When it comes to stabilizers, stiffness is one of the most important features, but how do you figure it out? At RamRods archery, we utilize the C-Spine test, also known as a cantilever spine test.

Three point bend test

Before we got to the C-Spine, we started out with the three part bend test. It involves setting up a 30 inch stabilizer and balancing it on two points at each end. From there, you add a 25 pound weight to the center, hence the three bends.

We felt that this test did not accurately replicate real-world performance when it came to determining the stiffness of a stabilizer, especially when it comes to tapered rods. When you shoot, you don't hold the rod from both ends and attach your weights in the middle. This is where the C-Spine comes in.

c-spine test

We developed this test to best measure stabilizer stiffness.

First, we lock down the proximal end of a 30 inch stabilizer and hang 5 pounds of weight off of the distal end. This is the measurement of the bend or deflection at the tip.

A smaller bend or deflection means a lower C-spine number, and therefore a stiffer stabilizer. Higher numbers indicate more bend in the rod, which means a weaker stabilizer. In the example below, the stabilizer on the left is stiffer, with the C-Spine at 260, and the stabilizer on the right is less stiff, with the C-Spine at 725.

Quick reminder, a stiff stabilizer isn't automatically the best stabilizer. It all depends on your needs as an archer. A compound archer that shoots a high draw weight with a large weight stack at the end of their long rod might need a stiff stabilizer like the Beast, but a recurve archer that doesn't shoot a high weight can benefit more from a rod with higher C-Spine, such as the K2 v2 or Ultra v4. If you're still unsure of which stabilizer is right for you, check out this breakdown of all of our rods or take this quick quiz to get a personalized result.