Hoyt RCRV Podium Review: Unboxing, Setup, and First Impressions

Hoyt has introduced its RCRV Podium lineup, and today, I’m diving deep into this budget-friendly Olympic recurve setup. In this review, I’ll be:

✅ Unboxing the riser and limbs
✅ Setting it up and aligning it
✅ Tuning and shooting it at 70 meters
✅ Giving my honest thoughts on the bow’s performance

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Unboxing the Hoyt RCRV Podium

I bought this bow with my own money from Lancaster Archery Supply, so this review is completely unbiased—no sponsorships, no freebies.

First Observations

• Riser Box: No "Made in China" sticker, but I’ve heard the riser is manufactured overseas.
• Limb Box: Clearly marked "Made in China."
• Included in the Box:
  • Basic manual (just safety warnings, no setup guide)
  • Allen wrenches
  • No clicker plate extension (which is usually included)

Build & Finish

• Riser: Matte finish with a good sheen. Minimal machining marks.
• Limbs: Glossy white with a clear coat, but not what was pictured on Hoyt or Lancaster’s websites.

One thing that stood out immediately: The fitment of the limbs in the tiller bolts is extremely loose. More on that later.

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Setting Up the Bow

Since I didn’t have a clicker plate, I had to use a bolt-on extended clicker on my sight bar. Not ideal, but it worked.

Key Setup Steps:

✅ Limb Alignment: Straightforward, similar to Hoyt’s high-end risers.
✅ Brace Height & Tiller: Set for a 41.5 lb draw weight.
✅ Center Shot & Nocking Point: Adjusted before shooting.

Issue: The tiller bolts were undersized (0.371 inches, where ILF spec calls for 0.375). This resulted in a loose fit between the limbs and riser, potentially causing group shifts downrange.

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Tuning & First Shots at 30 Meters

Since these are 36 lb limbs, I needed a weaker spine arrow than usual.

• 450 spine X10s → Too stiff
• 500 spine Maxima RZs → Still too stiff
• 600 spine X-Impacts → Perfect match

Initial Impressions:
✅ The bow jumps well and feels aggressive on release.
❌ Post-shot vibration is excessive. (Low-frequency wobble, likely due to limb design)
❌ Stability at full draw is lacking.

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Shooting at 70 Meters

After tuning, I shot a 36-arrow scoring round at 70 meters to see how the bow performed under real conditions.

📌 Final Score: 314/360

What Worked Well?

✅ Solid name-brand option at a budget price ($550 for riser & limbs).
✅ Matte riser finish is well done.
✅ Limbs have a durable clear coat (better scratch resistance).
✅ Bow jumps straight and hard.

What Fell Short?

❌ Lack of stability at full draw – I felt like I could torque the bow easily, and there was a lot of movement.
❌ Unforgiving – Small mistakes led to huge point losses (sevens and eights instead of nines and tens).
❌ Excessive post-shot vibration – Would likely improve with a lower strand-count string and limb savers.
❌ Missing clicker plate and manual – Disappointing for a new product.

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Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

This bow is one-quarter the price of a flagship Olympic recurve setup. But how much performance do you actually lose?

For beginners & intermediate archers 🎯
👍 Great for getting into Olympic recurve without spending thousands.
👍 Feels like a Hoyt and aligns like a high-end riser.
👎 May not be as forgiving, especially for those still developing form.

For advanced competitors 🔥
👎 Not as stable as higher-end Hoyt risers and limbs.
👎 Unforgiving nature could impact consistency at high levels.
👎 Tiller bolt and limb fitment could lead to shifting issues.

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Would I Recommend It?

✔ For casual & club archers who want a Hoyt-branded Olympic recurve without breaking the bank.
❌ For serious competitors, investing in a higher-end setup will likely provide better results.

At this price point, the RCRV Podium is a solid entry-level option, but the loose limb fitment and lack of stability at full draw may hold some archers back.

If Hoyt refines these details, this could be a killer budget recurve. Until then, consider investing in upgraded tiller bolts (available on my website) for better limb stability.

If you’re interested in checking out this setup, grab it from Lancaster Archery Supply through the links in the description—it helps support the channel with an affiliate program!

🎯 Want to learn how to tune your recurve for peak performance? Check out my book Tuning for Performance at kaminskiarchery.com.

 

💬 Have you tried the Hoyt RCRV Podium? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!