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Bowtech DeadLock Technology
What It Is, What It Does, and How to Use It

By: Todd Snader

Introduction: Why Tuning Matters More Than Ever

For as long as compound bows have existed, tuning has been both the most important and the most intimidating step in getting a bow ready to shoot.

Ask ten archers about their tuning process and you’ll hear ten different answers. Some rely on a trusted pro shop. Others tinker endlessly with shims, presses, and adjustments. Many beginners don’t tune at all, hoping the factory setup is “good enough.”

The truth is simple: a bow that isn’t tuned to you will never deliver consistent accuracy.

That’s where Bowtech DeadLock Technology changes the game.

DeadLock was designed with one clear purpose:
To equip archers of any skill level with the power to tune their bow themselves, faster, easier, and more accurately than any system on the market.

Think of it like a four-wheel alignment for your bow. Just as aligning your tires keeps your car tracking straight down the road, DeadLock aligns your arrow path at full draw to match your personal form so every shot flies true.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

  • What DeadLock Technology is
  • What it actually does for your shooting
  • How to use it yourself
  • Why it matters whether you’re brand-new or a seasoned pro

By the end, you’ll see how DeadLock isn’t just another feature, it’s a tool that puts accuracy and confidence back in your hands.

What Is Bowtech DeadLock Technology?

Let’s cut out the jargon and keep it simple.

DeadLock Technology is Bowtech’s exclusive cam tuning system that lets you adjust your bow’s cam position with a turn of a screw, no bow press, no shims, no guesswork.

  • Imagine giving your bow a precision 4-wheel alignment.
  • At full draw, DeadLock shifts the cams left or right until your arrow path perfectly matches your form.
  • Once aligned, you lock it in place, and it stays tuned all season long.

Why is this a big deal?

Traditional tuning often means moving your rest to try and compensate for what your bow is doing. That’s tuning your rest, not  truly tuning the bow.

In some cases, there are other far more time-consuming, ways to  “tweak” a bow to help with alignment. These consist of:

  • Removing the string.
  • Swapping or sanding shims.
  • Re-stringing and repeating until it “looks right.”

Or, just paying a pro shop to handle it if you don’t have the tools.

DeadLock replaces all of that with a simple adjustment you can do in minutes at home.

Your bow adapts to you, not the other way around.

What Does DeadLock Technology Do?

DeadLock doesn’t just make tuning easier; it transforms the entire shooting experience. Here’s what it actually does for you in the real world:

1. Locks in Accuracy

Once your arrow path is aligned, DeadLock keeps it there. Think of it like a scope that never drifts off zero. You don’t have to wonder if your bow is still tuned; you can trust it every time you draw.

2. Saves Time and Headaches

Instead of an afternoon at the shop or hours tinkering in the garage, you:

  • Shoot a few arrows.
  • Make a quick DeadLock adjustment.
  • Lock it down.

That’s it. Tuning goes from a frustrating chore to a five-minute confidence boost.

3. Adapts to You Personally, and Your Preferred Accessories

Every archer has subtle differences in grip, anchor point, and release. Also, everyone has a favorite arrow brand and type. DeadLock adjusts to fit those differences, so your arrows fly true to your natural form.

4. Builds Confidence on Every Shot

Archery is 90% mental. When you know your bow is tuned to you, and will stay that way, your confidence goes up, and so does your accuracy.

How Do I Use DeadLock Technology?

Using DeadLock is intentionally simple. Whether you’ve been bowhunting for 20 years or just bought your first compound bow, the process is the same.

Step-by-Step DeadLock Tuning

Step 1: Install Arrow Rest

  • Mount arrow rest so that the arrow is level through the arrow rest bolt holes.
  • Square the bow to the riser. Measure from the front of the riser to the arrow, then the back of the riser to the arrow.
  • Set equally.

Step 2: Shoot and Observe

  • Fire a few arrows through paper.
  • Look for tears that show your arrow path isn’t perfectly straight.

Step 3: Adjust Up and Down Tears

  • If the point it high, move the rest down.
  • If the point is low, move the rest up.

Step 4: Adjust Left and Right Tears with DeadLock

  • Turn the DeadLock adjustment screw to shift the cam left or right.
  • Small turns = small movements = precise control.

Step 5: Lock It Down

  • Tighten the lock. This holds your setting firmly in place.
  • No more drifting or slipping.

Step 6: Confirm and Repeat If Needed

  • Shoot again.
  • If your arrows are flying true, you’re done. If not, adjust slightly and repeat.

SEE IT IN ACTION HERE:

Why This Matters

  • No Bow Press Required To Tune: The only time your bow needs to touch a press is to install your peep, or change your strings and cables later. DeadLock eliminates that barrier.
  • No Special Tools: A simple Allen wrench is all you need.
  • No Guesswork: You adjust until the arrow path matches your form, then lock it and forget it.

DeadLock makes tuning approachable for the beginner, repeatable for the intermediate, and precise for the advanced.

Why DeadLock Matters for Every Archer

Archery isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why DeadLock is designed to match all skill levels.

Beginners: Remove the Intimidation

  1. No confusing tools or jargon.
  2. Builds confidence by letting you learn to tune your own bow.
  3. Takes away the fear of “messing something up.”

Intermediate Archers: More Control

  1. Fine-tune your bow anytime, anywhere.
  2. Perfect for dialing in accuracy for 3D shoots or expanding your hunting range.
  3. Reduces reliance on shop visits.

Advanced Archers: Micro-Precision

  1. Allows micro-adjustments for competition-level accuracy.
  2. Ensures consistency across thousands of shots.
  3. Like zeroing in a rifle scope, your bow is always on target.

DeadLock gives every archer ownership of their own success.

Real-World Benefits of DeadLock Technology

Here’s what you’ll notice once you’ve tuned with DeadLock:

  1. Personalized Accuracy
    Your bow isn’t tuned to the shop tech or your buddy, it’s tuned to your unique form.
  2. Season-Long Confidence
    No matter how many arrows you shoot, DeadLock holds its alignment.
  3. Independence
    You don’t need to rely on a shop for every tuning tweak. You own the process.
  4. Peace of Mind in the Field
    When the shot of a lifetime presents itself, you know your bow is dialed.

insert quote:

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Accuracy

Tuning doesn’t have to be complicated, intimidating, or left to someone else.

Bowtech DeadLock Technology puts the power of tuning directly in your hands.

By aligning your arrow path to your personal form, DeadLock delivers:

  1. Accuracy that’s truly yours.
  2. Confidence that lasts all season.
  3. Independence from the shop.

Whether you’re just learning, leveling up your skills, or competing at the highest level, DeadLock makes sure your bow is always tuned for success.

Ready to see it for yourself?

Explore Bowtech bows with DeadLock Technology and experience the easiest, most accurate tuning system ever built.

By: Ryan Johnson

I had some work to do last week in the north end of the valley, so my bow just “happened” to find its way into my work truck. After my jobs were wrapped up, I hit the 3D course on the mountain.

It was that quiet time of evening, maybe an hour before dark and just after a rainstorm had passed. The woods seemed to stand perfectly still. I stepped up to first target, a 38-yard bear. As I reached down to hook my release on to the D loop, it let out a loud squeak as the head pivoted. It may as well have been a D-10 dozer coming down the side of the mountain amongst the silence of the evening. Immediately, visions of a gargantuan mule deer rolling out of his bed at mock 10 raced through my head.

Like most of you, I wait all year for hunting season. For those of us who hunt out west, August means the start is very, very close. If you’re an eastern whitetail kind of person, well you haven’t much more time. And little things like a release squeak—no matter how much your gear cost, no matter how much you pattern a buck, or how much coin you spend on that dream hunt—could cost you that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Take Ten Minutes Now and Work Over Your Bow and Accessories to Ensure This Doesn’t Happen to You

I like to start by simply taking an allen wrench set and checking every single bolt on the bow for tightness.

Pay extra attention to screws in and around your rest and sight.

Pay attention to where your mods bolt to the cam is a suspect place also.

Using blue lock tight in key areas, like your mod screws, is good peace of mind as well; just don’t overdo it and stay away from the red stuff; it’s sure to cause you problems later.

After a Quick Once Over on Bolts, Take a Close Look at the C-Clips and E-Clips That Hold Your Cam and Yoke Bearings to the Axle

Make sure they’re all there and don’t seemed stretched out.

Draw your bow and check the serving on those places that like to “hide,”such as under your cable roller bearings or the part of the string that winds up onto the cam.

Take the Time to Shoot Your Bow in the Clothes You Anticipate Hunting In

I know it’s cliché, but the last thing you want is to find out in the moment of truth that your water bladder hose catches your string or your binocular harness sticks out too far. Maybe your backpack straps creak or as in my case, your release squeaks as it rotates.

Also practice shooting with your quiver on and off. On my setup if I have a quiver on the side of my bow, I need a back bar to keep from kicking my arrows out right. Conversely, when my quiver comes off, so does my back bar. 

Number Your Arrows

Another overlooked tip is numbering your arrows. It’s amazing how often a specific arrow just doesn’t want to play well with the others. By writing a number on a vane of each arrow you can identify one that’s being a troublemaker. Make it your grouse arrow or leave it at home.

Mark Up Your Bow

Lastly, once all my bits and pieces seem to be in line and my broadheads are flying true, I take a paint marker or sharpie and make little marks on my cam on either side of the limb. This allows me to easily check my bow is still in tune if it happens to take a tumble, goes for a rough ATV ride or gets tossed around by a baggage attendant anxious for lunch.

I also like to make marks on my rest and sight for both the windage and elevation adjustments for the same reason. One quick glance can give me the assurance I need that everything is still happy.

It’s the most wonderful time of year, if you’re a bowhunter. The air is filled with hope and excitement and the thoughts of, “Could this be the year?” Whether it’s hours upon hours of checking trail cameras, hours upon hours of watching that special bull, or hours upon hours of working your tail off to save up for that dream hunt, don’t let all your hard work get ruined because you didn’t take ten minutes now to shore up the little things that ultimately make a big difference.

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