Why do pros use forearm guards?

[old_goat2]

Ah heck, just keep shooting without one and sooner or later you'll figure out why they do!

[wingnut]

Well it doesn't take much to wear one and after you miss and elk because your string catches your coat it's an easy decision.

The correct question is why would anyone not wear one.

Mike

[Caleb Monroe]

What tomsm44 said. It just looks cool!

I guess all the other reasons given are okay too.

[Longtoke]

I completely understand using it to keep long sleeves out of the way or if u are shooting 80 pound bows where one hit is all it takes to give you an archers kiss from hell. Idk personally I think I started leaving it off because sometimes the string would catch on the end of my gaurd and that drove me crazy. I have since fixed that issue by beveling the inside of the leather to fit closer to my arm.

To me the occasional scrapes from my recurves isn't too bad although the bow has snuck a good whallup in on me before. I guess I'm just a minimalist I would shoot without a glove if the old fingers could handle it

[Bladepeek]

Its a little like outside heated mirrors. I drove my whole life without them. Now that I have them and winter is on its way again, I won't be without them.

And I have raised some real goose eggs with a low brace height longbow. I don't need to induce a flinch.

I think wingnut nailed it above.

[pockets]

I mainly shoot long bows with lowish brace height. As has been mentioned a few times already, low brace heights might make a believer out of you.
I also have a medical disorder similar to hemophilia...one thwack of a bowstring leaves huge bruises (among other nastier things) which take three weeks to heal. I'd rather not have that happen, so I wear a double thickness leather arm-guard every time.

I'm too old to care if I look wimpy anyway.

.

[KentuckyTJ]

Leaving at last light and a monster buck showing just after I put on my jacket cost me that deer back in Oct of 1996. I'll never forget watching my arrow fly perfectly left to right just under his brisket. I always were one now if I have on long sleeves.

Some peoples bow arm is closer to the string than other also requiring them to need one when sleeveless.

[Doc Nock]

2 pages of good input!  Raising a welt seems less of a concern then slapping a garment and inducing a bad shot.

Your call!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Because they look cool!      

Now the guy shooting candles in a building full of firewood may have a totally different reason for wearing one.... fire protection perhaps?

Only time i use one is with low brace height long bows.... i use another system altogether for rain gear and baggy sleeves....

[M60gunner]

I used one with my Hill style LB. I do not use one with my R/D LB or my recurves unless wearing long sleeves. I have a natural bend in my elbow because I didn't shoot " straight up " like a target shooter. I have to turn my elbow counter clockwise before my arm sticks out. That is uncomfortable for me. Now my wife has that elbow that sticks out. See uses a full length arm guard. IMHO body makeup has something to do with needing an armgaurd or not

[Gdpolk]

Primarily to keep your sleeves out of the way.  It also serves to keep your arm protected from a swift THWACK!

[Orion]

Long:  The string catching your arm guard is usually the result of placing the guard in the wrong place, though shape and thickness of the guard can also cause it.

They're probably not needed, except to keep clothes out of the way, for shooting most recurves that have high brace heights, say 7-9 inches.  If you shoot a straight gripped long bow with a brace height of 6 1/2 inches or less, you'll soon discover the need for an arm guard.

Of course, some folks shoot with a substantially bent bow arm, which also keeps the forearm out of the way of the string.

I rather agree with Old Goat.  Course, I'm an old goat myself.

The only time I use an armguard is for selfbows, and when I have long sleeves on while hunting. I get string slap with selfbows with real low brace heights, and I worry about the string getting caught in my sleeves when wearing long sleeves while hunting.

Bisch

Modern materials seem to be harder than good ole Dacron B50.  Sometimes, even with my recurve the string vibrates against my arm with out direct trying to carve a chunk of skin off.  After a few hundred shots and a number of those string buzz contacts, I start getting a welt.  Then when that welt gets blasted, I quit for the day.

[Thumper Dunker]

Wish I could use one all the time. I get a bad rash if I use one. tried all kinds and they all will make my arm brake out. Will use them when I have long sleeves on. Getting use to the sting now and then.

[NothingHappenedToday]

For me, it's psychological. When I take the armguard off, I think that I subconsciously bend my elbow more to avoid string slap, which throws my draw length off and I miss to the left. Put the arm guard back on, my shots go where I'm looking.

[LookMomNoSights]

I only need it to keep the string off my clothes.  When its warm out,  I don't use anything.  When its cold,  I have a home-made 550 cord rig with a cord tensioner thingy on one end and a slip knot on the other.  I put the slip knot end around my wrist,  wrap the cord around my forearm going up toward the elbow,  then push the cord tensioner thru a loop in the 550 and tighten it to the desired tension with the cord tensioner.  It makes a nice cord type "guard" to keep your clothes in tight from the string.  Goes on and off in 2 seconds and fits in any pocket without you even knowing its there.  
 It wouldn't work too well to prevent a chronic string slap though.