Grooves in shooting glove

[Trenton G.]

Hey guys. I've got a Big Shot Buffalo glove that I really like for my heavier bows. I've had it for a couple years and use it quite a bit. It has developed some pretty deep grooves where the string goes, which is starting to result in me not being able to get a clean release as well as some finger discomfort after shooting a lot. Is there some way to fix these grooves or at least make them less noticeable? I know the obvious answer would be get a new glove, but that isn't really an option right now. I appreciate any help!

[Pat B]

I use a Damascus glove and at least once a year I wash it in warm soapy water, rinse well, wring it out and put it on my hand to reshape it. Take it off and hang to dry. A good working with Montana pitch blend brings it back to almost new.
Gloves with heavy spalls may not react as well but wetting and reshaping may do the trick for you.

Neets oil, rub it in on the side and work the glove loose.  Mine do the same thing.  leather is cool stuff you can message the memory out of it.  i wish that worked on my low back.

[BWallace10327]

A little Montanta pitch blend goes a long way.  It is great to keep leather from drying out, but over use allowsl eather to stretch a bunch.  Obenaufs or snowseal are my preferred leather treatments.  I've developed a groove in one of my Bigshot gloves, but I don't think it hurts anything if your release is ok.

[Gordon Jabben]

I have the same problem with bigshot gloves.  More than a groove, it's almost like the leather bunches up on the finger tips.  That being said, I think when the glove is new, I shoot better with the bigshot than any other glove I have tried. I have the elk, buffalo, and cowhide and seem to have this problem worse in the heavier leathers.

[Trenton G.]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll give them a try. The tips on my glove are really heavy, but hopefully I'll still be able to straighten them out a bit. I'll try wetting it and reshaping to see what happens. We've also got plenty of snow seal so I'll give that a try as well.

[M60gunner]

So your glove doesn’t have the Velcro over the tips? That was my issue with my Buffalo glove. Gave the thing away. Now find out I could have that stuff replaced by American Leathers. I find I don’t have an issue with my Crossover Kangaroo glove. Three years now and no grooves but,y heaviest bow is only 60#’s.

I shoot hundreds of arrows a day in the summer. I have never had an American Leathers poly strap cover wear out.   Those groves will bend out with some manipulation and leather product applied.   If they get slick and shiny the release gets cleaner, but they can also be cleaned.  Take your wife's tooth brush and some hair shampoo and you can scrub the grit out of them.   With Hill Archery gloves, I need to have a glove for right hand and a glove for left hand shooting.  With my American Leathers kangaroo glove and my buffalo glove I can switch them back and forth left to right with no problems.

[Trenton G.]

My glove has the nylon and neoprene over the finger tips. Pavan, not quite old enough to be married yet. Can I substitute my sisters toothbrush? I'll give that a try as well. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[Chain2]

Montana Pitch Blend. GTG

One of my Big Shot gloves broke last summer, first time.   The wrist strap tore.  I put Neets or Pitch Blend on all of my leather toys.  Some how on this one glove I neglected the wrist strap.  I don't make the wrist straps all that tight, but they can get sweated up.   Rub what ever leather product you have into the the entire glove.   I have bought quite a few of the American Leather gloves over the years.  They have not worn out, I always have extras, when I cross paths with some one using pathetic shooting gloves, I let them try one of mine.  When I get that 'oh my gosh that's amazing' reaction, I let them keep my spare.   Leather preservative products should also go on the wrist strap.

Well on the subject.  I use either Neets or Pitch Blend.  I put it on the inside of the finger stalls.   I have noticed that in certain conditions and perhaps excessive amounts of Pitch Blend,  that my Hill glove flip off my fingers.  I have had the Big Shots get a bit squirrelly with it in the stalls at times.  That is why I use the Neets.   I have also been told that certain leather treatment products, like Neets and olive oil, can eat up the stitching.  A fellow here that stays as far off the grid as he can, has one of my old Big Shots.  He had crusty old Damascus style glove, that he tried to limber up with olive oil and bacon grease.   He was out shooting his dirt bank.  He took his glove off to clear the weeds off of his dirt bank and a raccoon ran off with his shooting glove.  That has not happened to me, yet.

[MnFn]

I've got three American Leather gloves,
A Crossover, Big shot, and Kangaroo. The last two were purchased slightly used.

I Like them all, but my preference so far is the kangaroo for slick shooting, the Bigshot is the most comfortable. The crossover probably grooves easier.

I shoot 49 to 55# longbows.