Glove/Tab Hook confusion

[Stiks]

I've been trying to change from my glove to a tab.
I bought a Soma Saker tab off Ebay cus it was the right price and have been practising with that. I then decided to go and get one a little less fancy because it does not look right with my trad bow, a bit space age!

Anyway I saw the ones on Pip Bickerstaffe's site and mailed him asking if he did one with a spacer.
His reply was that he does not supply them, being a coach he would not advise using a spacer.

Now I asked why, pointing out that I have difficulty keeping the arrow on the bow if I do not use one. He replied by telling me I'm hooking the string wrong. I told him I use the first joint crease.

He say's that you should not use that crease and should use the pads of the fingers. Pulling with first and third.

I've just tried this and I just can't manage. Mainly my fingers just ache like hell and then feel as if there going to cramp up! I'm worried of slipping off and skewering the dog!!

I would like to know if I'm completely wrong using the first joint crease and should change??

I'm completely self taught over about 8 months and no doubt got a few bad habits. Not easy to find a club where I can get instruction here in Dolgellau North Wales without having to travel many miles ..... I must look into it though before my bad habits are to deeply ingrained.

Oh, just put my glove back on, a nice Neet glove which has the extra Cordovan pads on the finger tips, and stuck all my arrows in the gold at 15 yards (don't laugh I'm still learning)

Guess it's been done a thousand time's but your experienced advise/tips would be welcome.

Tab or Glove? ( I know most seem to say tab, that's why I've been trying to change)

How do most hook, Pads, first joint crease, deep hook?
Cus I'm having real problems if I don't use a deep (even deeper than the first joint I find easier to control the arrow on the bow) hook.

Sorry for the long one, just got irritated and I tend to go on when that happens!!

[Little Miss Purple]

Are you anywhere near Corus Deeside??

[English Bowman]

I would agree with Pip about using a tab, not a glove, but I don't agree with the way he suggests holding the string.

I use the first joint crease. You do need to ensure that you don't pinch the arrow as you draw, and also make sure that your hand stays in line with the bow. (Vertical if you are holding the bow upright) to avoid twisting the string.

If you want a trad looking tab with a spacer try this one Gompy Tab from Perris.

Daniel

[BowSurfer]

Tabs are always very persdonal things and it is worth persisting to find the one that is right for you. You might find it worth using some Oberon material (courtesy of Old Bloke) as an altrnative tab face material. This allows the string to hold on the tab a bit better without needing such a deep hook - certainly worth a try. Asto whether or not to use a spacer, I would have thought that that was more down to whether you have a tendency to pinch the arrow, although I guess depth of hook can affect this too.

[robtattoo]

Personally, I would ignore everything Pip has said. Whatever works for one person, won't nescesarily work for another. Do whatever's best for you. If you can't get along with a tab & prefer a glove, shoot a glove! If you prefer a deep hook, go with it. There is no 'Right' & 'wrong' There's whatever works for you & then there's everything else.
If you can find a copy, have a look at 'Masters of the Barebow Vol I' on DVD. It goes through some excellent hints & tips from some of the best traditional archers in the world. Some use tabs, some use gloves, one or two don't bother with either! String placement on your fingers is different for everyone too.

[Dreadnaught]

I belive whatever you are used to is best. Some gloves/tabs will give a faster loose than another, but, "Better a slow hit than a fast miss".
The best style is one that YOU can reproduce identicaly time after time ( as long as you don't do anything that will injure yourself or any body else).However, its always worth listening to more experienced archers because they might have a better understanding of anatomy and what might injure you over time, or, be an easier style for YOU to reproduce consistantly with your own body's strengths & weaknesses (beware the man who says "mine is the correct way".Consider carefully advice from a man who says "this works for me").
I personaly use the first crease in the first & third fingers, but, move the second finger (longest one ) back a tiny bit so the tips of the fingers are near enough in line, this puts the string pressure more on the pad of this finger.I find that otherwise my middle finger can sometimes catch or pluck on release badly spoiling the shot. This makes a faster cleaner more reliable loose for me. Your fingers are probably a different length & shape to mine so who knows, it might not work for you.
And you thought you were long winded.

[Stiks]

Originally Posted by Little Miss Purple

Are you anywhere near Corus Deeside??

About 60 miles Little Miss Purple .. Most places I've searched are a long way but I might make the trip at some point to get advice on my form.

Problem is I'm not consistant with either at the mo! :-)

Just come from the shoot here (No one to point things out at my local shoot, it's little used unfortunately) I tried my glove and the tab. .... I can miss with both just as easy

No seriously .... I do find the glove more comfortable and I control the arrow better on the bow.
Having said that, when I look at my hand after release I see that my fingers are in a claw like possition! ??

Now with the Tab I feel I get a better release if I get it right on the draw, my fingers after release look to be in the possition I would expect, not straight but certainly not claw like!

One thing English Bowman pointed out, 'twisting the string' this is something I've never looked out for so I will certainly watch out for that, thank you!

Regarding the hook. First crease it must be for me I feel, actually it's more towards the pads when I look closely, tips not hooked around, if you knowwhat I mean?

So I recon I'm going with the Tab (just ordered an Angel Tab) and more importantly getting someone, pref a coach, to watch my form.

Is it poss to upload a vid for you guys to watch?

How much does it cost to coached by the way ?? I'm in the NFAS

Oh Robtattoo, do yopu know of anywhere I can buy Masters of the barebow using PayPal? ... No credit or debit card this end :-(

Thank's to all

[Mark L]

When I shoot Recurve and Longbow I have been told off by three different coaches for using the pads of my figures. They have all told me that I should be using the first crease. I just find I have a cleaner release using the pads. Upto individual style I suppose

[steve58]

My personal experience for what it's worth... as a beginner I was recommended to get a basic platform tab when I got my first recurve kit, could NOT get on with a platform tab with a spacer at that stage and shot with a plain one for quite a while.

When I went over to longbow I got my first glove and much preferred it (I have a tendency to pinch the arrow and the glove saved wear and tear on the fingers).

Once I started making progress on the longbow I looked into tabs again and tried several, including a couple of recycled ones with OldBloke's Oberon material on them.

In the end I have settled on a Wilson Tabs Black Widow (in the Quicks online catalogue) and find this works well for me; it gives me the speed of a tab, without a spacer, but with some extra leather that protects the fingers from arrow pinching (and yes I have worked on sorting out finger placement to get rid of this, but we all have off days!)

My advice, shoot what works well for you at this stage (hitting is SO much more fun than missing!), but be open minded about trying other kit later.

[Little Miss Purple]

I was told to shoot from the crease in your fingers as shooting off the pads meant there would be tension in the fingers.... and this was to be avoided - look for the relaxed shot every time!