Review: Obsession FXL Compound Bow + Video
Lucas Cooney 07.08.19
I’ve been shooting the Obsession FXL for the past couple of months as part of the 2019 Hunting Bow Project for our sister site ArcheryTalk.com.
This bow has a generous axle-to-axle length of 34.5 inches, brace height of 6.5 inches, and IBO rated speed of 350 feet per second.
Drawing the bow back is a pleasure. It is an easy draw that doesn’t seem to match its advertised speed – more on that in the video. As this bow has 90% let off, the valley feels very deep. It’s a bow you could easily hold at full draw for as long as you needed to. However, I generally prefer a bit more holding weight, as the added resistance helps me with consistency and accuracy.
If you like a solid back wall, the FXL delivers. This is a limb stop set up, so don’t expect any give as you pull through the shot.
After the shot the Obsession FXL produces more noise than normal and some noticeable vibration. It’s not outlandish, but it is worth pointing out.
One of the things that sets Obsession apart is that it offers 31 different riser color options, 18 limb color options, nine string color options, and three cam color options directly from the factory. It’s easily the biggest selection I’ve seen from a bow manufacturer and a great way for buyers to personalize their bows.
Though the Obsession FXL looks really nice, there are some fit and finish issues worth mentioning. First, the module screws have to be lock tied down. No matter how hard I tightened them, they would get loose and start to rattle after just a few shots. Fortunately, this is an easy fix.
To test for speed, I shot a 350-gran Gold Tip Platinum Pierce and a 475-grain AirStrike through the chronograph. The bow was set up with a draw length of 29 7/8 inches and 70 pounds of draw weight. The lighter arrow produced an average of 325 feet per second, while the AirStrikes saw an average of 282 feet per second. Those are fine speeds and that 282 mark is about ideal for me for tuning fixed blade broadheads, but that’s a far cry from the 350 IBO Obsession advertises.
Products Used in this Video:
