Jake, not sure if you'll see this comment, but I think you've slightly misinterpreted the display. The white X is where the bow was aiming at the time that the shot was released, the red X is where the bow was pointing when the arrow left the string. This isn't clear in the app, I only saw it on a video on the Mantis website. Love the channel, by the way, always interesting and informative.

I love using the MantisX8 and it really helps a lot in coaching, both spotting minor things which cannot be spotted by naked eye and as feedback to athletes. It is really far more convenient by showing them the reading than convincing them of having certain issue. One very good point on the short side of the device that when we are marking where the arrow hits, it assumes that we are aiming exactly at that point when we fire that shot. The device is originated in shooting games, of which there is only one point, the grip, acting on the equipment. But in archery we are having the bow side and the draw side. It is the combined action on both resulting in the form and eventually affecting where the arrow goes. Talking with some sports lab technician who got experience with much more expensive versions of sensors, we believe that there is one more potential issue which might lead to misinterpretation of data. The device might not be able to distinguish displacement and rotation well. Example when pull to anchor, the line in orange constantly enter the aim point from 9 o'clock. It might be either the bow moving in from 9 o'clock or it can be the riser got rotation clockwise. The device is basically accelerometer + gyroscope + magnetometer and it only detects the movement of the bow riser alone. When we assume, from the data, our bow is moving from side to side, it might be in fact that the bow is rotated / twisted (I believe it is very common during expansion thru clicker). It might be easier for user to understand if they remove the target in the UI and acknowledge this limitation if it is the case. Of course it would be more convincing if you are the one getting this reflection to them ;) In fact we tried putting a couple of sensor on the riser at the same time, the readings are quite different, possibly due to the flexion of riser during the shot. May I suggest it could be an interesting topic for an additional clip on it. Thanks for the great video~

I love how objective your reviews are. Great video

I was at the ASA in fort benning this weekend and saw their booth. Never saw this before and was intrigued. I'm glad you made this video as it helped really show what it can do and how it works. There is tons of potential for this after reading the comment below, as well as some things you mentioned as well! Thanks for the review!

This is cool and neat to see. Daaaamn!!!!!! Jake is so insanely steady when he's on target!!!!!! That's how you get medals >_>

Mantis is missing a great opportunity to make this an aim-and-hold training device for when you can't shoot (indoors, bad weather, etc.). They could have a mode that starts a timer when you get to full draw and gives you a holding-only score after 3 seconds or 5 seconds, etc. Or a mode to start a timer at full draw and see how long you can stay "on target". This would give a score to try and improve over time and really help motivate the steadiness training.

Thanks!

Thanks for the video Jake ! The Mantis looks like a good training tool and could be great with the right software.

Thank you for this review. I have one, but I didn't know how to use it properly. Now I see that I can use it to get my pitch / cant data real time, I have to find a way to stream it live to my laptop (bigger screen).

Just like sound database system. One can get arrow speed at the bow and at the target. Accelerometer sensor on the bow is a great tool. 👍 thanks for showing.

Dang, dude. That’s steady. Mine looks like it has a mind of its own. Need to work on that!

Great review, Jake. I know the video was a product review, but wow, the video made me realise I need to spend more time aiming!!

Great now i have something to compare my stability score with. My average over 888 shots is 91.5 so a bit more to go :)

I have it since a few month on recurve and recently also on compound. My biggest “grief” on the software is the lack of support of proper layout on iPad. Mainly no landscape and split screen. It would easier allow to use a pencil for the target recording. Several time provided feedback to Mantis but no change yet observed. Doing that on the iPhone is too flimsy for me. Having an iPad attached on the tripod with the scope would make it easier to use. Else I love the data coming out of it and helped me to adjust my stabi setup on recurve. Still not enough data for compound yet.

Actually, red X and white X are the positions of the bow at release and at the time when the arrow leaves the bow. Or other way around.

I was into buying this for some time now. I shoot longbow under WA rules, 3d. I wondered how it could help me in my training. Thank You for your in depth and honest review! Do You still intend to make a form series for traditional bow? If so, when do you think it could happen? Thank You in advance, if You find the time to answer! Best wishes to You and your family from Europe!

I would like to see BOWDometer review also.

Cool little gadget!! I think I might get one. It would be cool to see while you aim whats happening on the screen. Maybe put a tablet at eye level on a tripod to the left while you shoot? Or better yet if you got good eyes mount a cheap android phone somehow as a sight...

Problems with X8 is. You can't connect that data to your visual movement. Just as this video show how good it will be if it combines with sync video record. Another is it will not direct link to any actual suggestion for improve.

Daniel Hartin Having to stop and input arrow placement would tend to break your rhythm from shot too shot. Maybe having a second person putting in the info to the phone so you can stay on your normal shot cycle. Still looks like great information feed back over all.

I have always tended to view the arrow score as an indication of execution, I would like to try the gun system on my bow where it gives a score and view of various factors as bars, but the gun app doesn't work with the bow hardware

Just had to mention that you cannot compare archers unless the device is placed in the exact same position on the bow for each archer. The farther away it is from the pivot point, the greater it amplifies the movement.

Great review! :) I have a question - can I use this training tool in an archery club? For example... set into the app 10 different archers and switch between them? Thx :)

Hello Jake i am new to Archery , I would be very greatful to know the bows name that your Shooting with it looks amazing i will see if I can get it shipped to Australia.

after reading the guide and watching several videos and chatin with the Mantis support... the white X is the moment of release, the red X is the moment the arrow leaves the bow. When clicker is actvated then a square box marks when the clicker clicked. The White X appears in the middle, assuming that you let go when pointing to the center, there is no other to represent that moment. The Mantis doesn not really know if you where pointing at the center, the placement in the target face is the final piece of data to arrive at conclusions. Ideally the clicker box, the white X and the red X should overlap which would indicate close to 100% stability. If you achieve that level of excelence and miss the center, then it is just a matter of adjusting the sight. If however the stability is bad but your sight is well adjusted you will miss the center in a pattern consistent to you last direction of motion just before releasing the arrow. Make sense?

OK, question, if you are aiming to the center and got an arrow low to the right, how do you interpret that, what could you have done wrong?

Question: I guess that you have to recalibrate it every time during a session if you move the sight on the Olympic recurve ? I'm thinking about the trace view where you can see the suggested arrow impacts.

What is the camera you use with a cell phone that shows arrows on the target when you shoot in videos? Thanks

Thanks for the review! This thing could maybe be helpful for a shot by shot analysis. How did it feel, what does the graph tell me and where did it go? But looking at the graphs and statistics after 6 or even 36 shots is just information overkill and disconnected from the sensation of every single shot. I think I can save the money. 😄

I am fat and my chest area causes the string to stop in the middle so I tried to lean forwards but I couln’t get it right and my lower back hurt I tried open stance but it ruined my shoulder alignment with the bow so can u please make a video on how to deal with such problem without compromising the alignment of the shoulders with the bow

Dang! You look like an Olympian when you shoot a bow!

Jake, does the first shot considered as a benchmark position relative to the other follow up shots in terms of where the middle is?

Something else I gotta buy now…. 😁

Thanks for the interesting video on the Mantis. Could you also review the Bowdometer (Toxon Technologies)? Would be interesting to see what you think as the two products try to do a very similar thing but in a VERY different way.

Where do you set you nock point on your bare bow? Is it the same as your Olympic bow?

Hi. Have this "gadget" for a few weeks. I have one question for Jake...Do you think that there will be a different measuring during shots if you mount the holder on the body of the bow or on the sight's arm? I think yes because of the multiplication of movement, so what about the score during the orange period of shot? Is it comparable? Please try to mount to sights arm and try to shoot a few shots and compare the Stability Score. Btw.... I follow you in Mantis group, so I will know when you will train with Mantis :-D :-D :-D

This is gonna be a calculator for math skills ....be carful of the tech as it changes you I wonder if the device had another assessment point (like something on you or the string) you would get a better “site picture” I can see why that would be self defeating. Now you just need to put a pressure plate in your left hand and hook it all up to a heart rate monitor.

You must be a mature archer to effectively use this device. If you re a beginner it will just confuse you.