two different topics to consider. I have used light-weight detectors that would balance terribly with a larger or heavier search coil in use. Also some that were not all that heavy, but the rod design or grip position caused an imbalance. The 'standard' 7X11 DD search coil for the Impact has a similar design with the more rear-positioned rod-mount like the 7X11 coil for the original Racer, and the Impact weighs a little more than the Racer or Racer 2. However, I find the Impact balances better than the Racer 2 with their standard search coils since it has a better weight distribution or balance. That's determined by the rod shapes and grip shape and positioning, etc.
Another factor is how far a use extends the detectors rod. A too-extended rod length also adds to a lot of imbalance and fatigue, yet some use a long extension thinking it will help them cover more ground, and to an extent it dose. However, when the coil is extended too far in front of the operator it also brings more troubles than an imbalanced device. The sweep causes more of an arc which leads to poor presentation with inconsistent overlapping, if any, and many areas not swept over effectively due to a second problem.
That problem is speed X 2. The X2 means that not only do most folks use a too-fast sweep speed to move that arcing coil over a wide-twist sweep, but the feet also move faster since the arm is moving fast. That means the area the coil covers on a broad sweep changes coverage based upon the left foot being in advance or the right foot. Again, this creates more missed areas and poor overlapping technique, along with the fact that the faster sweep can be too-fast for effective detector operation to reject trash and respond to a potential good target.
If the rod length extends only enough to position the search coil properly, about 1" to 2" above the ground surface and ± 18" in front of the leading toe, then it will not be extended too far, and the operator can work the search coils more effectively from a 24 inch to 48 inch side-to-side sweep, on a straight sweep path and not arcing and easily overlapping an ample portion of the prior sweep for better overall performance and target detection. It also means a better balanced and less fatiguing detector set-up.
I have found the Impact to balance fine using either the standard 7X11 DD coil or the smaller 4X7¾ DD coil with such a set-up. If hunting a wide-open grassy park or a beach or a plowed field, of the four models I use I feel the FORS CoRe and FORS Relic are the best balances for longer searched with a standard coil, followed by the Impact and the Racer 2 comes in 3rd. The detectors are not all the same sizes and build design, nor are the human operators who use them, so a lot will be determined on how the human adjusts the machine and presents in for operation.
woody said:
Really been excited about the Impact until I saw a weight of 4 lbs. Too heavy for a lot of us. Oh well!
There are quite a few lighter-weight detectors that I find more fatiguing. The Nokta Impact is a comfortable package design and I don't find it too heavy for what detecting most average hobbyists will do.
Monte
