Going from glove to tab with my recurve

[Skwerl58]

I have been shooting an Alaska Bowhunting deerskin glove since I got my bow three years ago. Love the glove but it has started to wear at the finger tips. I have not shot a tab but have two, a nos Black Widow split finger and a Fred Eichler split finger. What do I need to do to the tabs to get the best out of them. Do I need to trim them and any other basic stuff that will help me transition to them. I shoot 400 spine Gold Tip Trads with GT nocks. Going to shoot with them this up coming week . Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

[Sam McMichael]

I have used a tab for many years. It has never been necessary for me to trim the tabs, but I have read accounts by numerous people that trimming the tab has reduced noise.

[Steelhead]

Probably dont need to do much.

They can be shorter than most folks think though.I shoot split and have about 1/4 inch of my fingers sticking out above the tab when its curled around the string..I usse a deep hook and the string will not hit the fingers on release.

That can allow you to feel your anchor better with the bare end of your fingers touching your anchor points.

Other than I that I just condition the leather with oil one in awhile and like a tab that cinches down tightly enough to the fingers to keep it from moving.

[stevem]

Been using Black Widow tabs for 4 decades and still think they are top notch.  I do take a sharp knife to the slot where the nock fits between the split and widen it a bit. 

[McDave]

As was said, cut it short enough so that 1/4” or so of your fingertips stick over the top, and either cut it or buy it narrow enough so that none of tab sticks out to either side of your index finger or ring finger.

Buy one that is thick enough so that it is comfortable to hold at full draw, but thin enough to give you some feel of the string.

If you release the string properly, by relaxing your hooked fingers and letting the string push them out of the way rather than trying to open them, the string should not sting your fingertips.  Actually, if the string does sting your fingertips, it is a blessing in disguise because it is instant feedback that you are not releasing the string properly, feedback that you would not get if you were wearing a glove.

[Orion]

Shoot the tabs for a while without doing anything to them.  Very good possibility that they'll fit just fine without doing any trimming.  Yes, some folks like to trim them, but they're made to specifications for a reason.  They fit most people just as is. 

[Wudstix]

Good advice of 1/4" shorter than open hand and as wide as fingers, no more.  Condition like you would any other leather, (I like beeswax) or if you have a nylon face use Coconut oil for conditioning.
 

[arrow30]

i use the eichler tab, and i have short fat fingers and dont have to alter the shape at all, but i do remove the extra layers of leather from the back. so its just a single piece of cordovan leather. you shouldnt have to oil it with anything any time soon. i wouldnt start cutting on it till you have it well broke in. dont know anything about the blackwidow tab.

[LookMomNoSights]

I recently made a switch from long time glove,  to tab.  I did tweak my tab with some trimming.  I like it better now.  It’s all user preference. 

[Skwerl58]

I got to shoot this evening. I shot the Eichler tab and  was surprised how smooth and easy it was. I shot at only 12 yards to keep it simple. I shot about 50 arrows and the last 6 were as good a group as I have ever shot. Lots of practice the next couple of months to get woods ready.