The Silverback Plus Tension Release is the world’s leading tension-activated release, engineered to perfect your shooting technique through consistent back tension. When buck fever hits or target panic creeps in, this release delivers what others can’t: a surprise shot that breaks at the exact moment your form is perfect.
By activating through continual pressure against the bow’s back wall after safety release, the Silverback Plus forces proper form and follow-through. Its carefully designed grip complements the Nock 2 It series, creating a seamless transition between training and competition.
For bowhunters and target archers serious about breaking through accuracy plateaus, the Silverback Plus is your most trustworthy tool.
Core Benefits
- Eliminates Target Panic: Surprise activation prevents anticipation and flinching
- Forces Perfect Technique: Back tension activation requires proper form and follow-through
- Build Shooting Confidence: Consistent shot execution in high-pressure hunting situations
- Adjustable Tension: Customizable activation weight for your exact shooting style
The Tension Advantage
Offensive Shooting Approach
The Silverback Plus tension release changes your shooting approach from defensive to offensive. Unlike hinge releases that force you to wait for activation, the Silverback Plus puts you in complete control, driving your elbow back with increasing pressure until the release fires.
This active shooting approach builds shot commitment, eliminates anticipation, and creates a dynamic shot process that transfers perfectly to hunting situations. The tension activation trains you to build consistent wall pressure and understand your draw curve, creating an ideal foundation for accurate shooting.
Spring-Loaded Precision
At the heart of the Silverback Plus sits a precision spring mechanism that activates based on specific pressure thresholds. The standard configuration features a 43-pound spring with an adjustable range from 14–28 pounds of tension.
Every two turns of the adjustment screw equals about one pound of tension change, allowing for precise customization to match your bow’s holding weight and your personal shooting style. For complete customization, three additional springs (30-pound, 50-pound, and 59-pound) come included, delivering activation ranges from 11–39 pounds.
Safety System
The Silverback Plus features an intuitive safety lever that prevents premature activation during your draw cycle. This critical safety feature lets you reach full draw position before engaging the tension mechanism, allowing proper anchor and sight alignment before building back tension.
The safety system creates confidence during high-pressure shooting situations. You can be sure the release won’t activate until you’re fully prepared and committed to the shot.
Ergonomic Grip Design
The Silverback Plus grip profile perfectly complements the Nock 2 It series for seamless training transitions.
The handle sits firmly along your knuckle line, creating a consistent hand position shot after shot. The grip angle promotes proper finger placement with 60% pressure on your index finger and 40% on your middle finger, establishing ideal leverage for consistent activation. This thoughtful ergonomics prevents hand fatigue during long practice sessions and creates absolute consistency in hunting situations.
Setting Up Your Silverback Plus
Finding Your Tension Sweet Spot
For most archers shooting a 70-pound bow with 80% letoff (14-pound holding weight), starting four to five pounds over holding weight creates an ideal activation point. This approximately 19-pound activation weight balances control and surprise.
New shooters often benefit from slightly higher settings while developing consistent back tension. As your technique improves, you can gradually reduce the activation weight for a more refined shot process.
Perfect Hand Position
Lock the release along your middle knuckle line with a firm, rigid grip. Keep your hand completely flat against the handle with fingers securely wrapped around the grip. This hand position prevents inconsistent leverage that can affect activation weight.
When executing your shot, think “pull, pull, pull” rather than anticipating release. This mental approach maintains proper form through activation.
Proper Draw Sequence
Always engage the safety when drawing your bow. Draw to full position, establish your anchor, acquire your target, and then disengage the safety before beginning to apply back tension.
This sequence ensures consistent activation and prevents premature firing during your draw cycle, building confidence in high-pressure situations.
Technical Specifications
Standard Configuration:
- 43-pound Spring (14–28-pound range)
- Adjustment range: ~1-pound per two turns
Included Springs:
- 30-pound Spring (11–22-pound range)
- 50-pound Spring (15–31-pound range)
- 59-pound Spring (20–39-pound range)
Construction:
- Precision-machined aircraft-grade aluminum
- Stainless steel internal components
- Adjustable tension system
- Safety lever mechanism
From Target to Field Performance
The Silverback Plus tension release provides the perfect complement to hinge-style shooting, creating an offensive approach to your shot process. While hinges teach patience and static holding, the Silverback Plus builds dynamic shot commitment and proper back tension.
Many top archers, including John Dudley himself, start their season with the Silverback Plus to establish proper form before transitioning to hinge releases for refinement. This training sequence develops complete shooting versatility for any hunting or target situation.
For anyone battling target panic or seeking to break through accuracy plateaus, the Silverback Plus tension release delivers the perfect combination of surprise activation and proper form development, making it the most trusted back tension release in archery.
FAQ's
Does the Silverback Plus work in hunting situations, or is it just a training tool?
The Silverback Plus is absolutely designed for hunting. In fact, the tension activation is advantageous in hunting scenarios because it forces you to commit to the shot rather than getting stuck in the aiming process.
When that buck steps out and your heart rate spikes, the Silverback Plus eliminates the freeze-up that happens with traditional releases. You’re actively working through the shot with purpose, which is exactly what you need when the moment of truth arrives. The surprise break prevents you from anticipating the shot and flinching, even under extreme pressure.
I’m worried about accidentally triggering the release. How safe is it?
The safety system is foolproof when used correctly.
Always engage the safety lever before drawing, and only disengage it after you’ve reached full draw, established your anchor, and acquired your target. The release can’t fire while the safety is engaged. Once you disengage the safety, you’re in complete control of when the shot breaks through your back tension.
This isn’t a hair trigger. It requires deliberate, increasing pressure against the back wall to activate.
How do I know what tension setting to start with?
Start with four to five pounds over your bow’s holding weight. If you’re shooting a 70-pound bow with 80% letoff (14 pounds of holding weight), begin at around 19 pounds of activation weight. This gives you enough resistance to build proper back tension while still providing a surprise break.
You can always adjust from there. If it’s too heavy and you struggle to activate it, back it down. If it’s firing too easily without proper form, increase the tension. The goal is to find that sweet spot where proper back tension makes it fire.
Can I use this release if I’ve never shot back tension before?
Absolutely. The Silverback Plus is easier to learn than a hinge release because you control when it fires through your pulling motion.
Start with a higher tension setting while you develop the feel for building back pressure. Practice at close range first, focusing on the pulling motion rather than trying to aim perfectly. Learn to trust the process — pull, pull, pull until it breaks rather than trying to time the release.
Once you develop this mindset, your accuracy will improve dramatically because you’re no longer anticipating the shot.
Will switching to the Silverback Plus change my point of impact?
Expect a point of impact change when switching to any new release. Most right-handed shooters see a slight left impact shift compared to their previous release. This is normal and easily corrected with sight adjustments.
I recommend marking your sight settings or counting clicks so you can quickly switch between releases if needed. The important thing is to sight in with the Silverback Plus and stick with it. Don’t keep switching back and forth, as this defeats the purpose of building consistency.
How does the Silverback Plus compare to shooting a hinge release?
Think of them as complementary tools rather than competing options. The Silverback Plus teaches you to actively make shots happen through committed back tension, while a hinge teaches patience and static holding.
I use the Silverback Plus early in the season to rebuild proper form and shot commitment after the off-season, then transition to hinge releases for fine-tuning. The tension release is more forgiving for hunting situations because you’re driving the shot process, while hinges require more precise execution.
Both deliver surprise shots, but through different approaches — offensive versus defensive shooting.
