Grips/Hi-Low/Is One Better

[Huntrdfk]

I've always shot low grips, first in my compund days, then in my selfbow days.......even with high wrist grips I always put more of my hand into the bow than the grip called for.  The other night while shooting in the cellar I palyed around with shooting a higher grip, and after a bit I noticed that my draw began to feel a little longer and my shot more solid.

My question(s) are: Is it easier to shoot well with a higher grip than lower.

Is there anything in the alignment of your wrist in a high grip that tends to make the shot feel more solid.

Thanks,
David

[Matt Green]

Asbells book has agreat description and a couple of very good pics (esp for visual folks like me).  see in and around  pg 27 in "Insyinctive Shooting II".  he can describe better than me
best of luck
matt g

[Bowtie]

David, I too, shoot a low grip (compound, self bow, longbow, recurve).  Fred Asbell in his first book recommends a high (straight) grip.  He says that breaking your wrist (setting the heel of your hand on the bow) has the same effect as an elevated rest.  Also, the less hand contact that you have, the better that you will shoot.  I have interpreted his advice for shooting a recurve.  On the other hand, Byron Ferguson in his 'Become the Arrow' book likes a low wrist grip (shoots a longbow). It tends to put the pressure more in line with the palm, through the center of the arm where the major bones are located. This give him better control and takes the stress off the wrist muscles. My 2 cents: I like the low grip, most comfortable, stronger grip, and works best for me.  Hope this helps.  Good luck.
Jerry

[Matt Green]

David
i agree w/bowtie - comfort and results (accuracy with good flight) speak multitudes.  After your post i drew my bow while watching in the mirror and moved my grip from a heel down to the asbell position while drawn.  It is easy (at least on my bow) to see the bow definitly 'twists' bottom to top as asbell describes.  That said, my best guess would be for optimal performance from my bow woudl be to use a grip where the limbs had the most uniform bend.  And in shooting, i do seem to get the best results without a lot of heel in the handle.  as with most things, there are likely many factors taht ifnluenc.
matt green

[Scott J. Williams]

Mike Palmer once told me that the best grip for bow would be something that was close to a broom handle.  He said that it would reduce torque, and provide a natural hand position.

It made sense to me then, and even more now.  Each of us have a perfered, based most often, and wisely so, on comfort.

Having said that, we can't take the bowyer out of the equation.  They developed the design of the bow, which is different from others often times, but the same in one important way.  The pivot point is the only spot on the handle, for those that have a visible one, where pressure is to be placed. I believe that failure on the shooters part to understand and conform to this design feature results in more frustation in tuning and shooting.

Even with a really low wrist grip, the pressure can still be placed on the pivot point, which even when the heel of the hand is down, can be applied to that part of the grip.

When done in unison with the design, tiller, the bow shoots to maximum efficency, providing great launch, and accuracy.  

Now some perfer the low grip, and some like the palm filled with a meaty grip, either way, in most cases a firm but light grip that allows for the web of the hand to work with the pivot point will allow the shooter and the bow to become one.  Of course we know what happens when that occurs, we shoot, we hit, and we do it with great regularity.

I love it when a plan comes together...

[Shawn Leonard]

I myself shoot much better with a high straight wrist. I just ordered a new bow and asked for a high wrist with a meaty palm swell, kinda like the asbell grip on a widow but a bit beefier with a wider throat. This helps me rotate my pinky away fromm the bow, I get way less torque this way tha a broom handle type grip which i would tend to strangle. I shoot even hill style bows with a high straight wrist. Shawn

[Orion]

As noted, different bowyers design their bows with different grips.  As long as you don't fight the grip, you should do OK.  For example, don't try to shoot low wrist (lots of heel into the grip) with a high wrist grip design, and things of that nature.  Likewise, a straight riser like a Hill or Great Northern Critter demands a low wrist position.  Can they be shot high wrist?  Sure, but not as well as low wrist.  And, yes, shooting with a high wrist will lengthen your draw compared to a low wrist position.

In my opinion, one isn't inherently more accurate than another, but people do have preference for one over the other based on feel, shooting style and a lot of other individual factors.

[JRY309]

I think grips are a personal choice.For me I prefer a longbow grip straight,dish or a mild locator.I started shooting longbows and I guess I'm just more used to them.I have never really cared for a recurve type grip but thats a personal choice.