Win&Win (WIAWIS) ATF-DX

Is the ATF-DX worth it over the cheaper ATF-X?

The community is lukewarm on the step up: owners report the ATF-DX is about 80 g heavier than the ATF-X, with the integrated dampers and adjustable dovetail plate being the main changes, and several say the X is basically the same riser for less money. At $979.99 it is the most expensive recurve riser in our comparison set, and it carries a CareScore of 76.1/100, ranked #6 of 8 in its category. If you already shoot an ATF-X, the prevailing forum view is that there is no compelling reason to switch.

Do the plastic dovetails break, and do the limbs drift out of alignment?

These fears trace back to earlier risers in the ATF line, and owners in the threads we reviewed consistently say the finish and dovetail problems were resolved some time ago. One owner reported no damage to the plastic parts after 5,000+ arrows (the riser ships with spares), the dovetail is a user-replaceable part if it ever fails, and limb alignment is described as a five-minute fix with the right Allen key. We did not find a verified report of a broken ATF-DX dovetail in any thread we reviewed.

Does the built-in Mathews EHS damping actually make a noticeable difference?

This is where the community is genuinely split. The integrated EHS damping is the riser's headline feature, but one owner who switched from a Nano TFT said he noticed little difference — if anything the DX was slightly louder — and an owner of the related Meta DX said he could not tell dampers in versus out. Others maintain that damping audibly deadens a riser, so treat the dead-in-the-hand claim as plausible but not universally felt.

How does the riser balance unstrung — does the top kick backward?

One owner who handled a freshly delivered ATF-DX reported that it slowly tilts backward when held upright unstrung. That is a single community report, so treat it as indicative rather than definitive. At a listed 1,360 g mass weight it sits at the heavier end of our category, which matters more for how it balances once stabilisers are fitted than for how it hangs bare.

What is the new DX grip like — any comfort issues?

Reports are mixed. The ATF-DX uses a newer #8 grip with a different contour and screw location than earlier WIAWIS grips; one owner likes the smaller throat, while another reported pain between thumb and index finger that persisted even after fitting an aftermarket Wilson grip. Responders in that thread pointed at hand placement and form before blaming the hardware, and the complaint was not resolved on-thread, so try the grip in person if you can.

Why does the top tiller bolt bottom out early, and can I swap the bolts?

Newer (post-2023) ATF-DX hardware uses black tiller bolts with a stop collar that deliberately limits how far in they screw — owners report the change was made for equipment longevity, since collarless bolts can let the limb fork catch a thread and delaminate the limb edge. One owner found the top bolt bottomed out before reaching his limbs' rated weight, so check the adjustment range against your limbs if you need a lot of preload. Community members specifically warn against replacing the bolts with versions lacking the base ridge.

What does the ATF-DX actually cost, and where should I buy it?

Our listing carries the ATF-DX at $979.99, the most expensive recurve riser in our comparison set. When it launched, forum members tracked the US 25-inch price at around $830 at Lancaster — roughly a 10% step over the outgoing ATF-X — and noted European retailers selling it for meaningfully less, with US buyers discussing the $800 import threshold. Street prices vary considerably by region and have moved since those threads, so compare current quotes before buying.

Owners describe the ATF-DX as typical WIAWIS quality: consistent finish, straight bushings, straight and level limb pockets needing no shims, and tight pockets across Uukha, W&W and Galaxy limbs. Early finish/dovetail complaints from the ATF line are described as resolved, with one owner reporting no plastic-part damage after 5,000+ arrows.

The riser's signature feature divides the community. Skeptics include an owner who felt no difference versus a Nano TFT (calling the DX a bit louder) and posters who doubt the dampers have any real impact beyond cosmetics, asking whether 80 g of stabiliser weight achieves the same. Defenders note dampers measurably deaden a riser's ring and that built-in damping adds vibration control with less mass than damped stabiliser weights.

Repeated sentiment that the DX is an incremental release: roughly 80 g heavier than the ATF-X with dampers and an adjustable plate as the main changes. Critics say it is 'not worth upgrading' and that the ATF-X is basically the same riser for less, while broader threads question the trend toward 3 lb risers. A minority counterview calls it an admirable upgrade and notes heavier risers suit some shooters, especially barebow.

The most concrete hardware gripe: earlier WIAWIS bolts lacked a stop collar, risking over-insertion and minor limb delamination if a limb is rocked in the pocket. Newer black bolts add a collar, but one owner's top bolt bottomed out before reaching his limbs' rated draw weight. Community advice is to keep the collared bolts despite the reduced range.

The DX ships with a newer #8 grip with a different contour and screw location. One owner praises the smaller throat after adjusting to it; another reports persistent hand pain between thumb and index finger that an aftermarket grip did not fix, with responders suggesting form review rather than a hardware fault.

Launch-era posters tracked the 25-inch at about $830 at Lancaster (~10% over the ATF-X) and CAD $1,099 in Canada, while European retailers (Alternative Services, iXpe) ran $150-200 cheaper, prompting import-threshold discussion. Some called the price step significant; others argued it was a modest, expected increase over the X.