Advice needed

[nitram55]

Hi all

I am keen to take up archery and in particular traditional archery, however I have a bit of a problem.

Due to an injury the fingers of my right hand are pemanently curled so I would be able to draw the bow but not release it, so I was wondering if it is possible to use my thumb to draw the bow.

By the way I am right eye dominant and shooting left handed is something I would like to avoid if poss.

Thanks
Martin

[gino]

eye dominance can be dealt with. Regarding your fingers there's a chance you could use an archers thumb ring but I've never used one myself so I wouldn't be able to give you much advice but they are out there! hopefully someone on here knows more about them and will give you better advice.

Google archery thumb ring and have a look.

[ThePinkOne]

Should be able to shoot off the thumb- fingers are curled into palm of hand for that.

Take a look on here:

http://www.atarn.org/frameindex.htm

ATARN (Asian Traditional Archery Research Network) have detailed instructions on shooting off the thumb, the fit of the thumb-ring is critical and your thumb does swell at first- I lined the inside wiht padded elastoplast to make sure I could get a fit but get it off after shooting...

Yes, I have shot off the thumb. It's very fluid and enjoyable. But you may not be allowed to enter comps shooting that way- not sure. If you've not shot at all, may still be better to get some lessons- with a hand disability you may be allowed to shoot another way (maybe shoot opposite handed?), and of course there's always compound too. Shooting off the thumb can be learned on a training bow recurve- use the opposite handed bow. That's what I used when I learned to shoot off the thumb before I transferred the method to my mongo, however I could already shoot conventionally which helped. Also, you may find coaching difficult to find- very few coaches unless "into" the thumb-release are familiar even with the basics of it.

Another option could be Kyudo (Japanese archery)? They also use a modified form of thumb lock and the bow is very traditional. But I think Kyudo only in London in UK- see

http://www.kyudo.org.uk/ukka.html

for info.

Regards,

Pinkie

[gino]

you know, all this talk of thumb rings has got my curiousity going, does anyone know where you can buy an archers thumb ring? I'd like to give it a go myself...

[ThePinkOne]

Originally Posted by gino

you know, all this talk of thumb rings has got my curiousity going, does anyone know where you can buy an archers thumb ring? I'd like to give it a go myself...

Used to be able to get them from the Eagle, but not now the Eagle isn't there. The trad suppliers should have them- and Grozer sells them direct from Hungary I think.

They are easy to make too, again instructions on ATARN for making one from a ping-pong ball. I've got one lying around somewhere if you want pics, but it won't be tonight.

Also, to try intially, a pad of leather wrapped around your thumb is OK with a light training bow- and in fact you can shoot a light training bow off the thumb without the ring, like finger tabs, it's when it gets heavier you NEED the thumbring.

P.

[Macbow]

Use a release aid and shoot whatever style of bow appeals to you. A compound without sights and stabilisers is challenge enough on a field course. Traditional is a state of mind rather than equipment. My AFB is hardly traditional as far as materials and construction go but I use it in a traditional spirit. Welcome to the trad side.

[nitram55]

Thanks for the replies, gives me plenty to think about.

Cheers
Martin

[geoffretired]

I think you will find the thumb ring requires a left handed bow as the arrow is placed on the other side of the riser compared to three finger shooting.
A release aid would solve the problem; but I think for competition there may be a disability process to go through and register.

[Dave Draper]

Hi,
Don't discount shooting left handed so readily. I am right handed and right eye dominant, but soon after I started archery I injured my left shoulder (playing a different game) and had to learn to shoot left handed. 2 years later my shoulder was ok, but I was locked in to being a left hander. I tried shooting right handed but saw no improvement in my scores, so 12 years later I still shoot left handed!
Dave

[steve58]

Originally Posted by gino

you know, all this talk of thumb rings has got my curiousity going, does anyone know where you can buy an archers thumb ring? I'd like to give it a go myself...

Quicks have them in their catalogue, bronze or horn, GA51 and GA50. They also have a thumb rest glove (GA52) for shooting with a thumb ring (you shoot the arrow off the other side of the bow and rest it on the thumb, weird to watch).