Hill bow shooters...answer me this....

[Blaino]

I agree with what everyone else has said.  I'd add to listen to your bow.  One of the things I like about a Hill style bow is it gives you instant feed back.
Your bow will tell you how she likes to be held/shot just listen to it. Take it out and get to know it. Find out what it really likes and stick with it.

[nineworlds9]

Today, I shot the 105@30 Bama Tribute that I got from Joe G.  I was only pulling it to 28, about 95#, cause I'm not quite strong enough yet to 'stretch out' as my last heavy was about 5-6 months ago.  It's the heaviest Hill I've ever shot.  Lemme tell you when you shoot a bow that heavy you don't have a choice but to hold it in a way that works/is correct.  Maybe that's why Howard shot heavy?  LOL!

[bow loving man]

I cant wait to get to the yard and shoot tonight... will let you know how it goes...thanks for all the input...

[Bill Turner]

Get a copy of Asbell's "Instinctive Shooting II". Excellent description of long bow grip. Whatever you decide on, do the same thing every time. Good luck and good shooting.  

Gary has it and it is a great illistration to use. The thumb joint that lines up with the belly is the first thumb joint, not the middle thumb joint. Floating a bow out that far on the thumb, as some have recommended, can strain ones thumb and also give a floppy base for the bow to function on. We spend most of the time out hunting holding the bow, not shooting it. One of the biggest advantages of the Hill style is that the way we hold the bow when not shooting is pretty much the same as when we are shooting.  It all allows a natural transition to get into a shot.  At times, I think it is too easy to get lost in the debate over fundmentalisms, when doing what is most natural is all that is required. Hill and Schulz went to great lengths to describe that which is natural, I suppose to distinguish the basic Hill technique from the flood of information that did not apply to shooting a longbow.

[bow loving man]

Began with the hold it like a suitcase position and actually let my two lower fingers be loose and yes the lower tip tipped toward the ground.  so I wrestled how close to the shelf to put my hand and I decide to have just the edge of the grip above my hand...
So the shooting began...it took a few arrows to even come close to comfortable but I noticed, no pain in my hand, elbow or shoulder...
I shot two dozen shots, each time going through each step, hold like a suitcase, loose fingers, thumb joint in position, draw, and release...
I am getting there slowly I think...

thanks for all the help

[nineworlds9]

Glad to hear it, keep at it.  It just takes time but I believe eventually these bows become like a pair of old worn go-to boots.  I actually sold all my Hill bows for a time earlier this year but lately have come home again, I just can't stay away from them.  The simplicity and elegance just calls to me like so many others here.

[Knawbone]

Find the balance point of your bow and center the pressure from the heal of your thumb and try gripping with the first tree fingers of your hand. Mainly the first two fingers should grip the tightest. In other words I apply all the pressure at the balance point of the bow. This allows the bow to equalize the inertia distributed from top and bottom limbs, which I feel is paramount for consistent shooting.If your gripping too far down the handle, the bottom limb will be doing the Lions share of the work. This causes the bow to jump off balance upon release.Some bows like a lower handle pressure and some don't. I find my Hill bows like a balance point grip. I hope this helps in addition to the other excellent advice given above.

[two4hooking]

Picture holding a heavy drill or pistol.....this will also help you with the slight bend in your bow arm you need as well as shoulder position.

[Pat B.]

Originally posted by swampthing:
 Let it come back into your hand as you draw then just get a hold of it... [/QB]

Couldn't have said it better !  

[arrow flynn]

I hold the bow as moeboe does . I curl my small finger up on the grip. it works well for me I shot a 6 inch group at 10 yrds. a big deal fo me because I switched to leftythis year .

[Sam McMichael]

My grip looks about like Bud B. I grip very firmly, but not a true choke hold. A firm grip down on the heel of the hand deadens the bow in my hand. I have several Hill bows using both straight and dish grips, and I hold them all the same way.

[Bud B.]

Update....I now possess his Shelton and he possesses my Canyon Archery Traditions RD longbow. I think we both are happy. I have dibs on the CAT if he ever gets rid of it    Heted to see it go but I shoot Hills more nowadays. The CAT was a rack queen here for me. BLM will go after hogs with it