I put the new Bowtech Proven 34 to the test, here is my review

I’ve been testing and reporting on flagship bows for 15 years, during which time I’ve seen some remarkable innovations and a lot of trends. From compact axle-to-axle compounds to those capable of sending carbon at jaw-dropping speeds, modern-day bow manufacturers have given the stick-and-string crowd plenty to ooh and aah about.

After completing a few 2025 bow roundups, there were several vertical rigs I wanted to get my hands on. Bow roundups are articles that highlight new-for-the-year flagships. Bow roundups aren’t reviews. Instead, these roundup-style articles highlight bow specifications and technologies.

One bow that caught my eye was Bowtech’s Proven 34. For 2025, many bow manufacturers, with at least one bow design, stretched the length between the axle pins. Over the years, I have often penned that I prefer a bow between 32 and 33 & 1/2 inches axle to axle. While Bowtech’s Proven 34 falls 1/2-inch over this range, I was thrilled to see this savvy bow manufacturer go long in 2025.

Bowtech has crafted many winning compounds in the 30 to 32-inch axle-to-axle range. Some of the favorites in this range include the ever-versatile Solution, lightweight Carbon Zion, ultra-maneuverable Guardian, and the super smooth Core SS.

Still, one of my favorite Bowtech builds, the Carbon One X, measured 33 inches long. The bow, at 4.5 pounds, was reasonably light, and though longer, I found it maneuverable and ultra-balanced at full draw. I was excited to see the manufacturer create a one-inch-longer aluminum riser bow that pushed the scale only two ounces (4.7 pounds) more than the Carbon One X.

Bowtech Proven 34 First Impressions

The bow is an out-of-box stunner. Almost every Bowtech I’ve tested or owned over the years has been cloaked in black. I call it Bowtech Black. The dual-cage riser adds beef toward the limb pockets on the top and bottom but skinnies toward the grip. The riser sports Integrate Mounting System (IMS) technology. The end user can attach a riser-mounted clamp-style rest like those from Quality Archery Desing and Ripcord. A pair of dovetail slots on the back of the riser accept the rest clamp, which removes the mounting bar and mounting screw, reducing rest weight and making the rest more streamlined with the bow.

The riser also features CenterMass Technology. Much has been done in recent years around accessory mounting. The end goal is to streamline accessories with the bow to create maximum shot-to-shot consistency.

CenterMass Technology does this by aligning the sight with the bow’s center of mass. Instead of mounting the sight bar to the outside of the riser via a pair of threaded screw holes, CenterMass Technology puts a sight bar slot inside the riser. This slot accepts the sight bar, which boosts stability and offsets accessory weight. CenterMass Technology also boosts quiver and stabilizer alignment.

The riser’s middle demands attention. I can tell you three seconds after I pick up a bow if I will like the bow. A bow’s grip is everything. Grips that are too fat or naturally induce torque are not what a bowhunter/archer wants.

Bowtech’s GripLock is thin, flat-backed, and feels excellent. I immediately noticed a pair of Allen-head set screws—one on each side of the grip. When removed, the grip pivots to 13 different angle positions. Lase-engraved marks on the grip align with a single laser-engraved mark on the riser. Once your desired grip-setting (more to come on this) is discovered, reinsert and tighten down the set screws.

The limbs lock into the pockets and the pockets into the riser to ensure maximum rigidity and protection. The quad limbs are thick and wide, measuring 15/16 across.

The heart of the bow is Bowtech’s DeadLock Cam System. One of the finest cam systems ever developed, DeadLock allows tuning without the need of a bow press. With DeadLock, there are no twisting yokes or cables. Tuning is simplified via two DeadLock (top and bottom) loosen-and-turn settings. Bow timing is also a breeze. I’ve used TimeLock before, and thanks to laser-engraved white marks and an Allen-head screw located inside each TimeLock slot (top and bottom), perfect timing can be achieved in two minutes or less.

Of course, we can’t forget about a Bowtech cam feature that has been around for a while: Flip Disc. Flip Disc allows the shooter to customize the draw cycle and overall performance of the bow. The Comfort setting allows for a smooth draw-cycle with a tad less speed. The Performance setting makes the draw cycle less smooth (though not much) while optimizing the bow’s speed.

I also appreciate the DeadLock Cams’ 25-30-inch draw-length range. Without a bow press, by removing three Allen-head set screws, the bow is draw-length adjustable in 1/2-inch increments. After making draw-length adjustments, remove the padded draw-stop arm above each module and put it in the new draw-length setting, which is clearly marked.

Bowtech Proven 34 Build & Tune

I started my build with the bow set to a draw length of 28-1/2 inches and the Flip Disc set to Comfort. The only reason I pressed the bow was to insert the drop cord of my QAD Integrate MX rest into the down cable. The bow pressed easily.

Peep insertion is easy via the black string, which perfectly halves the all-gray string. The IMS rest mounting system and CenterMass Technology makes accessory mounting a breeze. Lockdown is absolute.

With my rest mounted, leveled, and set 13/16 from the riser, I lifted the arm to the full upright position, used my arrow bubble, and added nocking points followed by a D-loop.

QAD includes a white dash on the thumb-lever wheel and a white arrow on the rest body. With the bow on the drawing board, I cranked the handle, drew the bow, and adjusted the draw cord until the white dash hit the white arrow just as the cams rolled over to let-off. Though not perfect, this does give you an excellent starting point.

I rarely go straight to the paper tuner. As good as today’s strings and cables are, I prefer a shoot-in period. I want to shoot the strings and cables in, eliminating stretch, and get comfortable with a bow before I try and tune it.

I detected a bit of vertical nock travel, but it was slight. I spent a whole afternoon sending arrows from 20 to 60 yards with the Proven 34. I will dive more into the specifics of the bow’s draw, hold, etc., in a moment. For now, just know that this bow builds shooting confidence quickly. I played with the GripLock and discovered the perfect grip angle (for me) was with the grip pushed back to the fifth laser-engraved mark. I love being able to customize a bow’s grip.

After putting over 100 arrows through the Proven 34, I shored up the timing. The process is so simple. Bowtech includes timing dots on the cam, which saves time. If you need to make timing adjustments, unlock the TimeLock locking screw. Next, insert your Allen wrench into the TimeLock slot and adjust.

After shooting the bow through paper, I also took time to shoot it in. I fired a bare shaft and a fletched shaft. A rest adjustment was all that was needed to clean up the tear. I didn’t need to use the DeadLock tune, but if you do, loosen the DeadLock locking screw and then utilize the slots labeled “Tune.”

The timing and tuning process took less than five minutes. Not having to press the bow and twist and turn cables, yokes, and the like makes tuning ultra-convenient and simplifies the process.

Bowtech Proven 34 On The Range

With the bow set to a tested draw weight of 66.23 pounds, I shot the Proven 34 through the chronograph. The Easton 5.0 arrows I used for testing weigh precisely 380.1 grains. I usually pull 70 pounds, but shoulder issues caused me to drop the weight a tad. The limb bolts turn like silk. There is no chatter. This is a sign of an excellent limb-to-pocket-to-riser connection.

At 66.23 pounds and a 28-1/2-inch draw, the Proven 34 produced a three-arrow fps group average of 302 fps. The bow held this average throughout testing, a sure sign of a consistent shooter.

The bow, set in Comfort mode, draws like butter. Draw weight builds quickly but evenly. The transition to the bow’s let-off is not abrupt, and as the dual padded draw stops engaging the bow’s inner cable, a solid but not too solid back wall feel is found. I prefer cable stops to limb stops, as I like a valley. I want to pull into that valley as I drive my bow hand into the target while driving my release elbow backward.

At full draw, the bow’s 34-inch axle-to-axle rating is noticeable. The bow balances like a dream and holds well on target, especially in the wind. I discovered I could quickly crawl into my two-part anchor and let the release fire the bow while I focused on aiming. I will note that the bow doesn’t let down easily. Whenever I test a compound bow, I always pay attention to how it lets down. Having to let a bow down happens in the field and competition.

At the shot, the bow is mostly dead in hand. I do detect a slight hand tickle, but it’s nothing serious. Though quiet, I won’t brand the Proven 34 as hushed. Bowtech has produced bows with less handle tickle and post-shot noise.

While the Proven 34 excels in many areas, accuracy and shooting confidence are the bow’s two most significant attributes. I shot this compound from 20 to 100 yards at dots, spots, and 3-D targets. I shot in calm conditions and crosswinds, and if I did my job and executed correctly, the bow delivered the arrow with superior accuracy.

A hyper-accurate bow quickly builds shooting confidence. Throughout the two-week testing period, I felt like a shot broke when the pin wasn’t hovering over the area I wanted to hit. Even during those times, my Easton 5.0s flew clean and impacted the target perfectly.

I would have zero quarrels taking the Proven 34 to the bowhunting woods for any game, anywhere. Though long, the bow is highly maneuverable. Unless the tree you’re sitting in is a gnarled, incredibly tight cottonwood or the ground blind designed to fit a small child, this bow will be a whitetail wrecker and work remarkably well for spot-and-stalk hunting.

Bowtech Proven 34 Durability

I fired over 500 arrows during the 14-day testing period. The bow shows zero wear and tear, and the cable still aligns with the cam tuning dots. After the initial shoot-in period, the strings and cables settled in perfectly. I never had to adjust TimeLock or tune the bow via the DeadLock system.

Bowtech Proven 34 Final Thoughts

A balanced, hyper-accurate compound that produces plenty of speed is tough as nails and will help you climb the podium and fill the freezer—that’s Bowtech’s Proven 34.

In typical Bowtech fashion, this new-for-the-year flagship showcases plenty of purposeful technology. Every aspect of the bow, from GripLock to TimeLock, was engineered to make you feel like this 34-inch compound bow was crafted just for you.

Bowtech’s Proven 34 is available in Long Cam and Medium Cam offerings and comes in numerous camo, solid, and camo/solid finishes.