Finger Strain

[Ralph]

#160050

An observation and I can visualize why what happens probably happens but I can’t put in words.

I have arthritis in the middle knuckle of my middle finger ( be nice in your thoughts). Caused by many years of cutting wires and crimping lugs I’m sure.

But, my story…I have always shot split finger but I’ve played with three under. When I play with three under I’ve noticed my knuckle becomes really irritated. I just recently gave 3 under a three week trial. My knuckle finally said “QUIT DUMMY”…I can shoot fine but not any better enough to make things unhappy. Besides my knuckle, me also.

I’m sure the different angle of fingers on the string is the problem. Also shooting a bow not really tillered for three under and shooting it so seems to me that makes the bottom limb stiffer.

To make a long story short, Ralphie boy, sometimes the old adage  “Can’t teach an old dog new tricks” probably be best to this old dog.

If I keep messing around I won’t be able to bend that knuckle and after over 60 years of shooting bows and having to quit would be a total heart breaker.

[richard roop]

#160052

In the words of the great poet, singer & songwriter Dave Dudley ………. “If it feels good, do it…. If it hurts, just let it be.”

A couple of thoughts; Are you changing your elbow position when you go three under ???  That might put more strain on an already marginal joint.

and

Have you tried staying with split finger but changing your anchor point(s) to accomplish much the same thing as 3 under (closer point on or aiming right down the shaft) ????

FWIW; I used to shoot with Cal Vogt, many time National NFAA Bowhunter Div. Champion. As he gripped the string on his compound, split finger, he would do the Boy Scout Salute, thumb on little finger. He claimed that it put the tension on the outside back of the hand rather than on the fingers.  Maybe so …. maybe no ……….. but I never could beat him even with pins on my compound.

[aeronut]

#160060

Years ago when one of my friends showed up with a trigger release I told him if I was going to pull a trigger I’d shoot a gun.  But if finger joint pain gets too unbearable maybe a release aid would be beneficial instead of just quitting.

My joint problem isn’t finger pain, it is an occasional knife stab in my left wrist and I haven’t been able to do the boy scout salute for ages.  My fingers are not flexible enough and I’m sure that is from all the heavy work I have done over the years and probably the cause for the occasional wrist pain.

[richard roop]

#160063

A whole bunch of years ago, there was a writer by the name of C.R. Learn. He shot a ‘Bowloc’ release before even the Freestyle folks were. It was a solid piece of some kind of hardwood with no moving parts. I believe that would have made it some kind of ledge release.  As I recall, he was handy enough with it to rove or hunt with it.

If the unthinkable should happen, I think that it would be preferable to hanging up the bow for good.

……………. or a thumb ring……………………. Thumb rings are cool.  I look really goofy when I try to shoot one but it’s still cool.

Anybody know what ever became of the above mentioned Bob Learn ??  He seemed like a pretty regular guy from his writings.

[Stephen Graf]

#160065

Good to see you are still out there plucking away Ralph!

If you are half decent shooting split I don’t know why you would fool with 3-under.  I’m sure you can find some other trouble to get into.

Glad to see that you  still go a-roving.  It does seem harder and harder to find folks and the time to spend on such higher pursuits.  And around here there are fewer and fewer bright young faces behind the string.  There are a goodly number of wee-ones, but once they get into their teens, they stop showing up.

Which is typical I suppose.  Given another few years, they will trickle back to the woods looking to find that good feeling they remember from hot summer days long past.  It is the way of things.  One thing I’ve noticed at our local shoots is that some old feller’s just can’t seem to keep their bad attitudes and their politics under their hat.  Nothing makes a young person shy-off faster than the possibility of having to walk the course while listing to some old curmudgeon spew.

Our local club will be having their last shoot before hunting season soon.  If I make this shoot, I will have attended every local shoot this year (for the first time in a long time).  It does take effort to get out there, and to keep the old fingers working.  To them that make the effort, I say Salute!

[Ralph]

#160210

I gave the 3 under an honest three week shot :-)). By the end of that my knuckle was so sore and stiff that I could not make a fist. So, so much for that experiment.

I also have trouble with my left hand due to an injury a few years back. I was loading a muley buck on the back of my 4wheeler way after dark and he and I fell off. The inside of my left hand, at the base of the thumb joint was ripped open big time by a broken antler. I ended up in the wee hours in the local ER. I now have arthritis in that joint. I can know longer do the #3 with that hand. I can’t touch my little finger with my thumb.

Lessons learned.  For one thing I was very flustered. I’d had hell finding the deer, it was way after dark and a pitch black night. There were people that could’ve helped me if I would’ve swallowed my pride and made a phone call. Pride has been the downfall of many a person. Leaving the deer lay overnight was really not an option because coyotes are prolific in the area.

I have an old hickory selfbow that will rattle your teeth when shot. I tried it the other day and s**t that hurt. Think I’ll stick to my “modern” bows.

I decided after that deal if it was way close to the end of shooting light I would no longer shoot. There’s always the possibility of another day and after many years of hunting it’s more the norm to go home empty handed than with a full one. I’m used to it, know all of the excuses and just go about my business in peace and an open mind.

Amazing how we can learn even when old if we, usually first, listen to what we’re saying to ourselves.. At my age, I still do ignore me but not as often as I used to.

I took a picture of my hand while in the ER but I won’t post it. It’s plumb ugly.

 

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