finger release on compound

[sweetpea]

hi guy's, can i have your input & knowledge. i have recently started to shoot compound after years on recurve. anyway i started using a release aid didn't feel comfortable so went back to fingers using a finger glove. i am shooting quite well, hitting golds one of my club members [shoots recurve only] said i was doing it wrong. i place my three fingers under the arrow, feel comfortable and seem to be shooting reasonably well for a 'newbey', he states that i should have 2 fingers under and 1 above the arrow as i shouldn't shoot quote a hunter bow with 3 fingers under [i have a pse nova nothing special but suits me as a starter compound], i have a peep and scope sight, and shoot consistantly good arrows. what do you think? should i or shouldn't i. it feels very uncomfortable 2 under 1 above. answers on a postcard.
cheers
P ;-]

[Jerry Tee]

Sorry out of post cards. The one over two under is mainly used for shooting with an under the chin anchor. But it does even up the pressure on the top and bottom limbs and with bows with unsyncronised cams three under can cause a slight by lowering the center of pressure of draw. Ideally the draw pressure should be at the nocking point that is why people use a 'D' loop with a release aid. There is an alternative that you might consider however. I have recently switched to drawing the string with three fingers and when I get to full draw I drop off my third finger and loose with two fingers. This gives a cleaner loose and for you it will improve your bow's shooting by getting the center of pressure of draw closer to the nocking point. As for the 'hunter' bit ask him to explain that, usually the only difference is a coat of camo paint.

[sweetpea]

thanks jerry tee,
i will try that on sunday when we shoot next, see how i go.
cheers
P ;-]

p.s
i did scratch my head when he said the ''hunter bow'' comment, thought it was me being thick!!

[geoffretired]

Shooting with three fingers under the arrow is a recognised method. Doing it "wrong" could be expressed differently; wrong is a bit strong in my opinion.
Three fingers under could involve some extra bow set up adjustments to get good arrow flight. Three fingers under also lowers the sight at each distance compared to one above, all other things being equal. This may upset things at longer distances. You may want to try two fingers under as Jerry suggested, dispensing with the top finger at full draw. You may try two fingers under from the start of the draw and you have a choice of which two(top two or the middle two)
If you intend to compete at some time, then I think there are restrictions on shooting with fingers. I believe it is classed as limited compound and there is no peep or scope allowed. I'm a bit rusty in that area so it needs checking.

Originally Posted by sweetpea

hi guy's, can i have your input & knowledge. i have recently started to shoot compound after years on recurve. anyway i started using a release aid didn't feel comfortable so went back to fingers using a finger glove. i am shooting quite well, hitting golds one of my club members [shoots recurve only] said i was doing it wrong. i place my three fingers under the arrow, feel comfortable and seem to be shooting reasonably well for a 'newbey', he states that i should have 2 fingers under and 1 above the arrow as i shouldn't shoot quote a hunter bow with 3 fingers under [i have a pse nova nothing special but suits me as a starter compound], i have a peep and scope sight, and shoot consistantly good arrows. what do you think? should i or shouldn't i. it feels very uncomfortable 2 under 1 above. answers on a postcard.
cheers
P ;-]

Hi Sweetpea.

You are doing nothing wrong at all. The Bow you have will shoot well with three fingers under as it has a long axle to axle length, probably about 40". It may be a problem with a 36" axle bow.

I'm not sure what type of archery you intend to persue long term? Finger shooting whatever the finger configuration is popular in a field environment, but three fingers under will reduce the cast of the arrow for target work. You may struggle to reach the longer distance shots required. Three fingers under help you sight down the arrow, popular with bare bow archers with no sight at all.

Compound "Limited" is shot with fingers. I don't think a peep or scope is allowed on "compound Limited" Just a conventional sight. It's more like a recurve with wheels

What I'm trying to say is it depends on what type of archery you wish to do? Your choice will then dictate how you loose the arrow, and the configuration of the your bow.

[Jerry Tee]

Peep is allowed but a scope is not for limited compound. You can get a 10/32 plain pin and ring to replace the scope.Me I shoot with an under the chin anchor and no peep, this gives me enough elevation to shoot 110 meters even with my oldest and slowest bow (even that bow is faster than a 48lbs recurve). I agree however that limited compound is not common and that has it disadvantages.

[Rik]

Does limited compound exist anymore as a target discipline? I know it's in the rules, but it's been a long time since I've seen it mentioned in target competitions...

In any case, there isn't a problem shooting compound with fingers and a scope, so long as you understand that you're shooting unlimited compound, against people with release aids...

Originally Posted by Rik

Does limited compound exist anymore as a target discipline?

It's still in the GNAS rule book, but I have yet to see one at a Tournament. I can't see the point shooting compound unlimited. A lot of the advantage of shooting compound is lost. I think it better to just stick with recurve for target shooting, if not you are as Rik says, at a huge disadvantage with release aid shooters. Not so sure a scope is that much of an advantage though. I can shoot with a recurve ring site just as well.

[Jerry Tee]

I'm going to go to the Norfolk FITA star this year come and see me. I will also try to do the nationals this year as well I know there is a limited compound class for that.

Originally Posted by Jerry Tee

I'm going to go to the Norfolk FITA star this year come and see me. I will also try to do the nationals this year as well I know there is a limited compound class for that.

Good luck Jerry