PSE Odin 34 vs Mach 33: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

The PSE Mach 33 FDS has been one of my favorite carbon hunting bows for the last few years. It shoots well, it is fast, and the 33-inch platform has been tough to beat from a balance and overall shootability standpoint.

Now PSE is replacing it with the new PSE Odin 34. Instead of simply updating the Mach 33, PSE moved to a new 34-inch platform with a redesigned carbon riser, upgraded hardware and the new Limb Vise tuning system.

So the question is pretty simple: is the Odin 34 actually a meaningful step forward from the Mach 33?

We put them side by side and tested the draw cycle, valley, holding weight, post-shot feel, real-world speed and 30-yard groups to find out.

Watch: PSE Odin 34 vs Mach 33 Bow Wars

If you want to see the bows shot side by side, this is the full Bow Wars comparison. We go through the feel test, scale measurements, chronograph testing and 30-yard groups before making the call.

PSE Odin 34 vs Mach 33 Specs

On paper, these bows are extremely close. The Odin gets a little longer and gives you a little more draw-length range while staying very light.

We also put both bows on our scale after installing essentially the same basic accessories. The Mach 33 came in right around 5.0 pounds with our rest and sight. The Odin 34 came in at 4.8 pounds.

So even though the Odin is an inch longer axle to axle, our equipped test bow was actually a little lighter.

What Changed From the Mach 33 to the Odin 34?

The thing you have to understand is that the Odin isn't just a Mach 33 with another inch added to it. There are several meaningful changes to the platform.

New 34-Inch Carbon Riser

The riser is completely different. PSE moved from the 33-inch Mach platform to the 34-inch Odin and redesigned the carbon riser around it.

An inch of axle-to-axle length doesn't sound dramatic, and at my draw length the difference in string angle wasn't huge. Where I think it becomes more noticeable is for somebody drawing 31 inches or longer. The Odin 34 also extends the standard FDS draw-length range out to 31.5 inches.

Updated Hardware

This was one of the first things that stood out visually. Hardware corrosion has been a recurring complaint we have heard from PSE shooters, especially from bows that see wet hunting conditions. The hardware package on the Odin has been updated and it gives the bow a noticeably cleaner, more premium look.

New PSE Limb Vise Tuning System

This is probably the biggest functional upgrade.

PSE still uses the EZ.220 system for cam adjustment. If we have a larger paper tear in the shop, we can press the bow and move the cam using those shims. The Odin adds another adjustment point at the limb pocket with the new Limb Vise tuning system.

Once the bow is close, the Limb Vise gives us another way to make smaller tuning corrections without putting the bow back into the press. That is a meaningful addition from a bow-tech standpoint because we're not forced to chase every small correction with the rest or repeatedly press the bow.

If you want the full breakdown of how those adjustments work, read our PSE Limb Vise Tuning System guide.

The FDS Cam Stays

I'm glad PSE didn't completely change the cam just for the sake of changing it. Both bows use the FDS cam, and I've been a big fan of that system.

It has a smooth draw cycle, good efficiency and a rotating module that makes draw-length changes easy in the shop. You also retain adjustable let-off so the bow can be configured around how much holding weight you prefer.

Draw Cycle, Valley & Shooting Feel

This is where the comparison gets more interesting because the spec sheet doesn't tell you what happens when you actually get behind each bow.

Mach 33: Still an Excellent Shooting Bow

I've spent a lot of time with the Mach 33, and shooting it again next to the Odin reminded me why I've liked it so much.

The draw cycle is excellent. It rolls over cleanly, the back wall feels solid, the string angle works well for me, and the bow is very manageable if you have to let down.

At the setting used in this test, the valley was more forgiving than the Odin's. There is some feedback after the shot, but that isn't unusual with a bow this light. The bow still shoots exceptionally well.

One thing I will say about the PSE grip on both bows: you need to be consistent with your grip pressure and hand position. We see that when we're tuning these bows in the shop. If your grip changes, you can see it through paper and downrange.

Odin 34: Smoother Draw, Shorter Valley in Our Test

The Odin immediately felt a touch smoother through the draw cycle. I think the additional axle-to-axle length helps the overall feel of the bow. It doesn't feel like it stacks as much before rolling into the wall.

The trade-off in our test configuration was the valley.

The Odin wanted me to stay engaged against the back wall more than the Mach 33 did. Once we put both bows on the scale, the reason became pretty obvious.

That's a meaningful difference in holding weight, so I wouldn't look at our valley comparison and assume the Odin platform itself automatically has a harsher valley. The bows weren't producing identical measured let-off during this particular test.

The Odin also wanted to torque a little more on me during a few shots, but there is another variable there: both bows were set at 29 inches, which is a touch long for me. That's why I try not to turn every subjective shooting impression into a universal statement about a bow.

Post-shot feel between the two was very close. I didn't notice a major difference in noise either.

Real-World Speed Test: Odin 34 vs Mach 33

This was one of the tests I was most interested in.

The Odin is an inch longer axle to axle and the bow we tested had a little more brace height than the Mach 33. On paper, you might expect the Mach 33 to have an advantage in speed.

We shot both bows at 29 inches of draw length, approximately 70 pounds and with the same 440-grain Easton FMJ.

That's one of the biggest things I took away from the test. You gain axle-to-axle length and the other updates without paying for it with a noticeable loss in arrow speed.

30-Yard Accuracy & Holding Test

After the chronograph, we moved back to 30 yards and shot groups with both bows.

Neither bow had stabilizers installed for this comparison. That is worth mentioning because both are extremely light carbon bows, and for me personally, bows this light usually benefit from strategically adding a little stabilization weight.

That's actually one of the advantages I like about starting with a light carbon platform. You can add weight where you need it to improve the hold instead of starting with a heavy bare bow and only getting heavier as accessories go on.

The Mach 33 grouped extremely well. That's not surprising. I've shot that platform enough to know how accurate and easy shooting it can be.

Then we shot the Odin.

The Odin shot every bit as well. Our sight was slightly off to one side, but the group itself was there. After moving the sight a couple of clicks, we could bring the group back to center.

That's what matters in this comparison. The Odin didn't gain an inch of axle-to-axle length and somehow lose the accuracy or performance that made the Mach 33 so good.

A Note on Carbon Bows

I don't think carbon automatically gives a bow a performance advantage over aluminum. What carbon does give you is a very light starting point.

That means I can add a front bar, back bar or strategically placed weight based on how I want the bow to hold without immediately ending up with an overly heavy setup.

Carbon also doesn't pull heat away from your hand the way aluminum does. If you're hunting genuinely cold conditions late in the season, that can be a nice practical benefit.

PSE Odin 34 vs Mach 33: Which Bow Would I Choose?

If I'm choosing between the two today, I'm taking the Odin 34.

That doesn't mean the Mach 33 suddenly became a bad bow. Far from it. I've shot the Mach 33 for years, and it remains an exceptionally good platform. If you already own one and it fits you well, nothing about the Odin makes your Mach obsolete.

But if we're comparing the platforms directly, the Odin gives me more.

If somebody came into the shop choosing between these bows at comparable pricing, the Odin would be the easy recommendation for me. You gain the newer platform and tuning system without sacrificing the speed or accuracy that made the Mach 33 so good.

PSE Odin 34 vs Mach 33 FAQ

Is the PSE Odin 34 replacing the Mach 33?

Yes. The Odin 34 takes over PSE's longer standard-FDS carbon hunting platform in the new Odin lineup.

Is the Odin 34 faster than the Mach 33?

Not in our side-by-side test. With a 440-grain Easton FMJ at 29 inches and approximately 70 pounds, the Mach 33 averaged 291.3 fps and the Odin 34 averaged 290.0 fps. Practically speaking, the two bows were neck and neck.

Does the Odin 34 have a smoother draw cycle?

It did for me in this comparison. The Odin felt slightly smoother through the draw cycle, although our Mach 33 had the more forgiving valley because it was also producing greater measured let-off and lower holding weight in this test.

Is the Odin 34 better for long-draw shooters?

The 34-inch axle-to-axle length and 31.5-inch maximum draw length on the standard FDS cam make it particularly interesting for longer-draw shooters. At my draw length the string-angle change wasn't dramatic, but I would expect the additional length to become more noticeable farther out in the draw-length range.

Can you tune the Odin 34 without a bow press?

Partially. Larger cam-position changes through the rear EZ.220 system still involve pressing the bow. The Limb Vise system gives you another adjustment point at the limb pocket for finer corrections without putting the bow back in the press.

Is it worth upgrading from a Mach 33 to an Odin 34?

If you want the new tuning system, longer platform, updated riser and additional draw-length coverage, the Odin is a meaningful upgrade. If your Mach 33 already fits you perfectly and shoots exactly the way you want, there isn't a performance problem you need to solve just because a newer bow exists.

Bottom Line

The Mach 33 set a high bar. That's why I was curious whether moving to the Odin 34 was actually going to improve the platform or just make it different.

After shooting them side by side, I think PSE moved it in the right direction.

The Odin gives you another inch of axle-to-axle length, a redesigned carbon riser, updated hardware, more draw-length coverage and the new Limb Vise tuning system. The draw cycle felt slightly smoother to me, the bow grouped exceptionally well, and our real-world speed difference was only 1.3 fps.

The Mach 33 isn't suddenly irrelevant. It's still a great shooting bow. But if I'm standing in the shop with both bows in front of me and deciding which platform I'd rather own going forward, I'm choosing the Odin 34.