Finger Spacers

[tel]

This is not strictly a Recurve problem, but I imagine it wont affect many compounders. I am about to replace the finger spacer on my tab because it has split allowing me to close it together and pinch the arrow (I have great difficulty in not doing this, having hands that behave as though they were in boxing gloves!). I'm guessing that a short way down the road It'll happen again, so the question is does anyone know of a tab with an adjustable width spacer that won't require me to spread it beyond its limit? Or, I guess a better option, any tips on preventing my fingers from closing on the arrow?

Cheers

Tel

[Thunk]

Don't really understand this; on any tab I've used the finger spacer is solid plastic, perforsated only by the screws that attach it to the tab (A & F, etc). I don't know of any with an adjustable width spacer, but you could always use some epoxy or fibreglass cloth to bulk it out if you require it to be wider. I have also seen something called 'grip putty' or something like that, which is meant to be used to customise your grip to the contours of your hand; some of that might also do the job.

[Tom]

When I've had problems pinching arrows I've wrapped the finger spacer in zinc oxide tape to bulk it out a bit. It's a bit of a pain to remove if you don't like it (leaves sticky stuff on the spacer) but feels comfortable between the fingers.

[gunmender]

I agree with the padding it out with tape, maybe try a large elastic band to get some idea of thickness before glueing any bits up? :smiley:

[tel]

Thanks all!
The bit I'm closing up is a 'u' section. Now the new one has arrived it is plastic instead of metal and solid as described by thunk - maybe I'm not the only one to have had a problem with it?
As for padding out, still necessary I think - previously had success with self-adhesive foam pads trimmed to the spacer.

[Jerry Tee]

You are right about the 'not many compounder's but it is nice to be included with fellow fingershooters. Yes I have come across finger spacer problems I solved mine by making my own solid spacer out of white soft plastic and mounting it by the screws that came with the tab. It is long enough to almost touch the string and very effective.

[LineCutter]

To take a different tack: if you're pinching the arrow you might have a problem with
a) deformed hands, with fingers that all end up overlapping the centre of your palm when you make a fist
b) a habitually poor finger position before you draw
c) a bow too short for your draw, so that the string pushes your fingers together
d) a poor elbow position, so that your fingers aren't in line with the forearm & the direction of pull from your finger flexor tendons moves the fingers sideways onto the nock
e) something else that someone will point out that I forgot

Time to yell "coach!", or video yourself shooting.

[Wrexham Exile]

i think i know the answers to all this!

are you shooting a cavalier elite tab with the old U style spacer? (the one that would dig into ur fingers!!!). yes this could be prised apart to give a larger spacing e.g. from top view :
l_l to \_/

cavalier now use the solid more comfortable, conventional, but less adjustabe spacer.

as for how to make a bigger spacing - go for what was mentioned before, buidl them up using tape or similar. can get a realy custom feel then.

enjoy AL

[tel]

Originally Posted by LineCutter

To take a different tack: if you're pinching the arrow you might have a problem with
a) deformed hands, with fingers that all end up overlapping the centre of your palm when you make a fist
b) a habitually poor finger position before you draw
c) a bow too short for your draw, so that the string pushes your fingers together
d) a poor elbow position, so that your fingers aren't in line with the forearm & the direction of pull from your finger flexor tendons moves the fingers sideways onto the nock

....or any combination of the above! (c) is interesting - I'll look into that, always nicer to blame the eqipment! Seriously, as for the rest of your suggestions you may well be right, but in the last year I have discovered that there are certain things I just cannot do with my hands or elbows - they have been used to doing things a certain way for too long and starting archery in my 45th year means that some of the finer elements of form just aren't going to happen.

:icon_sad:

[tel]

Originally Posted by DMU_AC

i think i know the answers to all this!

are you shooting a cavalier elite tab with the old U style spacer? (the one that would dig into ur fingers!!!). yes this could be prised apart to give a larger spacing e.g. from top view :
l_l to \_/

cavalier now use the solid more comfortable, conventional, but less adjustabe spacer.

You've got it - not a cavalier, but same principle. Not only prised apart but built-up too. It was the prising apart that must have caused the final failure.
This one has also gone over to the other style of spacer - I struggled with it last night, but as Linecutter suggested I may have to look elsewhere for an answer...a compromise between the design of the tab and the design of the archer!