Thumb ring at GNAS shoots

[NobleKnight]

Is it OK to use the thumb ring shooting in Barebow Recurve and Recurve Traditional (Gnas)? Do anybody use this device at GNAS target competitions?

[krela]

As far as I'm aware NOTHING that could be construed as an aid to aiming can be used, including anything protruding from the bow, yourself or anything that isn't natural between you and the target boss.

[pHz]

from the GNAS rules of shooting -

(h) Hand Protection.
(i) Finger protection in the form of finger stalls or tips, gloves, or shooting tab or tape (plaster) to draw, hold back and release the string is permitted, provided that such protection does not incorporate any device to hold, draw and release the string.
(ii) A separator between the fingers to prevent pinching the arrow and/or a platform tab may be used.
(iii) On the bow hand an ordinary glove, mitten or similar item may be worn but shall not be attached to the grip.

i think the usual interpretation is that a thumb ring falls foul of the last bit of (h)(i)

slainte rob

[krela]

I'm sure a judge will come along and clarify but they're pretty strict. Someone in our club had the screws from their sightblock screwed into their rised (without the sightblock) so they didn't lose the screws. They were asked to remove them before shooting in a barebow class as they protruded from the riser, despite them being on the wrong side of the riser to use as a sighting aid!

[Rik]

My understanding is that a thumbring would only be legal if you wanted to put yourself in with "Compound Unlimited" as it would be classed as a release aid! I've never attempted to get confirmation of that though...

[^HUN^]

Unlike a trigger mechanism, the thumb ring does not draw the string, hold it, or release it, the thumb and forefinger do. The thumb draw can be used without a ring, just as an archer can shoot without a tab or glove; it serves the same purpose which is to protect against soreness.
With this archer suffering arthritic pain in his fingers, I wonder if he would be able to lock his thumb with his forefinger.

[Tony_zelah]

Originally Posted by Rik

My understanding is that a thumbring would only be legal if you wanted to put yourself in with "Compound Unlimited" as it would be classed as a release aid! I've never attempted to get confirmation of that though...

Makes sense to me. A thumb ring is an aid to releasing the string or in other words a release aid, and if you use one your in the compound category no matter what type of bow you shoot. Guess the same would apply if you put a peep sight on a recurve. Mind you be interesting to see how it would raise or lower a persons score.

[buzz lite beer]

Thumb rings can virtually eliminate the paradox of an arrow, just like a modern mechanical release aid, and so can't really be compared to a tab or glove.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Tony_zelah

Makes sense to me. A thumb ring is an aid to releasing the string or in other words a release aid, and if you use one your in the compound category no matter what type of bow you shoot. Guess the same would apply if you put a peep sight on a recurve. Mind you be interesting to see how it would raise or lower a persons score.

Funnily enough, peep sights are something that comes up in debate at FITA every now and again.... Maybe one day...

[woodsplitter]

What makes a thumb ring a release aid? I know that GNAS (or is it Archery GB?) says it's a release aid, but why? Doesn't it just protect the thumb in the same way that a leather tab protects the fingers? What other "aid" does it give?