Severe forearm slap

[rybohunter]

I need some advice/help. I'm somewhat new to the trad game and I am experiencing what I think is pretty bad forearm slap. It seems even on good released shots it still happens. Do I need to grip my bow different? Its a long bow off the shelf, shooting 3 fingers under. I don;t know what else may help you guys diagnose things. Maybe its normal? Thanks for your help.

[Deadeye33]

Hi Ryan,
Welcome to traditional shooting it's addictive.

Can you tell us a little about your set up?  Bow, arrow size, brace height, draw length, weight.

When I first started I had the same thing and it turns out I was shooting arrows that were way too light for my bow (carbons).  I switched to heavier aluminums with 150 grain heads and my arrows  flew better and bow shot quieter and less arm slap.  

Grip and form have a lot to do with it but this is how I solved it.

Deadeye33

[Kingstaken]

Sounds like you may be shooting the bow in a straigth vertical position, if so, cant the bow to about 10:00 if ya right handed and also bend your bow arm alil...
Also you may be holding the bow with your thumb portion of the hand too far twisted in which will bring your forearm in closer towarsd the string.  Make a vertical fist straight out, you don't want to be too far from that except to cant the bow.
Quick, change from 3 fingers under before it's too late..  :D

[Incognito]

Check your brace height it may be to low.

[rybohunter]

Ok my bow is a 50# @ 28" longbow. The brace height is 7 1/4". My draw length is 26.5". I was told my total arrow weight was 446 grains. Here's a pic with arrow nocked.  Oh yea I do shoot with the bow canted.  

[henpeckedmuch]

Kingtaken is right, I shot split finger for years and did real well with it but, I tried shooting 3 under just to see if I could better my scores just a little. I won the next 5 shoots in a row and now no matter how hard I try I just can't make myself go back to split finger.

[mike g]

Rybowhunter.
How you grip the bow is very important as said above....
Untill you learn to do that right, get one of my Armguards....  

[mxracer483]

are you shooting with your bow arm straight? many compound shooters tend to do this when switching over.

[NCRecurve]

I shoot my recurve straight up with no cant so this might not be applicable to shooting a longbow.  Because of my physical build and shooting style I have to open my stance with my left foot back about 4-6 inches or I hit my arm fairly often.  If I open my stance a little I rarely hit my arm even with hunting clothes on.  

Doug

[The Whittler]

I think Doug has it. Just open your stance.
Left foot to the left. Alan

[NCRecurve]

An update for what it is worth.  I checked yesterday afternoon when I was shooting, my left foot is only back about 2 to 3 inches to eliminate the problem for me.

Thanks,
Doug

[Problem Child]

I was having the same problem. I read a book called "Archery Anatomy". It has a section on the bow grip. Basically what it said was to have the bow resting on the muscle beneath the thumb on the bowhand instead of in the "web" between the thumb and index finger. When you do this, it actually turns your wrist outward from the bow. It also prevents your wrist from collapsing which will throw your shots off left and right.
I shoot a longbow with the brace height at 6.75" and never hit my forearm anymore and my shooting has improved too.

[buckeye_hunter]

I would second Incognito's response and increase the brace height (if that will keep you within the recommended brace height range for that bow (ask the bowyer).  I did that on my bow and it made all the difference in arm slap.  I had to go to 7 3/4 inches, but it was worth it!!!  I had some serious bruises and swelling and was developing bad habits anticpating the hit.  You will enjoy shooting much more once you get this problem squared away...JMO..Charlie

[Kingstaken]

First grip is the most important which will vary with each longbow style. I shoot same style dish grip and hold almost like one shooting a compound deep in the groove at thumb and hand, bent arm is important.
Second with non protective clothing, put on an arm guard..

As for brace height being a factor, I disagree to change it cause the string slaps ya arm.
Brace height is for performance of bow and arrow.
Change it to avoid slapping ya arm and throw out tuning of the arrow? I don't think so. Put on an arm guard.

[JBiorn]

10:00? For a right-hander isn't that bass-ackwards?

 TTT

[Kingstaken]

JBiorn,
Ya right.
After switch to lefty I'm alil scrabbled..LOL

[rybohunter]

A little update guys. Thanks for the responses. After some tweaking and playing around with my form and draw cycle, I've greatly reduced the slap. I still get a few hits to my guard, but not as bad as before.

[mike g]

With these post about forearm slap....I always jokingly say get one of my Armguards....
    Butt I will be the first one to tell people about proper Bow grip to avoid forearm slap. I shoot a HH Bow and I can shoot it without an Armguard, Butt why, they hold the sleeve down and they make you look way "COOL"....
    3 keys to avoid forearm slap. Grip, stance, & one of my Armguards....  

[rybohunter]

I have an armguard, I'd never even think about shooting without one. I still figured that severe slap was not good, whether you wear a guard or not.