Tab fit or form bit?

[Hanktownpete]

Hi Folks,
  For background, I'm shooting a 46#, 62" longbow, split finger, normally with a Duraglove, but sometimes with s Stik-Tite glove. I get some finger pain now and then, so I switch to the Stik-Tite and once in a while try a tab. I'm a medium glove guy and tried medium and large tabs and when I release with a tab my finger tips get stung by the string. Seems like theres plenty of tab when I'm at full draw and from what I read that is what is needed. I'm wondering if it's that the tab is still too small or it's a release issue.. Any thoughts? Thank you, d

[moebow]

I would guess is that it is your release technique.  Tabs are sized by width so a tab should not be higher than the top of your index finger nor lower than the bottom of the ring finger.  MOST tabs have the leather extending out to or past the tips of the fingers when hooked on the string.  That is so you can trim it back to correct length for you.  Correct length being that when hooked on the string, the finger tips are 1/4 to 3/8th inch  past the end of the leather.

IF!! you are getting a burn feeling during release, then your release technique needs work.  The string should flip your fingers out of the way and if it does, you get no "burn" feeling.  IF, however you are trying to release the string by just opening your fingers the burn is guaranteed.  This is easy to show but hard to describe but look to your release technique!  Good luck

Arne

PS.  Just working with a tab, or glove for a few shots isn't enough.  When trying new equipment, stick with it for a few WEEKS, get to learn how it works.  One experiment or two won't show anything.

[Hanktownpete]

Hi Arne, I was hoping you would pick this up. Since driving out to Minnesota isn't in the cards for me right now, do  you have any tip on improving the release. I actually thought I was doing pretty good. Surprise to me! I use back tension for my release. I rotate my elbow back and when it wants to stop I release. Any thoughts? Thank you very much for your ideas. best, dwc

[mahantango]

Are you using a deep hook and a relaxed string hand? Check the thread above on where you place the string on your fingers.

[moebow]

Again, easier shown than typed but...  Hook the string with your fingers so the string is in the first joints of the index and middle fingers (from the tips) and on the pad of the ring finger.  Then curl the finger tips back so they point at your chin throughout the draw and anchor.  Use your string arm elbow OR shoulder to finish the shot.  Do NOT think "let go of the string," rather, forget the fingers and think "finish the shot with elbow or shoulder." At follow through, your fingers should still have the same "curl" they had on the string.

Ya Pennsylvania would be a bit of a drive. 

Arne

[Hanktownpete]

Arne, thank you again. I'll give this a try. It's pretty much what I'm already doing, I think, so I must be missing something. I'll work on this. Best wishes, David

[Hanktownpete]

I took a few shots and things are a little better. The sting is less on my index finger and now more on my ring finger, but overall more tolerable. I do see that my hook was not as pronounced as you suggest it should be. The tab is a quarter inch longer than my fingers at draw, so I suppose I should gently trim that back a little bit.  Sorting this out with the tab turns out to be a good thing to address the real issue. All the best, david

[Hanktownpete]

Hi folks, been shooting the tab for a few weeks now. My index and middle finger are doing better, no pain. However, my ring finger still gets it. I’m actually building up a little callous there. I’m not sure how to adjust my form for this. Release feels good except that finger. Pulling my elbow back to use my back and the release comes without effort. Any thoughts? Thank you, dc

[mahantango]

Pay attention to the weight distribution on your fingers. The middle finger should carry at least 50% of the weight, the index about 40%, and the ring finger kinda going along for the ride. Try to keep the forearm and back of the hand relaxed. A deep hook will help with this.

[Hanktownpete]

Mahantango, thanks for your reply. That is an interesting point. For some reason the weight distribution is not easy. Using a deep hook with my fingers curled back does help and I try to keep my ring finger on the tip, but it always seems like I get too much weight on that finger. Is that due to how I'm holding my string arm I wonder? thanks, dwc

[cwegga]

Pay attention to the weight distribution on your fingers. The middle finger should carry at least 50% of the weight, the index about 40%, and the ring finger kinda going along for the ride. Try to keep the forearm and back of the hand relaxed. A deep hook will help with this.

This. I have to concentrate on this almost every shot. If I let my body do what it wants I have lots of tension on my ring finger and my release is junk.

[Hanktownpete]

This one is tough. I seem to get a lot of pressure on my ring finger and on my index, and less on my middle. Gonna have to really practice that.