Questions on shooting off the hand

[JimThomas]

I recently decided to try a bow with no shelf or rest where you must shoot off your hand.  It has a basic grip so therefore no index or "pistol-grip" to help get absolute reproducibility in hand position placement.  The problem is compounded by the need to use a leather glove to avoid getting dug up by the fletching which lessens your "feel" on the grip.  I could place some material on the grip to help as an index but would rather not.   What are some suggestions/hints for one just starting to shoot off the hand ??.  Also, with a slight possible change in hand position each time, that more or less causes problems with the nock set you have ??.

[Bud B.]

It may be blasphemy, but maybe try a feather rest? That would eliminate the digging into the hands and still allow you to have the feel of the bow.


Welcome to tradgang!

[SELFBOW19953]

On the leading edge of the feathers, take a sharp razorblade and taper the quill from the first barbule (??) of the feather to the shaft.  Then put a big drop of fletching cement on it.  I have shot bare handed and with a cotton or fleece glove with no problems.

[AngelDeVille]

Set the nock point a little higher too, the fletching wont even touch your hand.

[lablover]

wrap the leading edge of the feathers with sinew or thread. This not only helps with digging in problems it helps keep feathers on longer. OR Three rivers sells a glove that only protects the upper side of the hand and first finger and thumb, this leaves plam bare so you don't loose feel of the bow.

[2treks]

You should beable to shoot off the knuckle with out getting cut. Do as Phil suggests and then I will sand or file the glue drop until very smooth. you should never cut yourself again.

If you want to install a simple leather grip with or without a small leather wedge to give you a solid referance,if not,then you can mark the arrow pass with a sharpie or paint mark or better would be a wood burned symbol of your choosing. The coolest would be to inlay a strikeplate of bone/horn/ivory/mother of pearl
or some cool looking contrasting wood.
Once the arrow pass is designated by your chosen method,you can just slide your hand onto the grip and shoot away.

Best of luck and welcome

CTT

[SELFBOW19953]

Also, there is a a guy who goes by the name Ferrett (Mickey Lotz is his real name, I think) that had instructions about making a "floppy rest" out of leather.  As I recall, it's nothing more than a rectangular strip of soft leather, 3 inches long and a half inch wide.  Make a line in the center of the strip 1 1/2" from the ends, then make 2 lines 1/2" from the first line, one above and one below.  Fold the leather on these lines-there will be a half inch where the leather is doubled, this is your arrow rest.  Glue this area together.  Mark where you want your rest to be on your bow.  With the doubled portion-arrow rest-sticking out, glue the leather in place on your bow.  You've got an arrow rest/side plate, very easy and very primitive.  Be sure to use a glue that doesn't make the leather get hard or stiff.

Shot with a fellow with no rest many years ago. He had a leather glove with everything cut off except the index finger and the thumb and the wrist. He put an elastic band over the wrist to keep it tight.

[JEFF B]

what i do when shooting my hose bow is i draw a line on the riser where the arrow sits on the top of my hand that way i know that is where it shoots best and ya can't go wrong. thats if ya do your part right.    

[6eoff]

I shoot  off the hand with my longbow. I have a bow hand protector. It's like a glove but just covering the thumb, index finger and top of hand. This may be the 'leather glove' you mention, but if not its worth checking out.

I don't use it because I don't seem to have the cutting problem.
You can find this type of glove on most online archery shops.