Finger Numbness?

[Spurs]

Okay, I am very new to this.  I got a black widow a month back and have been shooting at least 100 arrows a day.  Question is does anyone get numbness in there middle draw finger from shooting.  I am shooting with a glove three under.  My other two fingers seem fine, but my middle finger is numb.  I tried to lay off a day, and it got a little better, but don't want to slow down.  I am loving it too much.  Is this a form problem or is it the norm?  Thanks

[ksbowman]

Spurs, I had numbness a few years back and was afraid it might end up as nerve damage. I went to an office supply store and bought some rubber finger protectors. Got a size larger glove and put one in the index and middle finger holes then forced them all the way to the bottom with my fingers.I haven't had any problems since and still get a good release.Shooting 55 to 63# bows.   Ben

[Spurs]

Great, thanks for the tip.  I will try this.  I am the same way.  I am afraid of nerve damage.  It stays numb all the time now.

[smokin joe]

If it is numb all the time there is a problem. Give it a rest for a week and see if the numbness goes away. I had a similar problem and dropping down in bow weight made it go away. I think I was just beating the heck out of the end of my finger with too much bow force.

[MattR]

Permanent numbness indicates nerve-damage and ought to be checked out by a doctor. The digital nerves run longitudinally along the sides of the finger and can be damaged by over compression, frequent pulling on heavy draw weight etc...Smokin Joe is right about reducing bow weight, however it needs rest and a medical opinion because there may be other causes. You can't assume it's caused by your shooting, it probably is but safer is always better!

[Jon Powell]

In Byron Ferguson's book "Become the Arrow" he said he used compression rubber to make finger inserts for his gloves. I tried it and have not had numbness in my fingers since. It's pliable so I can feel the string, but tough enough it keeps the glove from developing a crease. It's the best thing I've ever used.

[faustus]

When I started out shooting I had problems with my ring finger. I witched to a heavier glove (Super Glove)and that helped a bit. Then later I used a deep hook draw instead of pulling the string with my finger tips and that made all the difference for me. No more problems ....

[Spurs]

Thanks for the input.  I will probably rest it for the next two to three days.  I shot close to 200 arrows today using rubber inserts in my glove.  The numbness is there but slightly less.  I think that this is going to work.  I started getting my feeling back today, and couldn't stand it.   I will let them heal completely before I start shooting again.  This will give me some time to work out my spine issues.  Like Chui said the rubber really took the pinch from the glove out of the picture.  

I also may look at a dura glove.  A friend of mine had one of these and I tried it.  I got a decent release and that thing was so stiff I didn't have any issues with pain.  His bow was 63 pounds.  My bow is 50ish.  I really hope that I don't have to go down in weight.  Thanks again, Tom

[canshooter]

Ive only been shooting regularly for about 18 months, When the bow bug first bit, I was a shooting fiend, and my 'driving finger' (you know the up-yours finger) lost all its feeling for weeks. I tried different tabs and gloves and kept going. eventually it got better. of course there is still a slight numb sensation because I have developed a callous there. Similar to when I first started playing guitar as a teen first pain then callous and now for years I can play for hours with no discomfort.

[jacobsladder]

I had some issues with my fingers...i switched from a glove to a bateman tab... the tab allowed for a deeper grip...  less pressure on my fingers... have no more issues.

[Keith Karr]

Spurs,  Are you getting a deep hook and how much weight are you pulling? Take care of your fingers or you may end up like me. I had numbness for years and also developed bone spurs in the second joint of my ring finger. Over the course of several years, I dropped weight form 65 pounds to the low 40's just to keep shooting.

Now I am using a release to shoot.

[xtrema312]

I had it off and on when I first got real hooked on trad again after some years shooting wheels.  I just kept taking breaks to let it get better, but if I shot a lot it came back.  After some time it just stopped.  Now I don't have a problem at all.  Just don't let it get bad.  I think it will clear up in time.

[Spurs]

Keith, I am not sure what you mean about a deep hook?  If you mean getting the string in the crease of your fingers then no, that is not until today.  I realized that I was putting too much pressure on the tips.  I only shot about 20 arrows today due to the fact that my fingers are healing fast.  I just didn't want to push it over the edge.  I put the sticky fingers from the office supply in my glove.  This is definately making a difference.  When I get back to shooting, I will definately be concious about getting a deeper hook.  I shot in the crease of my fingers today, and it is like I didn't even shoot.  I was very worried about getting too much finger on the string causing a bad release.  It didn't seem to effect it much.  

I am definately backing off.  I am so hooked on this trad thing that it is like a coffee addiction.  I have to have it at some point during the day.

Canshooter, I also play guitar, so I know exactly what you mean about tender fingers when you first start.  I am sure that this is all this is with the numbness.  

I appreciate all the responses, and am glad to know that this is kind off a normal issue with shooting trad.  I am also glad that there are remedies because that was my biggest concern.  It is hard to focus on aiming if you are focusing on pain.

[Keith Karr]

Spurs,  Getting the string in the crease of the fingers is the "deep hook" that everyone talks about. Some folks shoot off the pads of their fingers.

Let your fingers heal and keep good back tension.

I believe my fingers problems were made worse from too many years of shooting without back tension and a collapsing/plucking release.

Good Luck!

[Raging Water]

I have finger numbness from over-shooting. I have Doctor Friend that is Chinese. He is a retired MD (Western Trained MD) and does Eastern Acupuncture. He wants me to come see him; he says he can fix the numbness with acupuncture.

Hey, he cured my sister's migraines and has really helped a friend with is tremors from Parkinson's. I think he can do it. I will make a post afterwards.

Matt

[champ38]

Remember when taking a deep hook, not to let your fingers roll open as you draw. Keep them at either 90 deg, or pointed back towards you. I had a bad habit of relaxing my fingers as I drew when I first started, this caused all kinds of problems with my fingers, not to mention changing my draw length.

[Spurs]

Well our deer season is finally over.  I went saw several does, but just stalked around a while then pulled my stands.  

Anyway, the finger numbness has almost gone.  I believe that it would be completely healed but have shot 5 or so shots a day just to stay tuned for the evening hunts.  I will now lay off until it fully heals.  I believe that adding the inserts in the glove as greatly helped.  I am also going to look into a tougher glove than just leather.  I was thinking of the duraglove.  Does anyone have opinions on these.

Thanks, Tom

[crotch horn]

I had the same problem when I first started but it went away with time. I had shouldr surgery in Dac 08 and had the problem again when I started back. Dropping weight helped build it up again to where it was gone. When I started shooting this winter it was back so I switched to 3 under and that took care of it.

[JF]

I had the same problem a while back, it just gradully went away. John