Remember the Hoyt GMX? The bow that won Ki Bo Bae Gold in the London Olympics. This is not that bow. But it sure looks like it. Is this a bad thing? NO. It proves the staying power of a classic design. Imitation after all is the best form of flattery.
The Decut Basha is an entry level 25 inch ILF riser from Chinese archer giant Decut. They are known for good quality archery gear and tools. Their arrow saw is probably the most popular in the market. They have positioned themselves as a source for good quality and reasonably priced gear. The Basha is no exception. It has all the standard features found in most ILF bows and a couple of features reserved for the high end market. It has the standard tiller/weight adjustment system which uses a solid limb bolt pushing against an opposing set screw. A very solid locking system for the tiller bolts. Other standard features include mounts for the top, middle and bottom stabilizers as well as mounts for a clicker and sight. 2 standard Berger holes are present as well. 2 features that stand out are a lone rear weight/stabilizer mount. The same position made famous by Germany’s Lisa Unruh.
And just like the GMX, the Basha uses the shim or washer system for its limbs alignment. In this system, instead of the pocket being pushed by 2 opposing set screws to line up the limbs, the limb pocket itself is a cylinder which you slide in and out and hold in place by using thin brass washers. Very rare amongst entry level and even intermediate bows. Not bad at all for a bow at this price point. The grip in this bow is another excellent feature. It is shaped like Hoyt’s performance grips which feel good and promotes a good grip position. Oh and the badges at the back of the limb pockets, classy.
Does it perform like the GMX? No. Although it shares many things with the Hoyt GMX, one key thing it does not is the type of metal or how the bow was made. While the GMX is made from 1 solid billet of aluminum machined into shape, the Basha is cast from molten material. This makes the Basha significantly softer. Less stiff. More brittle even. And you feel this in the shot. Drawing the bow back, I could feel the lack of rigidity and stiffness found in more expensive bows. This is to be expected for bows at this level. You’re not really going to pair it with the most powerful limbs out there. What you wont expect however is the aggressive follow through this bow has. Probably due to a combination of the grip shape and the geometry that closely mimics the GMX’s, the Decut Basha feels great to shoot. Unlike other bows in its class, the Basha actually feels like it wants to shoot and jump out of your hand. For such an inexpensive bow, it feels surprisingly quick. It is a satisfying bow to shoot.
With the Basha, as well priced as is it, some flaws are bound to pop up here and there. The paint finish, while good, is not flawless. Like many bows at this price points, you will see some spots and imperfections specially around the Berger holes and sight mounts. Another thing I found in all the Basha’s I’ve tested is the set screws on the limb alignment systems tend to be loose. More commonly on the top. I’ve learned to check them first when setting these bows up. Not really a huge deal for archers who actually tune their bows, but it can be a negative for majority of the consumers who will buy this bow… New archers. Another thing that I have learned to watch out for is how the actual limb alignment system sits inside pocket. Because the system is a cylinder, there is a chance that the pocket will not sit flush with the pivot point and will cause the limb’s dove tail to jam. Tuning can also take a little more time with the Basha since every time you have to adjust the limb alignment, you will need to take the bow down. The trade off of using a more fixed and arguably, immovable system.
The Basha is no cheap knock off in my opinion. It has its own quirks and character that sets it apart from its inspiration. What the Decut Basha represents to me is an opportunity to try out the look, feel and even some features of a high-end bow without the premium price. And in my book, any bow that makes archery more accessible and at the same time gives an accurate representation of the sport, is an awesome bow and one worth checking out! Now if only someone ordered a white version that really really looks like Ki Bo Bae's bow. That would be awesome.
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