Tab Slap

[Ringneck]

I have never had this happen until now but I switched bows and for some reason my tab is hitting me in the lip when I release. How should a tab fit to prevent this? I have heard of people trimming them to help the problem.

[ishoot4thrills]

I had this problem up until yesterday. I am experimenting with tightening my lips, like you do when you're real mad about something. So far, no more tab slap and still shooting fine.

[Traxx]

I find,that the tab should be trimmed just shy of your finger tips,when curled around the string.

[SHOOTO8S]

You can use talc(baby) powder on your tab face...after several shots you an see where the string leaves the tab. I make my first trim about an 1/4'' past where the string is leaving the tab face....then shoot a while, to be positive before trimming again...if needed.

[Ringneck]

Thanks, guys!

[PeteA]

Great question, same thing happens to me. Thx Ringneck.

[Ringneck]

No problem Pete. I feel your pain  :D  

Rod, I tried the powder trick and my string is marking the tab clear to the end. I am using a large bates cordovan tab with spacer and my hands aren't that large. Do I need to go up one in size? Would another tab be better? Don't know what's doing it but I have what looks like a cold sore on my lip near the corner of my mouth and man does it hurt! I'm shooting better than ever but,ouch! Any suggestions???

[SHOOTO8S]

Without seeing you shoot....lets run down some possibilities.

 If your fingers are not getting sore I doubt the tab is too small so,the powder marking the tab all the way to the edge indicates, your not getting off the string cleanly, perhaps relaxing a bit at release and the fingers are getting scrubbed...use those back muscles and pull harder!

There's another possibility I've seen before, in the case of not enough back tension or loss of back tension at release....it may be your finger uncurling that's hitting your lip or perhaps a fingernail??? Use tape over the ends of your fingers to check for sure.


You mention this only started with a different bow? Check how your gripping the bow....bow hand torque can cause increased string oscillation and of course the string rolls off the fingers headed left(RH shooter)so any increase in string oscillation can can cause the string to catch skin or in some cases its the arrow nock that hits you while still on the string...nock indexers get me from time to time.

BTW is the new bow a different draw weight? With heavier bows , guys tend to turn the head into the string in an effort to help out handling the additional draw weight.

Lighter draw weight bows, don't create as much forward string energy and issues such as bow hand torque and not getting off the string cleanly are often maximized.


Geeesh...its lots easier solving problems, when you can see a guy shoot a few shots.   :D

[Ringneck]

Thanks! I can do some sorting out now.