finger pressure problems

[two4hooking]

I have been plagued by shooting high, and my arrows always seem to string vertically to varying heights (especially with my 60” recurves).  I had always assumed it was a high elbow problem until I started refining my form with the help of this forum and Moebow’s rotational drawing videos.

The other day I noticed the problem was less prominent with my 69” longbow.  I also noticed some worn paint around the bottom of my nocks.  I started to think it could be a finger pressure/pinch issue.  

So I pulled out my old low poundage recurve and shot with only two fingers (split).  That was the ticket! Hitting right where I aimed.

I was putting too much pressure on my ring finger.  Now my problem is I need to train to reprogram my habit.  I would just keep shooting 2 fingers but I need to train to shoot my 60# bows for elk in Sept. and it is too much weight for just 2 fingers for me.  I tried to "drop off the ring finger" at full draw but it is also very tough for me in my sequence and I lose back tension.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep the correct pressure on the fingers?  I really would not like to convert to 3 under for various personal reasons, but I need to get some consistency in this.  I also tried the tab (I shoot with a glove) and varied the degree of my hook, but each time I have the ring finger on the string I throw one high.

Sorry for the longwinded post and thanks in advance,
Greg

[moebow]

Greg, This isn't real easy to analyze without seeing. ONE suggested standard for finger pressure is to have 50% of the weight on your middle finger, 40% on the index finger and 10% on the PAD of your ring finger.  The ring finger is really just along for the ride and is used to help with hand alignment more than for strength.  You are kind of doing that by going with just two fingers.  Don't try to keep a deep hook with the ring finger, just keep the pad of the finger on the string.

IF you TRY this, Start with the weight distributions at the start of the draw and try to keep that distribution through out the draw and release.  As always, I would RECOMMEND that you do this on a close up blank bale and just work on the "feel" of the string on the fingers.  Don't try to hit anything initially until you start to FEEL the distribution.

[mark land]

I am opposite, I draw with all 3 fingers in deep hook but have a tendency to relax my top finger and have more pressure on my ring finger at release.  I have worked with trying to maintain an even pressure on all 3 fingers and hi/lows and flyers as well as nock kick in some arrows has definitely been reduced.  But I think the better your arrows are tuned to your bow the least negative effects you will see in your shooting and the reason I have still been able to shoot very well without having consisten, even finger pressure on the string.

[Green]

I have for years carried far too much pressure on the ring finger and like you, I am working to solve this same issue right now.  

When I set my grip on the bow, I also set my deep hook on the string, draw the bow about 1", and then relax the ring finger with my index/middle finger taking more of the load while holding the bow low in front of me. I then raise the bow and begin drawing without letting any tension out of the string or changing finger pressures.

It will take some time to build up the finger strength, but it's working.

[two4hooking]

I just did some shooting and came up with a technique to help me that has worked so far.

I removed the ring finger stall on my shooting glove.  This gave me more of a "feel" for how much pressure I was putting on that finger.  After a few rounds I put the stall back on that finger and was good for a few shots before I went back to my old habits.  

I think I may be able to re-train myself with this bare finger training :-)

[atatarpm]

One of the things I did to work on that problem was to put my ring finger on top of my middle finger. Which also helped me strinthen my middle finger so that now I can shoot all my bows up to 74#'s with a two finger split

[njloco]

I had this problem also, I switched to a cordovan tab on the recommendation of a friend who has a lot of experience with Trad. With the tab I noticed that even though I was consciously putting a little more pressure on the middle finger, it didn't matter and all is very good now, though I do still have the callus on the ring finger but it is getting softer.

Hope this helps.

[Del Savio]

I have the sqme problem .  Now, thanks to you guys, I have some things to try out for improvement