Bowhand

[Hiram]

#2368

Theoretically,,,,,,,,,,consistency of the hold (grip) or lack of a grip on the Bowhandle should increase the arrows impacting in the same area each time? I think so at least that being able to repeat the same amount of hold with as little inputs as possible should increase consistency in arrow impacts being in the same place from shot to shot.

I can see from shooting D style longbows that more imputs into the handle are necessary to have control over this design.

I can also see that recurves and modern R&D Longbows are not nearly as necessary to control with imputs from the shooter.

It seems to me that the best idea is have a bone on bone dropped shoulder with the bow arm and open up the hand and eliminate the possibilitys of torque or other imputs to have consistency!!

I would also think that with this goal in mind a wrist sling is the perfect tool not only to do this but,,,,,,to train the archer to have less inputs in his grip of the handle when he doe’s not use one.

I have experimented with all forms of Bow holds and have found the best torque free grasp is the finger tuck of all the fingers except the index and thumb of the bowhand. With a sling in use? The only need for these two fingers is to stabilize the Bow before the draw.

[David Coulter]

#10432

Hi Hiram,

When I picked up my Slammer from bowyer Leon Stewart, he knew I had been shooting a recurve. He suggested that with a recurve you want to use as little influence as possible on the bow, while a longbow likes a firmer grip. That seemed to work quite right for me. You’ll see that repeated in different shooting books, offering the best way for a recurve is a high wrist.

I tend to use a fairly firm grip with my index and middle finger, keeping my palm heel down on the handle, but I don’t hang on with a death grip by any means.

dwcphoto

[Hiram]

#10882

Thanks DW! I personally use a low grip when I shoot. I like the low grip because it allows more bone on bone contact than the high wrist. The wrist being relaxed and the heel of the hand sitting down on the grip allows for a relaxed Bowarm. No wrist fatigue after a lot of shooting. Also like the repeatable grip a low wrist hold affords.

[pewanogo]

#11078

I have several bows that I shoot regularly but find the one I shoot most and most accuratly is a Jim Reynolds recurve with a low wrist grip. I thought it strange when I first began shooting it but soon found it felt as if the bow was a part of me instead of just a bow that I had to hold onto. The fact that the bow grip puts pressure on the heal of the hand seems to diminish the conscious effort to reduce contact with the rest of the hand.Once I got used to it , it just seems like a more natural way to shoot.

[Wexbow]

#11751

I shoot a recurve instinctively and started off with a relaxed high grip, as generally recommended, but found i was getting a slight torque on the release. So i’ve moved towards a lower grip which gives me more handle-on-bone contacted and feels firmer for me even with a relatively relaxed grip. I’m keen to try a longbow in the future and reckon this style of grip might help with transitioning between the two.

[Hiram]

#15020

Excellent replies!! Thank you. Yes I like the low heel of my hand just resting against the grip. Most of the force is in the web of my hand. I just let the wrist relax and allow the rearward force to translate to bone on bone all the way up the arm. A more open stance allows for more string clearance. When the shot goes off,, the push to target just happens with the bow arm.:)

[Author]

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