String Placement On Fingers

[Patrick]

#2735

Back when I shot the compound arrow launching device, there was a time when I was shooting 90 pounds. I had no problem pulling or holding it, but I had to stop because I felt as though my finger joints were coming apart (I used a tab back then as well). I’ve always placed the string right in the crease of the first finger joint. With my new bow, the same thing is occurring. It occurred to me, that others (Ron LaClair for one) place the string on the pad of their finger, just beyond the joint. Am I just being a wimp or have others experienced the same thing?

[David Petersen]

#12347

Unless you have a sloppy release, it seems to me the string should go where it feels most natural. For me, it’s just ahead of the crease, not in it. And while we’re on this topic — good one, Patrick, that I don’t recall seeing before — on releases when I know instantly it’s a sloppy release and the shot will be off, almsot every time, if I think about it in instant mental replay, it’s the bottom finger that hangs a bit and causes problems. So I’ve developed the habit, good or bad, of letting a bit of pressure off that finger at full draw, which puts most of the pressure on just the middle finger. Give me a cleaner release but I doubt it would work with a 70# bow. Also, I guess there are thinner and thicker finger pads, but all I’ve ever used, granted it was half a century ago almost, were fairly thick and stiff, like rawhide. The advantage was they protected your string fingers. The disadvantage was that they basically had no crease, that is no keen sense of feel between fingers and string. As always, whatever works, works (so long as you don’t get caught). dave

[Hank]

#12455

I know most shooters despise them but I have been having finger pain when I went up in bow weight from 55# to 65# so I put no gloves on my bow. I still use a glove and I find my release is improving because my fingers don’t hurt. A little amorall or that stuff you put on arrows to make it easier to pull out of targets forget the name really slicks up your release. A side benefit is that for me less pressure is on your bottom finger ala DP and it makes it easier to experiment with your knock point you just slide them up and down. I was planning on using them temporarily but I am really beginning to like them and may make it permanent and take a risk that the real trad guys will make fun of me. But then I am shooting much better.

[Stephen Graf]

#12824

When I get pain from releasing the string, it is mostly in my 3rd finger. My pain is the result of a sluggish release.

What I mean is that when I relax my hand at release, my fingers don’t turn into noodles fast enough. The string comes loose, but it drags on my fingers and gives a poor release.

So I was watching Roger Rothaar talk about his release. He didn’t say anything specifically about what I noticed, but he literally throws his fingers away from the string. Or so it appears to me.

So I tried it and liked it. When I release, I don’t relax my string hand. I throw my fingers away from the string. I know it sounds crazy but it works. And here’s a side benefit – It helps keep my bow hand under tension and following through.

Here’s the analogy. Remember as a kid patting your head and rubbing your stomach? Wasn’t it easier to pat your head and stomach? So for me, when I relaxed my string hand, my bow hand tended to relax. Now, since my string hand is not relaxing but being forced open by muscles, my bow hand stays under tension and follows through more reliably.

Back to Patrick’s point – when I feel finger pain, it reminds me that I am getting sloppy in my release again.

[Patrick]

#12857

I know for certain the pain isn’t due to a poor release. I’m only asking because I have other issues with my hands. Steve, where does the string lie on your fingers, in the joint or pad?

[Hiram]

#13188

Crease, I too, take a little off the little finger.

[Stephen Graf]

#13900

Patrick wrote: I know for certain the pain isn’t due to a poor release. I’m only asking because I have other issues with my hands. Steve, where does the string lie on your fingers, in the joint or pad?

I started out with the string on the last pad of my fingers. But found that I tended to crab my hand this way. So I started keeping the string in the first joint. Now I think what happens is I draw the string back to anchor, then I settle in. While I am settling in the string moves out of the joint and just onto the pad.

[Voodoo]

#13980

I only use a split two draw, and I grip the string in the first groove, and as I pull it slides a bit onto the pad like Mr. Graf’s does….I shoot bows in the 70-100lb range and I feel it gives me an extremely clean release, but I’ve shot this way for 40+ years, and always shot bows on the heavy side the same way……..David I do agree about your statement about the 70# bow weight and two finger draw, most would not be comfortable in doing it for more than a few shots at best as their joints, bones, and muscles aren’t accustomed to that kind of pressure, my only problem was finding a correct fitting glove as most tend to be sewn up along the side of the finger and that seam focuses a great deal of pressure along the nail, and that becomes very painful, very quick, I never found a glove I truly liked , so I ended up making my own from buckskin with cordovan stalls, and it works very, very well…..

[Patrick]

#35857

Here’s an update, since I’m sure the suspense has been killing everyone:

Since switching to just behind the joint, I’ve had ample opportunity to see how my hands hold up now, and it’s no longer an issue. Between Saturday and Sunday, my son and I shot well over 150 arrows each. Didn’t bother me one bit. THANK GOD! Now, on to becoming more consistent with my new, pain free anchor.

How Tyler can shoot with no glove or tab is beyond me. The wimp gene I surely passed along must be recessive in him. He cracked and shot with a glove for a while on Saturday, but went right back to bare fingers Sunday, and the servings not even built up at all.

[Chris Shelton]

#35885

I used to shoot on the crease, and it hurt my wrist:shock:, I am way to young to have any kind of pain in my joints, so I quit that pretty quick. Now I have it right on the meat of my finger tips! Prefect!!! But that is just me . . .

[Ripforce]

#36732

Funny I have been going thru this string hook thing myself as of late! I have no pain issues but I have just went from shooting a tab to back to a glove! With the tab I was farther out on my fingertips, with the glove I am now using a much deeper hook which I am liking a lot better! What I discovered is that when I shoot with a glove and try a shallow hook, I was having problems with the arrow moving off the shelf on draw, went to a deeper hook on the string and it all came together when I was at Grayling shot great with both my bows! Now I concentrate on curling my fingers so the tips are slightly curled and pointed back towards me, I then relax my hand on draw! Its funny how little things can either really help or hurt your form in this sport!

[Hank]

#36789

I have been experimenting with no glove on my string and I sometimes use a damascus glove with the no glove. Armorall or that stuff you put on arrows to make it easier to pull them out of targets gives you a very slick smooth release if you coat the no glove with it. I am able to position the no glove to keep my fingers spread a little more but still in a consistent spot shot to shot. My goal is to be able to shoot bare finger while hunting but may stick with the no glove it took a little bit to get used to but I am shooting better than ever. I think for me my anchor /release is more consistent and no finger pinch or pain. I pull with the crease in my fingers but when at full draw the noglove repositions itself to the pad. I know a lot of you scoff at them but I started using them because my fingers hurt and now they do not and it is just an experiment that is working for me.

[Bert]

#46317

There’s a website of a fellow in Alaska who uses an Asian-type thumbring on his 70# longbow. He ties a nylon loop under the nock and claims that his hand position and release are much stronger and precise than our regular release, more like the mechanical release on a compound. The loop allows, right-handed, him to shoot arrows off the same side of the shelf unlike the Asian style of shooting off the left hand side of the bow. Anybody ever hear of this or tried it? Sounds like it might be an interesting variation as it is more like flipping a quarter with your thumb and first digit than trying to coordinate three fingers in a clean release.

[Author]

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