New trad archer starting out needs help!

[jonnyboy]

I just started shooting traditional tackle and need some advice!!!
  I have my dad's old bear grizzly pulls 45# at 28".  The bow is 62" long.  When ever I shoot (I shoot split finger) my bottom draw finger always gets blister and ripped open making what should be a fun experience suck.  I have used gloves and tabs, but get the same result, smooshed blistered fingers when i come to full draw.  I am 6ft 2inches and draw 32 inches.  Is a 62" bow too short, do i need a longer bow or do I need to stop being a puss. Any help would be awsome!

jonnyboy

[TomMcDonald]

Same thing happened to me but I think I concentrated on taking more slack on the other two fingers. I don't know if that's a recommended solution but it worked for me without sacrificing any shot quality.
Also shoot through and develop a calous.

[longbowguy]

Yep, you need a longer bow for that long a draw. The best way to learn to shoot well would be to get an old target recurve from one of the classified sites or ****. There are lots of them available in 69 or 70 inches and draw weights around 35 pounds at 28 inches. That would be maybe 45 pounds for you. Might as well get a nice old Bear target recurve to match your Grizz.

Second, learn the deep hook hold, in or beyond the crease of your middle finger. I go beyond. Tabs work well for this. It is smoother and easier on the fingers than the finger tip hold.

Once you have gotten good, you may well be able to shoot your dad's Grizz well, but it will draw about 55 pounds for you, and it is not the bow for you to learn on. - lbg

[jhansen]

I've got a couple of thoughts to throw out here.  First, are you sure about that 32" draw?  If that was your draw length with a compound you are probably a bit less with a trad bow.  Second, if you are a 32" draw then that bow almost has to be stacking at full draw.  That alone will cause the problem you describe because you are pulling who-knows how much draw weight.  Draw weight will normally increase at about 2-3# per extra inch of draw length but once the bow begins to stack the increase takes a sharp upward curve.  A longer bow should help.

Good luck!
John

[jonnyboy]

Thanks for all of the posts, i just shot for a while trying the "deep hook" and it helped, although i am still looking for a longer bow.  thinking 64"+

 thanks everyone for helping out a newby

[cvarcher]

Yeah and check your elbow position. Its possible your taking too much string pressure on the 3rd finger if your elbow is pitched up too much. Equal the string poressure across all three fingers. IS there a little bend in your bow arm or are you straight out like a target shooter? If you shoot target thats fine but if your shooting hunting style  and quicker release make sure you have a little bend in the bow arm. That will shorten the draw up a bit. Also are you canting the bow a little  and tilting your head .That will also shorten the draw nicely.Longer bows are certainly more sweeter and easy to draw than shorter bows.

[TSP]

Good advice so far...getting that deep hook on the string (string in first crease and fingers curled so the tips point backwards...like a hook) and keeping the draw elbow close to in line with the arrow should fix your problem.  Holding the string out near the fingertips and tilting yout elbow up does tend to cause blisters.  Your can check the elbow thing in a mirror.

[DaveBriner]

Sounds to me like a stacking problem (sharp angle of the bowstring causing pinch on your draw hand).  Longer bow will help!

I buy almost exclusively on ****.  You could probably swap out your current bow by selling and buying there with little or no extra investment.

Dave