arm slap?

[Ybuck]

Is it common to get arm slap? The string just barley makes contact with my arm.

[McDave]

Some really good archers get string slap; that's why they make arm guards, I guess.  However, there are a couple of things you might check.  How tight are you gripping the bow?  If you grip the bow loosely (but not so loose that you have to grab it to keep it from falling out of your hands when you shoot it) you are less likely to have string slap.  If you are pushing correctly with your bow arm, you are less likely to have string slap.  If you shoot from a slightly open stance, you are less likely to have string slap.  But if your stance is too open, it can lead to poor form, so search on this forum for Terry's clock to check that your body is in good allignment.  If your bow wrist is turned inward too much, it can lead to string slap.  Try to shoot with a straight wrist rather than cocking your wrist into the bow.  If you are shooting a recurve that is braced a little higher, it is easier to avoid string slap than with a lower braced longbow.  If your bow arm is not locked, it is less likely to have string slap.  But some good archers shoot with their bow arm locked.  Apparently, some medieval archers thought it was a badge of honor to have a calouse on the inside of their bow forearm, but I don't think we're into that these days.

[John 4]

The most perfect form will give you a slight sting simply from limb induced string tourqe.
You can avoid that by opening up your form a little,by moving your back foot foward half a foot length.
Personaly I just wear an arm guard and stand square like I know I should.
Then you can get string slap from have to much hand into the grip or rolling the arm in as you come to draw.Either of those are going to "HURT" after a while,and I've even seen guys tear a light wheight arm guard up arm by doing that to often or much.
One of the big points that Win & Win are using to push their INNO riser is that it reduces limb tourqe and as a result "arm contact" with the string.
The people buying INNO quality risers tend to have "perfect" form,,,,so I'm not to worried about the odd sting from the string.

[mike g]

Proper Grip on the bow and 1 of my Armguards will cure that Arm slap....

[Ted A. Young]

To low a brace height.

[eggomaniac]

With my first bow, a chekmate longbow, I never got arm slap until I ran out of arrows. The shop noticed my brace height was too high. By the time he tuned the new arrows, I was getting little zingers for the first time. So long as I wear a long sleeve shirt, it's okay.