string keeps hitting my arm

[VinnieB]

lately when i've been shooting the string frequently smacks me in the arm. even though the string hits my arm it doesn't seem to affect the arrow at all. this problem never happened with me until i switched from a recurve to a longbow. is this something that normally happens or is it something with my form. thanks for the advice.

[Diamond Paul]

The longbow has a much lower brace height (normally); that might be the problem.  Do you have a Dacron or FF string?  Dacron strings have so much elasticity that they will hit your arm without a very high brace height.  Try rolling your thumb slightly down on your bowhand, which will roll your elbow and forearm out of the path of the string somewhat.  If the bow takes FF strings, I'd definitely use one, and check the brace height.

[mike g]

It's all in how you grip the Longbow....

[VinnieB]

i use a fast flight string with it at a 7 1/2" brace height.

[Molson]

Either you are actually getting your arm in the way of the string or the bow is twisting in your hand.  Either way your alignment is off.  Check Terry's Form Clock and other posts on here and you should be able to identify what the problem is.  You probably notice it more with the longbow because it has longer limbs and less mass weight in the riser.

[TSP]

Try rotating your bow hand a bit more to the right...as if you were going to hold the bow from the side of the grip rather than pushing into it (as H. Hill used to say, 'like you'd grip a suitcase handle').  This will solidify your grip on the bow, cause your forearm to rotate out of the way of the string and make your elbow bend slightly....all a good thing with a longbow.  Feels funny at first but try it for awhile... you'll see the difference.  By the way, a similar approach also works with recurves.

[Shawn Leonard]

A very and I mean very slight bend of the bow arm elbow will roll your forearm down and out of the way. Shawn

[cvarcher]

Thats rightShawn-- a light bend in the bow arm is needed to help absorb the recoil of the bow and shorten up the draw length and help clear the string. The whole object to consistant shooting is being as COMFORTABLE as you can thru the technique.Do not lock out the bow arm to help hold a heavy weight bow.Shoot a lighter bow if the arm cant handle it. Incidentally isnt 7.5" a bit high for a longbow brace??Maybe that bow has a deep pistol grip?

[2Blade]

Same thing has happend to me now that I started shooting a longbow cept its 4 inches above my wrist I get a goose egg there for a few mins then it goes away doesnt happen every shot only when I break down and try to peak.

[Alsea]

For what it's worth, that's what arm guards are for. Why do you suppose that Byron Ferguson, Howard Hill, Paul Schaefer and all those Oly shooters use/used armguards?

While it's true that by canting the bow and bending the arm you can mitigate string slap, you do so at the expense of form. The problem with a bent arm is, your drawlength is always changing. The result is, accuracy suffers, because, changing draw length changes POI.

   

Besides, it's really Trad and one more way to distinguish yourself from those evil wheelie guys...   :D

[dragonheart]

Use an armguard, Many of the best longbow shooters have worn one and would not shoot without one.  It is just part of the equipment for shooting a longbow.

[Terry Green]

Many use an arm guard to keep the sleeve out of the way, and for added protection if the arrow explodes. Those are the reasons I use one, not because I hit my arm.

You shouldn't be hitting your arm hard, if you are, you have something wrong with your form.  A slight tick with a low braced bow is one thing, but an all out slap is a problem.

[joebuck]

Do not lock your bow arm out, it should have a slight bend in it... As TG mentioned it's form..

[MI_Bowhunter]

I have two longbows.

On hits my arm every time I shoot it and the other does not.   I've tried twisting my arm, hand position, bent elbow, brace height etc and no matter what I do the string hits my arm.  

It hits me back, almost to the elbow; no other bow has ever caught me there before. I can avoid it with every other bow I own but I cannot get this one figured out.  Could it be the bow?

I hate to change my form too much because I don't have this issue with any other bows.  

I'm getting very frustrated.

[Terry Green]

Could be the grip making you hold it more around behind it....could be that the grip is subject to torque from your shooting style...so yes, it could be the bow....and the bow along with your style...the two might not mix.

[MI_Bowhunter]

I do tend to shoot with a loose grip, something I picked up after years of shooting wheel bows.

If I grip the bow beyond just from keeping it from jumping out of my hand it feels like I’m torqing it.  The bow in question is a 3pc takedown but I doubt that that should matter. (I've checked limb tightness and alignment)

I'll keep playing around with it and see what I can do.


Thanks

[MI_Bowhunter]

I spent some time last night messing around and was able to shoot without the arm slap if I grip the bow a bit tighter.  Actually quite a bit tighter then I am accustomed to.

If I get a little lax and forget, I get a painfull reminder.  Otherwise things are looking up.