Finger position

[mole1961]

I`m wondering as to which method of drawing the string is better. I use the index finger over the top of the nocked arrow and the next two underneath. I see this as the evenist pull on the string. I have also seen all three fingers under the nocked arrow. i am probably wrong but does this pull unevenly and affect the release?

[Kellog]

Originally Posted by mole1961

I`m wondering as to which method of drawing the string is better. I use the index finger over the top of the nocked arrow and the next two underneath. I see this as the evenist pull on the string. I have also seen all three fingers under the nocked arrow. i am probably wrong but does this pull unevenly and affect the release?

Hi,

The style you're using is "Freestyle", its the most common style used to shoot recurve, and is normally associated with sights, stabilisers and other gadgets.

3 fingers underneath is "Barebow", and its a method used a lot for people shooting without sights etc as it moves the arrow into line with the eye so its a lot easier to aim using the arrow or point.

It doesn't exactly pull unevenly, and the only real affect on the release is to make it easier to be smooth and not affect the arrow (you can't knock the arrow as easily at least)

[cecile]

Kellog is true.
However, the index above the nock may also be used for shooting barebows.

I use that with my Martin X200 (recurve without sight). But I shoot instinctively because the arrow can't help to aim. The anchor point is the corner of the lips.

[joetapley]

The issue is how the finger pressure distribution affects the bow dynamic tiller. One finger above and two below from experience seems to give the most consistent result for an olympic bow.

Three fingers below is used by some barebow shooters (no bow sight). The gap between the arrow and the index finger is varied with distance as a sighting mechanism.

[mole1961]

Intresting. I will try both methods with and without sights and see what happens. Thanks. Anyone else got an opinion?

[geoffretired]

Several things can be added I feel. If the fingers are above and below the arrow, the string will try to squeeze them onto the arrow nock. This has caused problems for some on this forum. All the fingers above or below the arrow gets rid of that tendency to pinch. The higher the fingers are on the string,( within reason) the higher you can raise your sight, if the hand reaches the same references each time. The bow hand is below the arrow and with the string hand also below, they are more in line with each other.This has implications that may require tillering the bow differently.
I can see why mole1961 thinks as he does.Perhaps better release and even release are not necessarily the same thing? I suspect they are not.
Another option is two fingers below, with the index finger only just resting above the arrow. No pinching, but perhaps the two fingers are not able to hold the draw weight. Sometimes three fingers are put on the string as in freestyle but the bottom finger takes little or no weight. This seems to be the most even spread. Pinching and finger strain could be a problem though.

[Murray]

Sounds like you perhaps need to get your hand on a few reference books as there's a huge amount to this sport and if you're teaching yourself, then you'll need as much information as you can get.

Start on the download page of this site:

http://www.archersreference.co.uk

[mole1961]

I am having lessons with a club (The old Oundle bowmen) and am going to join so I was just looking for some advise really. I agree about the string squeezing the arrow. it comes of the rest a lot if I`m not careful but I am getting better!

[Sling-it]

The traditional vs Olympic is a valid explination, however there is a difference that you may want to look at.

In the beginning, my daughter was tought to shoot three fingers under. As a little one (age 5) it was much easier to teach her to shoot, since the top finger didn't pinch the arrow causing it to get nocked off on the way to anchor (grip deepens on inexperienced young archers as the natural draw cycle increases poundage). It was good to get her started, but an adult who is able to destinguish the difference may be better suited with the one over method.

My daughter shot these three under for quite some time. When she turned the next class up, she went to an outdoor shoot, and had to aim at the top of the target but in order to drop the arrows into the gold. Had she been shooting one finger over, we would have had room on the sight to move her to 50 yards. That one finger adds enough elevation to the arrows arch to make probably one hole distance (or so).

When you try, keep in mind, you will need every bit of assistance to make the distance that you can get..........one over will help you out in this.

[Yeah, I missed again :)]

Originally Posted by Kellog

Hi,

The style you're using is "Freestyle", its the most common style used to shoot recurve, and is normally associated with sights, stabilisers and other gadgets.

3 fingers underneath is "Barebow", and its a method used a lot for people shooting without sights etc as it moves the arrow into line with the eye so its a lot easier to aim using the arrow or point.

It doesn't exactly pull unevenly, and the only real affect on the release is to make it easier to be smooth and not affect the arrow (you can't knock the arrow as easily at least)

Well really for the barebow method you are talking about, the only reason why we use three fingers below is because it the enables us to string walk.

And either way doesn't affect the arrow because if the one finger above, three below affected it then no one would use it because it would not be consistant would it?

However the recurve way is also used for longbow because it puts the same amount of stree on the limbs which is essntial so that one doesn't wear out faster than the other.