T.R.U. Ball GOAT (Reo Wilde Signature Series)

Should I buy the GOAT as one do-everything release, or am I better off with a dedicated thumb button and a dedicated hinge?

If you genuinely want one release for both modes, the GOAT is the rare honest attempt — but the consensus is 'great thumb, mediocre hinge,' so dedicated tools beat it if you're serious about both. The thumb mode rivals Carter and Stan; the hinge mode is the weaker half. Buy the GOAT if you mostly shoot thumb and want a hinge option to dabble with; buy separates if you'll shoot both modes seriously.

How does the GOAT actually shoot in hinge mode — is the hinge side as good as the thumb side?

The hinge side is the weaker half — owners find the body too thick for a comfortable hinge, the click-to-fire distance long, and many simply switch it back to thumb mode after trying it. It's not bad, it's just not as good as the glass-crisp thumb mode or a dedicated hinge. If the hinge is a priority for you, a purpose-built hinge will out-shoot the GOAT's hinge mode.

Will my point of impact stay the same when I switch between thumb and hinge modes?

It's supposed to hold zero across modes, and some owners report perfect crossover with no sight change — but others measure a consistent 1-1.5 inch horizontal shift in hinge mode. So don't assume; shoot both modes at your target and check. If yours shifts, note the offset or just sight for the mode you shoot most. The 'same impact' marketing is true for some setups and not others.

How involved is converting between thumb and hinge mode — can you do it quickly on the line?

Converting takes a few minutes with tools — it's not a quick on-the-line flip between ends. You're changing the firing mechanism, not flicking a switch, so plan to convert at home and shoot that mode for the session. If you want to switch modes shot-to-shot on the line, the GOAT isn't built for that; it's 'set it for today's discipline' convertible, not instant.

Can the thumb trigger be set heavier than it comes from the factory?

The stock thumb spring can't be set as heavy as some shooters want, and owners who want a heavier break resort to DIY spring swaps. If you like a light-to-medium thumb trigger, the factory range is fine; if you want to really lean on it, budget for a spring swap. It's a known limit, not a defect.

Should I get the medium or the large, and how does the sizing run for average or smaller hands?

Medium and large are the only sizes, so small-handed shooters are out of luck — there's no small. The medium fits average hands and gets rave reviews for its wide, hefty handle and adjustable finger ends, but some find the grooved finger beds and oversized third-finger attachment uncomfortable. Average hands: medium. Large hands: large. Genuinely small hands: handle one first, because it may simply be too big.

Is the GOAT practical for hunting given the open hook can't hang on the D-loop?

It's awkward for hunting — the free-moving open hook can't hang on the D-loop and there's no string-keeper option, so it won't stay put while you wait on an animal. Several owners who love it for target work carry a different release (like a Wise Choice or a wrist strap) for hunting. The GOAT is a target release first; if you need a release that hangs ready on the loop in a treestand, look elsewhere.

Are the reliability complaints in retailer reviews (hook not staying set, units sent back for repair) something to worry about?

There are scattered reliability complaints worth knowing — the hook not staying set, and units sent back for repair — plus a long-term owner found the hinge-speed screw migrates as you shoot. They're not universal, and the thumb mode's quality is widely praised, but inspect a new one and keep an eye on that hinge-speed screw if you run hinge mode. For a target release shot mostly in thumb mode, most owners have no trouble; just don't ignore a hook that won't stay set.

The single most repeated opinion across venues: in thumb-button mode the GOAT's trigger is exceptionally crisp — repeatedly compared favorably to Carter and Stan, described as glass-like, and several long-time shooters call it the best thumb trigger they have used. One skeptic dismissed the crispness talk as hype next to his Stan Shootoff.

The recurring verdict is 'great thumb, mediocre hinge' — owners call it a jack of all trades, find the body too thick for a hinge, the click-to-fire distance long, or simply switch it back to thumb mode after trying the hinge. A vocal minority genuinely loves it in hinge mode (one sold his HBC for it; another shot it as a hinge for three-plus years), and several note the criticism circulates secondhand more than from actual use.

Those the medium fits tend to rave about the wide, hefty handle and adjustable finger ends; others find the grooved finger beds uncomfortable, the third-finger attachment oversized, and the whole release too big for smaller hands — with repeated advice to hold one in person before buying since there is no small size.

A consistent gripe: the free-moving open hook means the GOAT can't hang on the D-loop and lacks any string-keeper option, so several owners who love it for target work carry a different release (Wise Choice, Blade, wrist strap) for hunting. A few hunt with it anyway and don't consider the missing keeper a dealbreaker.

The marketing pitch of one release, two modes, same impact divides owners: some report perfect crossover with no sight change, while others measure a consistent 1-1.5 inch horizontal shift in hinge mode and note the head physically sits in a different position in each mode, so identical POI isn't guaranteed. A newcomer also reported a large drop switching to the GOAT from a wrist strap, which repliers attributed to the anchor change rather than the release.

Two concrete mechanical complaints surface: the stock thumb spring can't be set as heavy as some shooters want (owners resort to DIY spring swaps), and one long-term user found the hinge-speed screw migrates while in thumb mode until the hook fails to release. Against that, multiple multi-year owners report flawless function and frequent mode swaps with zero issues, and note strong resale value if it doesn't suit you.