safari tuff tab question

[buckeyebowhunter]

My dad just bought one of the safari tuff 3 under tabs. It is a beautiful tab but he has asked me to inquire with the gang about the sizing of them. His dilemma is that the tab is short causing the string to slap the end of his middle finger upon release. He ordered an extra large from 3 rivers but it is about the same size as my large black widow tab. Anyone else notice this with the safari tuffs or maybe 3rivers sent him the wrong size?

[BWallace10327]

I had the same issue with my split finger tab.  The tab was great, but it didn't work out very well; split my finger tips.  I gave it away.

[moebow]

Tabs are sized by width, NOT length.  Ideally, a tab should be a little short of the finger tips when the fingers are hooked on the string. About a 1/4 to 3/8ths SHORT of the finger tips.  If he is getting a slap or burn on one or more fingers, the release technique needs to be reevaluated.

Arne

[buckeyebowhunter]

Arne would this be a grip issue as in the hook on the string or an actual issue in the release itself. I have told him to try a deeper hook on the string.

[moebow]

Deep hook, first joints from the finger tips, fingers curled back towards your chin. Then just relaxing the fingers to let the string flip them out of the way.  Takes some practice!

Many who experience pain in the finger tips due to release are trying to open the fingers and then as a result are letting the string rip off their fingers causing the burn.

So IMO it starts with the "hook" that in turn allows an easy release letting the string do the work not YOU.

Arne

[katman]

Great advice given. Why not call 3rivers and ask them to measure the length of an extra large?

[McDave]

When I bought a SafariTuff tab, I ordered both a large and a medium.  The string hit my fingertips on the medium, but there was too much material to the sides on the large.  As a result, I never really liked either one of them, and went back to a glove.  At some point, I really began to think about what Arne was saying about relaxing the fingers rather than trying to open them.  I learned how to do that, and lo and behold, I don't hit my fingers with the medium anymore.  SafariTuff tabs are cut correctly if you release correctly.  Other companies cut their tabs long so people who havn't figured that out can use them, and people who have can trim them.

[longbow fanatic 1]

I currently use a medium ST tab. I LOVE it! I bought a large recently and cant use it as is. I must trim it down closer to the medium tab before I can use it.

[Matty]

I use a small. I THINK the way it was designed for the string to be in contact with the thick back layer then bending through the first joint, s being said it should cover your tips. I was hitting mine (tips) as well. But then tried this other method and the problem solved itself. If you don't use a deep hook it probably won't work. I'll post pics tomorrow.

[SHOOTO8S]

Moebow, is correct, tabs should be sized by the width need to cover fingers from top to bottom vertically. When standardizing the tab face lengths, I was faced with making the face too long and it never being trimmed correctly, or making the length correct for anyone NOT collapsing or trying to open the fingers vs simply stop holding the string. If anyone is getting finger burn, like Moebow mentioned....the release technique needs work! Not only does this fix the finger burn...accuracy increases and bow noise lessens, A win, win!

[Matty]

I see the big guy beat me to it. Sorry for the late response but I'll still show my pics as promised. Rod, if something isn't correct with what I'm saying let me know. I'll change it.
I first measure the WIDTH of my 3 fingers 2 1/4" so that's a small. Buying a MED probably would have left me trimming leather or having too much extra.
 
From what I learned from Rod. The string should rest up against the thick leather plate and this is also where your first finger joint bends around the string creating your hook. I personally hook my index and middle finger, and only contact the pad of my ring finger.
 
The thought is, you can't open your hand faster than the string can release itself if you just relax the hand at back tension. If you're bending your fingers around the string at the joint and around this thicker leather area there should be plenty of leather to cover your fingers avoiding burn at the shot.

[SHOOTO8S]

Spot on Matty ! Your explanation of how rock climbers , simply hook their fingers to hold onto a rock face , without tiring , is a perfect example of how hooking the string, requires little tension.

[Matty]

Originally posted by SHOOTO8S:
Spot on Matty ! Your explanation of how rock climbers , simply hook their fingers to hold onto a rock face , without tiring , is a perfect example of how hooking the string, requires little tension.

Hey cool! I'm glad you remembered that analogy!  Using too much of the forearm musculature will definately incur fatigue!

[buckeyebowhunter]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

[hitmantoto]

Hi,

I use the small tab from black widow, what size should I choose at Safari tuff ?

[Todd Brickel]

I just switched from a glove  to a tab last week after 40 years with a glove.  I ordered 4 different tabs from 3 Rivers, and the Safari Tuff is by far the best.  I shoot split finger.

I like the tab so much, I ordered three more last night so I'll always have one.  

The most surprising thing to me was the noticeable gain in speed with the tab over glove.  I was shooting high at 25 yards consistently until my brain factored in the adjustment.

[Todd Brickel]

One question for others shooting the Safari Tuff split finger tab, the parachute cord, ginger loop rides between the finger spacer and middle finger causing an uncomfortable rub on my middle finger.  As anyone moved the cord back to alleviate this issue?

[McDave]

Ttt