Bow grips

[PaulT]

This is along similar lines to Cliveanne's 'How do you hold yours?' thread but I didn't want to hi-jack it for my own purposes!
I was wondering what people's opinions on low grips for recurves are.
The reason I ask is that most (all?) current compounds have a very low grip and the standard recurve grip is a medium one.
I have modified my recurve grip to be very low as I was under the impression that low wrist was supposedly more consistent than a medium or high one. However there must be a reason why recurves are made as they are and why most 'top' recurve archers shoot with medium or high grips.
Not sure what the question I'm asking is having read the above back but feel free to answer whatever you think it is.

[Tuck]

Originally Posted by PaulT

This is along similar lines to Cliveanne's 'How do you hold yours?' thread but I didn't want to hi-jack it for my own purposes!
I was wondering what people's opinions on low grips for recurves are.
The reason I ask is that most (all?) current compounds have a very low grip and the standard recurve grip is a medium one.
I have modified my recurve grip to be very low as I was under the impression that low wrist was supposedly more consistent than a medium or high one. However there must be a reason why recurves are made as they are and why most 'top' recurve archers shoot with medium or high grips.
Not sure what the question I'm asking is having read the above back but feel free to answer whatever you think it is.

Recurve grip seems a very personal thing, I have always preferred a very high grip as it seems to line up my arm and shoulder with correct rotation of the elbow joint.

Started from the Border / Kelso bows of the 60's and still used by a number of top archers.

[Bald Eagle]

The new Hoyt Helix is a high grip, reminds me of a Radian with a brace on the back and certainly feels like one!

[Field Archer]

Bald Eagle, I have a Helix and a Matrix, although the grips are completly different in design, they have a similar grip angle, neither could be called high.

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

The new Hoyt Helix is a high grip, reminds me of a Radian with a brace on the back and certainly feels like one!

[Bald Eagle]

Compared to the Matrix, to me, the Heiix certainly feels high as my hand seems to adopt a high position on drawing. Perhaps it is the smaller grip that makes it feel like the old Radian handle.

[Shirt]

The Frangilli approach goes low grip = low shoulder. I prefer a low grip, as it means I have a more relaxed wrist and generally don't push them low when I'm not paying attention.

[Barry C]

Most Koreans go for the high grip. Also in Kyodo we use a high grip on what is effectly an ultra low grip. They both have advantages. I feel hoyt grips are very medium.

[JohnK]

I used to shoot a low grip, but since sorting my bow shoulder out I'm having a lot of trouble shooting with one without heeling the bow dramatically. When I tried the Helix, the narrow throat (and medium grip angle) meant that my hand dropped into a higher position on the bow, right up into the throat, and my bow arm felt very solid.

[Rik]

from another forum:

Originally Posted by Vittorio Frangilli

My conclusions since some time iare that best forgivenss is given by low grip (recurve), best stability with bended arm is given by low grip (compound), best compromise with straight arm is medium grip (compound and recurve) and best feeling is given by high grip (recurve).
My son is shooting compound with bended arm, so he is using low grip. My daughter is shooting compound with straight arm, so she uses medium grip.. Both are using special low grip for recurve.

I haven't heard from anyone else with an ability to experiment with subjects at that sort of level...

[PaulT]

That's sort of what i expected; very good arguments on both sides, Koreans on one side and the Frangilli clan on the other. Difficult to argue with either of those two pedigrees!