If you could make a grip...

[deg]

Originally Posted by deg

Hi all

I changed the plastic grip of my good old Hoyt GM, since it was a bit too bulky and was hurting me on the base of my thumb bone.

I started from a piece of walnut "root" (forgive my english... I do not know its tecnical name) cut from a friend of mine to the rough shape of the old plastic grip and shaped to fit the riser snugly: since the old GM has no screws to fix it, I was able to make it from a single piece.

Using the old grip as a model it came out with a flatter base shape for the web of the thumb, nicely sloped toward the right, sharper edges, slimmer throat and a rounder left part (I am a right shooter).

To cure for the torque i kept the bow strung and tried to draw it after each "correction" until I was feeling no torque and no strange contact feelings on the thumb base and hand.

The rounder left part, while not influent WRT the torque is useful since it gives me a little contact when I am not putting the bow hand in the right way.

I found _really_ useful to draw in front of a mirror to check whether the bow was "flat" and vertical along the three axes when drawing with a relaxed bow hand. It was easier then to correct for any twisting filing the grip where the pressure was.

It took a week of work, spendind roughly one hour/day, using a Dremel: the walnut wood is soft and smooth and has a nice "flamed" texture.

Finally i finished the grip as smoot and slippery as possible.

The only problem was that, after finished it I had the riser powder coated: it was black - scratched badly; now it is bright white - better than the original! and the grip light brown finishing does not mix very well with white... One day I may want to paint it darker...

Shooting feeling: definitely better than the old one - then I gave the whole bow to my wife to draw her into archery... (I got a brand new red GM handle in exchange tho...)

What I have learned from the experience:

i) Drawing in front of a mirror really helps (do not forget to relax your bow hand)!

ii) once you get the somewhat right shape, DO NOT insist too much with the sandpaper: less than 1mm has a HUGE effect on the bow orientation along the axes and you can not put the wood back...

iii) a perfect piece of wood may have holes and knots inside that will be discovered only when the harder part of work has been done

iv) Wives prefer nice and effective works to rough but efficient ones.

I could post some pict. if you are interested (and if I remember to shoot the picture ;-) )

Hi all!
here, finally, I put some pictures of my grip and the riser it fits.

http://picasaweb.google.com/giancarlo.degasperis

comments are welcome!

[Erika]

I think the Helix grip is the best factory spec grip for a recurve and the Allegiance 06 shrewd grip is the best I've seen on the compound.

However, I have small hands and archery gear as a rule is designed for men. The space between my thumb and index finger is barely wide enough to accomodate any grip or even taking the grip off altogether. So I always have more contact than is desirable.

The grip on the Bowtech Guardian is tiny and will no doubt become my favourite when I get used to it.

Altering grips is difficult when you don't have the space to work with.

[john heff]

deg,

Very nicely done. Professional looking results! - John

[Nick Forster]

That is one beutiful piece of wood
well done

[MINIMike]

Nice Job Giancarlo!

[King Custard]

I wouldn't care if it didn't work any better than a bog standard grip...
It looks the nutz!

(walnutz)
Are you certain you wouldn't like to copy the nexus grip in a similar wood?

[deg]

Originally Posted by King Custard

I wouldn't care if it didn't work any better than a bog standard grip...
It looks the nutz!

(walnutz)
Are you certain you wouldn't like to copy the nexus grip in a similar wood?

I would like, of course. But I do not have any to copy and did not have any occasion to test one of those. While I was looking for another grip I tried one with a flatter thumb base shape (...I know, my ignorance of technical terms is appalling... ) of an unknown brand. Got very nice feelings, but it was sooo expensive... half the price of my second hand riser . So I tried to reproduce it.

As far as I understood from the various descriptions of the nexus grip, my wood chunk may be similar, with a slimmer and deeper throath so that the pivot point is higher and right along the vertical of the pressure button.

thanks to all for the comments!

[Brycedale]

Originally Posted by buzz lite beer

think I'd get one made with a reduced palm area, don't use it keep high up in your grip with minimal hand contact, detrimental to shooting if you palm your grip even slightly vertical grouping becomes erratic.

Don't bother with a grip at all