Winny, it’s hard to give a definitive answer on glove or tab because it’s such an individual thing.

Me, I shoot both but normally I grab my old glove and go for it.

Some gloves, the third finger has a tendency to hang a bit and it’ll make me shoot left some (I’m right handed).

I like my old plain and simple Neet brand gloves. They’re not too thick nor to thin. I have several all worn and broke in. I keep one stuck in places so when I forget my glove I’ve got one:-))

But…………………there are days when nothing is working, I’ll grab a tab, things work beautiful and I wonder why I don’t shoot this all the time.

Most of my tabs are homemade.

My advice, such as it is, would be to find a glove that not real thin nor too thick and like you mentioned, not high priced and give it a try.

To me, settling into an anchor with the finger of a glove in the corner of my mouth is natural. But that’s the way I started when I was 14-15 years old and that’s been a spell…..

The bow in the pic….gift for my wife years ago but now I’m enjoying the heck outta the 40# bow.

I was gonna steal it from her but she said I can “borrow it” anytime.

Reese? Reese Field was the origin of Great Plains Bows.

I started out with a tab 52 years ago.  Somewhere along the line I bought a Neet glove and haven’t used a tab since.  I’ve tried several gloves and settled on Damascus gloves.  They are not expensive and like Ralph, I have several around.

Even during the years I shot compounds I used a Damascus glove.  I refused to use a release because if I’m going to pull a trigger it will be attached to a gun.  I even got rid of the sights.

Making your own glove turns out to be a fun thing to do and really improves the fit and function, imo.

Store bought gloves never really fit your fingers right.  And the cost can start to add up.  I thought making a glove would be really hard, but it wasn’t too bad.

A couple finger stalls were made before I got the sizing/shape figured out.  But for the cost of a Saturday afternoon I had a nice glove made.

The glove I made is a hybrid between the neet glove and a hill glove.  What’s nice about it is that it fits MY fingers.  Having everything we need available to us at the click of a button helps us forget that if we do it for ourselves, we can end up with something better.

I have found that tuning my glove is as important as tuning my arrows, or my bow.  If you are bent crafty, consider making your own 🙂

Me personally I feel like nothing beats a good cordovan tab. I get a very nice release with them. Now with that said it took me a few years to finally figure out that I was using tabs that were way to big. Once I went to a way smaller tab and ones that had spacers my shooting improved greatly along with no pain on extended shooting sessions.

Hi Folks,

i bounce around a bit on this. I usually use a duraglove however sometimes my fingers get sore. I also have a stik tight glove that is heavier and more comfortable. I feel I shoot better with the duraglove as I can draw a little closer to my cheek. I try a tab now and then and like how it feels on my fingers during the draw but the string always seems to hit my finger tips on release.

Any thoughts? Thanks! Dwc

I’m shooting a modified Neet glove.

Removed the elastic center. Sew in Velcro to the wrist strap, fuzzy side up.

Cut the three fingers separate.  Sew on Velcro hook side down.

This allows me to adjust the tension on each finger to my liking.

Sounds like a cool set up. I keep looking for tab advice online and it looks like I set it up right, but still get stung on the finger tips. I’m pretty much a glove guy to be sure, though I’d really like to give a tab an honest try. It makes me wonder if it’s the way I hold it somehow. Dc

David, I forgot, you shoot split or 3 under.

Sounds to me like your tab may be just a tad short.

Also, if tab is too tight on your middle finger, there’s no “give” to it on the release and it might bite you.

A good way to get bit…….some split finger tabs, (most in my experience) will bite your middle finger bad enough you might need rabies shots when shot three under (I experiment 3 under sometimes, especially on days when it seems that I’m experimenting with split also, you know, some of “them” days).

Ralph, I know those days. When you say tight on the middle finger how so?  I shot the other day with my stik-tite glove and it worked well. I just like to mess around sometimes.  When I shoot three under the arrow goes about 14 inches low at ten yards, so I know I have to really adjust my set up for that. I might order an extra large tab to check it out. I’m wearing a medium glove and the tab I have now is a large.  I just be it has to do with my form. thanks! dwc

David, I’m trying to say if the tab is to snug around the middle finger, like if the tab has no forward or backwards give to it on your finger, I’m thinking it needs some, the ‘recoil” when the string leaves has nothing to do but slap your lip, cheek, wherever you anchor.

You don’t want it loose, just snug, not tight. To me there has to be a little give.

I’ve read that if your tab is stinging you, you’re doing something wrong.  Maybe so but for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction.

That’s why I like my thick, soft tabs that I make.I have had a fever blister on the bottom lip, in my anchor point.

I can shoot my glove without to much prob but I have learned for sure a bit about which of my tabs I prefer.

Of course, like a lotta stuff, it’s a whole bunch of an individual thing.

I’m no expert source, just been messing with this trad biz for a long time.

Another little trick, another tab, the little tab thingy…fits over the back of your finger and sure can ease the pressure on the bone.

Be well…………

Ralph

Like this…………..

Ralph, thanks for this info. I was able to get some input from Arne of Moebow.  His thought was that it is definitely a form/release situation. I shot a little bit with some seemingly minor adjustments and it made a difference. The two things that I focused on were to make my hook deeper and to concentrate on pulling my elbow back and around to make sure the back tension is there. Coaching via the internet might not be the best thing, but it sure is a big help to me. I appreciate your thoughts. I’m going to loosen up my tab a bit and see if that helps, too. All the best, dwc

I mostly prefer a glove and use an American leathers – which I like best so far.

Looking at R2s custom tab design, I was thinking that might be just the ticket for real cold weather work. Ie the adjustable string tightener would allow it to be used ( and stay put ) over a heavier winter glove.  What say you Ralph – have you tested it in panhandle winter extremes ?

Anyone have an update on the Graf App trail expedition ?

Scout aka Ray

Hey Ray, not winter to test tabs/gloves today but 65-70 mph winds were howling and there wasn’t anything that made a damn bit of difference. 🤔 I had to fling a few. They flung all over the place. 😀

Some days best to stay out of the great outdoors and fix things. 😉

Ralph

Haha – I know exactly what you mean , we had a LOT of wind here yesterday and today. I probably won’t shoot, as it is difficult when you cant stand up in it  – haha. Figured I would stay ” bedded up ” just like the deer —–read a good bowhunting book.

Scout aka Ray

I switched from glove to tab several years ago, primarily to facilitate wearing various thicknesses of outdoor gloves under a tab. The Safari Tuff tab is great for this, and I fuse the cord ends to prevent losing the cord lock. In milder conditions I use an XL or L version of the Fred Eichler tab, depending on the gloves I’m wearing.

All this is done with three-under tabs. Personally I get a better release with these tabs than any glove I’ve used. YMMV.

Charles

Thanks for the good info

I don’t know why I havn’t experimented with this before ( youth and not hunting with a bow in cold extremes do to living in the SW), but I will definitely give it a try this fall as prep for cold weather. The older I get, my hands seem much more susceptible to the cold.

Scout aka Ray

Charles

I understand your situation very well, I have the same affliction. The revelation for me was seeing R2s longer adjustable cord, on his home built custom made tab – thanks Ralph.

Scout aka Ray

Hey guys, these are handy to have around also.

If’n you get caught out in the wet especially.

I keep one handy just in case I get caught………..been a long time since I planned on getting wet other than my daily shower…..but  t-storms sneak up on me occasionally………and sometimes things just happen, like “friends” with water buckets……………..

Ralph

Those tabs, look like they would be just the ticket for Amphibious Archery Ops

Scout aka Ray

There’s Aquaman………………….

Ahhh, and bowfishing…..

Ummm…..Aquaman and bowfishing….wouldn’t fish be kinda like kin?  We wouldn’t be ‘bow after’ kin would we?

I use the string walking technique with a glove and it seems to be working well enough. Im more precise with my tab but hate how if flops on my fingers. I plan on hunting with the glove therefore i practice with the glove. I do wish it was thicker after 30 arrows my fingers begin to hurt pretty badly.