Is there a Doctor in the house!

[Scbenton]

The past two days I have been shooting split finger.  I believe I am more accurate shooting this way and end up drawing a bit further then I do with three under.  I even draw just enough now to fix a tear nock left when paper tuning ( I shoot left handed.)  I also feel I get a more consistent anchor which maybe the reason my accuracy has improved.

Anyways since I have been shooting split, my ring finger feels numb/tingly when I touch it.  I'm not a doctor but I'm wondering if I may have pinched a nerve?

Has anyone else experienced this?  The tingling feeling in any of their fingers on their string hand?  If so did it go away in time?  Anything I should be concerned about if I keep shooting this way?

[longrifle346]

LOL, my bet is that your fingers are just getting slapped differently by the string. I started out split and had a pretty good callous built up. When I switched to 3 under the string seemed to pop every nerve in my fingers that it hadn't hit before!

[Green]

Probably a result of a high elbow and too much string pressure born by that finger.  Try "presetting" your fingers on the string so that index/middle fingers are bearing the weight prior to drawing, and try to draw more level.  Good luck.

[Scbenton]

@ Green - I actually did a short video of me shooting with my cell, but it was of my back.  I don't think my elbow was to high, it def was not level though but not at any extreme angle in my opinion. My string arm shoulder was a tad higher then my bow arm shoulder.  I do preset my finger but ill try and bear the weight on the index and middle more...

@longrifle346 - When I was shooting 3 finger but fingers were fine, but were sore at first.  Never like it is now with this tingly feeling when I touch it.

[Escoffier1974]

Good Morning;

I'm not a doctor, but I've played one on TV.  That said, I do know a little about nerves and anatomy, so here come the questions.  Does your finger feel numb and tingly all the time (since you switched from 3-under to split), or is it only when you are shooting and a few minutes after?  

If it is still numb and tingly for hours/days after you made the switch, you probably crushed a nerve.  This should probably heal up and the normal sensation will return, but it will take a while.  You will also probably have to stop shooting or change back to 3-under.  This is the more severe possibility.  

If it is only numb and tingly after you start shooting, and only remains that way for a few minutes after you stop, then you are cutting off the blood supply to your finger.  

Do you use a glove, a tab, or just bare fingers?  If it is one of the first two, a thicker one might help.  If you are shooting "fingers" (I believe that is the term; I'm new here, so I'm not up on all the lingo yet), this increases the chance that you have done some damage or are cutting off the blood supply.  In this case, I would start using one of the above.  

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.
D

[manitou1]

Could be finger pinch also... from shooting a short bow with a longer draw length.  I went with longer limbs and the continual numbness went away/healed... finally.

[docmerrow]

Nothing to worry about your feeling should come back in a few days. I had this same thing happen to me when I first started trad.. I am a doctor, numbness and tingling just in the pad of your finger tells me you damaged some of the nerve endings from shooting.. If you shooting pains down your arm or entire finger or hand numbness then you might have some nerve irritation in your cervical spine. Like i said if the numbness is just in your ring finger pad. It should return in a few days. If it doesn't then consult with your PCP or D.C