Ladies - Chest Guard or No Chest Guard?

[Thunk]

Originally Posted by Kellog

One important role of the chest gaurd, as mentioned it to hold your clothes, and give you a nice consistant base for the string to rest against.

However, whatever people may say it DOES protect your chest....Sorry Thunk, I completely disagree with you... and have had bruises to prove that not wearing a gaurd you get injured! And its not necessarily because the string is drawn [i[between[/i] the breasts, if the string is drawn hard against the breast it can scrape, and hit on the way past.

I'm also "larger", and I was taught a side of breast reference in addition to the normal ones, and found ti really useful initally. However, my current coach has changed my stance so much, and changed the way I shoot completely so I no longer have the option of it.

You are much better qualified to comment than I Kellog -I bow to you superior knowledge!

[Furface]

I can guarantee that, should I forget to put mine on, I will eventually launch my left nipple into orbit - and it hurts. But, when I am wearing it, the string never seems to touch it.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Kellog

However, whatever people may say it DOES protect your chest....Sorry Thunk, I completely disagree with you... and have had bruises to prove that not wearing a gaurd you get injured! And its not necessarily because the string is drawn between the breasts, if the string is drawn hard against the breast it can scrape, and hit on the way past.

Seen that before. The issue seems to be that drawing in hard indents the flesh to the point where it rises up a little in front of the string. on release, the string moves forward faster than your skin settles back into the normal postion, so there is contact. Usually resulting in nasty bruising.

I did manage to stop one beginner, who in a determined effort to draw further, pulled the string back brought it around her front breast and tucked it into her cleavage...
Doesn't bear thining about.

[Kae]

ahhh grasshopper.....
Thou shalt never hit thay breast or arm until thee forgets thou chest and arm guard.

in other words, you shouldn't need it, but when you do, you'll be glad your wearing one. plus it keeps your clothes out of the way.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

My eyes are watering just reading some of the replies posted here! I think what I will do is carry on as I am for now using the string to the side method. Once it gets to the point that its obvious my stance needs changing to progress or whatever then I will get the chest guard - either that or a reinforced, kevlar bra

Thanks for all the responses, certainly food for thought.

[reckless]

Originally Posted by Witchie Poo Cat

My eyes are watering just reading some of the replies posted here! I think what I will do is carry on as I am for now using the string to the side method. Once it gets to the point that its obvious my stance needs changing to progress or whatever then I will get the chest guard - either that or a reinforced, kevlar bra

Thanks for all the responses, certainly food for thought.

apart from keeping loose clothing away from the string and reduceing the chance of launching your nipple at the the target, in the case of women wearing a chest guard there is another reason. if you shoot over a long period of time without a chest guard you may get a small subdermal node on your bow side brest, ( little hard lump under the skin) from the friction of the string and the odd impact. though this is in no way dangerous to health it could possibly lead to a misdiagnosis of a brest tumor and all the worry and fear that same would entail. so best to wear a guard and avoid any such drama,
also note point of string contact with brest for future referance when doing a brest check so you dont give yourself a scare if you ever feel one, however if you do dont assume its just from archery, still get it checked.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Originally Posted by reckless

apart from keeping loose clothing away from the string and reduceing the chance of launching your nipple at the the target, in the case of women wearing a chest guard there is another reason. if you shoot over a long period of time without a chest guard you may get a small subdermal node on your bow side brest, ( little hard lump under the skin) from the friction of the string and the odd impact.

Reckless - you make a good point here, better safe than sorry right? I will add it to the top of my "still to get" list and get it organised sooner rather than later, thats one worry I dont need.

[Steppenwolf]

Remember the warrior women of Greece - the Amazons. Their archers used to cut the part causing difficulty off entirely - only one though.

Dedication or what!!!

[cecile]

Originally Posted by Steppenwolf

Remember the warrior women of Greece - the Amazons. Their archers used to cut the part causing difficulty off entirely - only one though.

Dedication or what!!!

Only a legend !!
I use a chest guard too, not to protect me but to have a clean contact of the string on the clothes and to avoid deviation of the string. If you look the champions, you will see that most of them, either men or women wear a chest guard...

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Originally Posted by cecile

If you look the champions, you will see that most of them, either men or women wear a chest guard...

I like your thinking cecile!!

The amazonians dont need to worry, I wont be chopping anything off in the near future!