at the heel, to reduce negative palm pressure and in turn lessen hand torque and increase shooter performance. The low-profile Roller Guard cable-containment system features machined-aluminum construction, rollers and sealed inner-race bearings for smooth operation and increased efficiency.
Power Production Hoyt’s new HBX Xact Cam system is all about performance and customization. Together with the limbs, this new cam is advertised to generate ATA arrow speeds of 344 fps while maintaining the consistent and smooth draw Hoyt bows are known for. The system uses three base modules (rotating) to cover the 25-30-inch draw-length range, in quarter-inch increments, and also includes an adjustable Module Foot that has three letoff positions (75, 80 and 85 percent). Additionally, the Module Foot components can be switched with one another to change the feel of the back wall at full draw between hard and extra hard. Hoyt also invested significant time and money into improving its in-house string-building capability. The result is the Alpha X’s new WireWRX strings that are pre-stretched and served under high tension to eliminate peep rotation.
Over the years, Hoyt limbs have gained a reputation for super durability and reliability. Patented Split Limb Technology eliminates vulnerable V-grooves and limb bolt slots while creating lateral and torsional stability. The Multi-Layered Parallel Split Limbs on the Alpha X were subjected to an impressive testing regimen of 1,500 dry fires and a million shot cycles. Alpha X limb pockets are machined to exacting tolerances and provide perfect limb-to-riser alignment, ensuring consistent downrange performance.
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At The Range First and foremost, the Alpha X is a shooter’s bow. It is likely to keep you, as it did me, on the range longer than you planned. A comfortable and effective grip is accompanied by a smooth draw that ends with a solid back wall and a valley that’s wide enough for you to relax as you settle in and take aim.
With a tested weight of 4.7 pounds, you can’t really describe the Alpha X as a lightweight rig, but that weight plays a big part in achieving the bow’s excellent marks in terms of the lack of hand shock, vibration and shot noise. The weight also helps it lock on target during aiming, and when the arrow is released, the bow holds steady for a beat before the top cam slowly falls away from the shooter.
The Specs Manufacturer: Hoyt Archery; 801-363-2990, hoyt.com Model: Alpha X 30Riser: Reflex, machined aluminumGrip: VitalPointLimbs: Multi-Layered Parallel Split LimbsDraw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peakDraw Lengths: 25–30 inches, in quarter-inch increments; three base modulesCam System: HBX XactLetoff: 75, 80 and 85%, adjustable; 84.9% as testedString: Hoyt WireWRX, BCY X99, 58.35 inchesCables (x2): Hoyt WireWRX, BCY X99, 38.22 inchesBrace Height: 6.1875 inchesAxle-to-Axle Length: 30.375 inchesWeight: 4.55 pounds (advertised); 4.7 pounds (as tested)Finish: Tombstone (shown), plus 15 othersAdvertised IBO Speed: 344 fpsMSRP: $1,349Comments: Pleasant to shoot, with high performance markers all around.EDITOR’S NOTE: All of our Bow Tests are conducted using the same standardized procedures and professionally calibrated testing equipment. Bows are tested with a draw length of 29 inches and a draw weight of 65 pounds, unless otherwise noted. Speed & Energy Arrow Speed: 302 fps (375-grain arrow); 284 fps (425-grain arrow)Kinetic Energy: 75.97 ft./lbs. (375-grain arrow); 76.13 ft./lbs. (425-grain arrow)Dynamic Effeciency: 83.97% (375-grain arrow); 84.16% (425-grain arrow)Average Noise Level: 91.1 dBA (375-grain arrow); 90.3 dBA (425-grain arrow)
