shooting off the hand.

[xia_emperor]

I am working on my selfbow and I just wanted to see who shoots off their hand or why not. I have been trying it and I seem to shot well this way. It seems to be that it could be easier then having a little shelf.    

Thanks!

[mike g]

I too, like to shoot off the hand....
The bows I do have that have a shelf, HH Bow and a Saxon, I grip both very close to the shelf, the arrow touches the skin on my finger....

[Tilbilly]

Shooting off your hand hurts, only leaves you with one hand left   :D  
Sorry, couldn't resist. Shooting off the hand works fine. I get out a short Korean-style recurve once in awhile and throw a few. It has no shelf. I think a person tends to grip the bow in the same spot with practice. Having some sort of handle wrap helps to quickly put the hand in the same spot each time. A good idea to wrap the leading edge of your fletching to avoid having your hand scraped and cut.

[George Tsoukalas]

Tillbilly,    Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

I have but generally make a little shelf out of leather. Jawge
 http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/leatherhandle.html

[xia_emperor]

thanks George Tsoukalas

[Lost Arra]

When hunting, I like the little leather "rest" for the arrow while sitting in the stand. Plus the toothpick/rubber band arrow holder to secure it while I'm nodding off.  

[Traxx]

Nothin wrong,with shootin over the hand.I would suggest though,to wrap the front of those fletches.I got lazy once,and ended up with a quill through the hand.Made a believer outa me.When shooting ACROSS the hand,i dont trust a spot of glue.

[xia_emperor]

Thanks for the info Traxx. here are some pick of my Selfbow, that I am still working on.      

  http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/xia_emperor/selfo.jpg
 http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/xia_emperor/obow.jpg
 http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/xia_emperor/selfbow.jpg
 http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/xia_emperor/osagebow.jpg

[Traxx]

Lookin good so far.Another option,that i forgot to mention,is the Ferret floppy rest.Its kinda,the best of both worlds.
 http://groups.msn.com/ferretsarcherywebpage/ferretsfloppyarrarest.msnw

[Brent Rudolph]

I agree with Lost Arra. I shoot off my hand but do like a flop of leather to hang an arrow off of in the stand. I find it very instinctive.

Brent

[UK Bowman]

I have always shot off the hand, but I build a little "locator" rest out of leather on the grip. Just to be consistant.

Adam

[the Ferret]

I obviously shoot off a Ferret's Floppy Arra Rest    

just like shooting off your hand only with a little protection from quill burns, and for a little consistancy.

[xia_emperor]

good to know. I will need to get one soon.

[Jim now in Kentucky]

Always off the hand. Taper the front of the quills AND put a spot of glue there.

[noobowyer]

amen to wrapping your fletches. I was shooting the other day with a bow that has a small rest but the uncut feathers cut me pretty good. I also made a rest glove to go over the top of my hand while shooting.

[xia_emperor]

I was thinking of a glove since I wear one hunting, maybe even attach a piece of leather to add to the protection. Then put some fer on the bow to keep it quite on the draw. leather grip to have consitant hand placement and i think that would work great.  

[StanM]

Here's a poor pic of a handle I recently finished on a bow.  I wrapped the handle over a small leather built up shelf.  To keep the wrapping from taking the wear and tear of shooting I wrapped the last four loops under the leather strike plate.

I generally don't cut a shelf into my handles, but I do like to build a very small shelf up from leather soaked in superglue.

 

Stan