Please Help... Arrow hitting riser

[greenbear]

I've moved to a new hold- wrapping my hand around the grip rather than the more "compound" hold that I've been using.  The string no longer strikes my forearm as it used to, but I noticed my arrows "slap" against the riser upon release.  The weird thing is my groups have gotten better, and the arrows are hitting where I am aiming.  

I've only been at this since June- and up to this point have been fairly consistent.  I recently have come to confer with other trad shooters first hand (shows and clubs) and the unanimous suggestion is to wrap my hand around the handle (vs. a 45 deg grip)  

Any ideas why I am getting this contact?  Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me.

[xtrema312]

Need more info. For a start what do you see the arrow doing in flight? Are you shooting 3 under or split? What is your nock height?

From there we can get a start.

[michigan bill]

when that happens to me, i have let my brace height get too low.
bill

[dragon rider]

For what it's worth, Rod Jenkins, Rick Welch and a number of others I've talked to suggest holding the bow lightly, with a 45 degree grip - if you wrap your hand around the grip and then try to choke the bow, you'll torque to the left or right depending on which side you shoot from.

So my best guess is you're getting riser slap because your torquing your riser.

Try going back to your old grip and then if the string is slapping your arm, raise your brace height.  Odds are your brace is too low, as Michigan Bill said.

[greenbear]

Thanks for the replies...

I'm shooting in the basement- only about 8 yards from my target, so it's a bit tough to see exactly what its doing.  I shoot split, nock point is 1/4 to 1/2 high (measured with Bow square), and brace height is now at 6 1/2 inches.  I just checked my bow specs (samick red stag) and brace is anywhere from 6 3/8 up to 8 1/8 inches.  Seems a very high range to me (?)

I'll try increasing the brace height and see what happens.  Thanks for taking the time to reply- I do appreciate you sharing your suggestions.

[xtrema312]

How do you know you are hitting the riser and not the edge of the shelf? That is why I was asking about how the arrow flies or maybe kicks.  

That is a little low on brace with that range.  Could cause a stiff arrow issue, but that can also be an edge of shelf thing.  Have you kept track of the brace height  so you know if it has changed?

My first guess is that your are hitting the shelf edge due to the grip change if that is the only change.  It could be due to a different pressure point causing a change in limb travel / timing.  If you really are below 1/2" nock, I would raise it to 5/8" and see what happens.

[lpcjon2]

I think when you changed your grip, you now are torquing the string.

[The Whittler]

Kind of bow & poundage, what kind of string, spine of arrow, length & point weight, and your draw length. This will help us.

[JamesKerr]

That brace height sounds low. I would try raising the brace height some.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Loosen your fingers.  It's easy to over grip and actually turn the riser into the arrow when you release.

[momo]

im going with the toruqing the bow relax your grip if you feel your going to loose bow get a sling i hold bow with two finger and fold others over so i dont grip and torque

[greenbear]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I increased the brace to 7" and it seems to have worked.  It's been a nice few days and have been shooting in the backyard at varying distances.  I'm still wrapping the grip- recall reading somewhere at a "five; from zero: holding a baby bird to ten: choking a venomous snake".  My accuracy has been better than my light "open grip"- for now  

I'm at a crossroads now.  The first time I shot a longbow was when I purchased one in June.  I'm now on my second set of arrows- messing with different lengths; different holds; and just ordered my second glove- as my original just developed a hole in my index finger.  

I realize that changing many variables at once is not a very scientific approach, but the dam has been opened and the floodwaters have been released!

Have a wonderful field/3D season.