What Happened - Help

[forrest-hunter]

Shoot my longbow this afternoon - string kept hitting  top of my hand - I have used this bow for years both for hunting and pleasure shooting - this has never happened to me before - have no idea what has happened - been shooting recurves and longbows since the early '70's

[McDave]

Do you mean the top of your bow hand, between your thumb knuckle and your wrist?  What is your brace height?

[forrest-hunter]

Yes - on top of my hand holding bow - between thumb and forefinger  - I shoot right handed - left a pretty long blood blister

[alaninoz]

Are you sure it was the string and not the arrow? The string would have to have been doing something odd to hit the top of your hand, whereas the arrow falling off the rest/shelf could have done just that.

[McDave]

Again, what is your brace height?

[forrest-hunter]

Brace height a little less then 6" (way to low) will increase it to 7 " where it should be - not sure why it decreased - the string has been on bow since last year- never thought to ck brace -when i  changed limbs must have increase string length -will shoot bow again today- I agree that it isn't bow string but feathers hitting my hand - now I remember having this problem shooting a Hill longbow - what is strange is that I have been shooting this A&H ACS bow for years and never have had any problems - used it on African and US hunts- it has been my go to hunting and pleasure shooting bow (although I still enjoy shooting my recurves and other longbows)

[McDave]

If it is feathers, it is probably making contact with your hand where the tip of the quill is glued to the shaft. Sometimes the tip of the quill is not glued flat to the shaft, and that can play havoc with your hand.  Other times, there is not a smooth transition between the quill and the shaft.  Make sure the end of the quill has a gradual bevel; if not, trim it into a smooth bevel with a razor blade or sharp knife.  Then put a dab of glue on the end of the quill where it meets the shaft.  When the glue dries, burnish it flat with the back of a teaspoon or something.

If it’s the string, raising the brace height should solve the problem.