Shrewd TRAK 12"

Has anyone actually shot the new Shrewd TRAK indexable stabilizer, and how do you like it?

Early adopters are generally positive — owners running 8" back bars or 15/12 pairs reported no complaints and liked the look, and a shop owner said he's sold many TRAKs to happy customers. But it's genuinely new, so the track record is short, and at least one hands-on owner was let down on damping (more below). First impressions lean good; long-term durability is still unproven.

Does the indexing feature actually change hold, balance, or shot feel, or is it just for orienting the bar correctly?

It's debated. Several owners found the indexing quick and easy to set up, but a knowledgeable dealer-type poster argued its real job is just ensuring correct bar orientation given the rod's shape — useful, but not a magic change to hold or shot feel. So treat indexing as a convenience for repeatable orientation, not a performance feature. If you were hoping it transforms balance, temper that expectation.

Is the TRAK worth switching to if your current stabilizer setup (e.g. AAE, HiTek, Conquest) is already working fine?

Probably not worth switching if your current setup works — one poster framed exactly that hesitation, noting the TRAK is a brand-new flavor-of-the-month and that replacing a working AAE/HiTek/Conquest rig plus buying matching weights could run around $300. The TRAK brings genuinely new features (suspended mass damper, indexing), but they're refinements, not revelations. If your current bar holds steady and quiet, there's no urgent reason to change.

Is the TRAK's included weight enough, or do you need to buy extra weight to get good dampening?

Likely not enough for heavy-hold shooters — it ships with only 1.5 oz of steel weight, so anyone wanting real holding mass or maximum damping will buy more. Budget for extra weights up front. One hands-on owner also found the damping underwhelming versus his HiTek One even before adding weight, so don't count on the included weight alone to deliver the damping you're after.

Is it normal for the threaded stud/mount to stay loose after tightening the index set screw?

Some owners report the threaded stud/mount staying loose after tightening the index set screw — it's been noted enough to flag, though it's not universal. Make sure the index set screw is seating properly against the flat and consider a dab of thread-locker on the stud if it won't stay put. If it keeps backing off, that's worth raising with Shrewd, since it's a new product and they'll want the feedback.

Several posters found the indexing system quick and easy to set up. But others, including a dealer/knowledgeable poster, argued it mainly ensures correct bar orientation given the rod's shape and is unlikely to change hold or balance, with at most a small effect on vibration. One buyer reported he couldn't feel any difference between indexing the bar horizontally versus vertically.

An owner who put about a hundred shots through a TRAK on a Bowtech SS34 said it soaked up far less vibration than his HiTek One stabilizer and felt little different from running no stabilizer at all, calling it a dud so far and hoping added weight would help. He also reported the mounting stud staying loose after the set screw was tightened.

Early adopters running 8-inch back bars or 15/12 pairs reported no complaints and liked the look on the bow. A shop owner said he had sold many TRAKs and that customers like them a lot, and another poster praised Shrewd's overall quality and the TRAK's price point as worth a look.

Some interested shooters held back, noting the TRAK is a brand-new flavor-of-the-month product and that replacing a working setup plus buying matching weights could run around $300. One poster framed it as classic gear temptation versus sticking with proven bars that already work fine.