Question On Low Wrist Hand Preasure

[Keuka]

I've decided to try a longbow after many years of shooting recurve with a high wrist grip. I'm also switching hands so I anchor under my dominant eye. I have a question regarding the low wrist bow grip associated with the longbow.

When you draw the longbow or any low grip, is there a "correct" way to distribute preasure on or along the bow hand? Does the heel lightly touch the grip or do you grab right ahold of it like a ball bat?

I've been practicing just nocking, drawing and letting down without releasing. The low wrist grip feels very natural to my right hand. I notice I tend to grip the bow very lightly. I also notice the drawing preasure seems to be concentrated at the base of my thumb in the center of the grip. My hand is lightly closed and in full contact with the grip, just the preasure is concentrated at the base of the thumb.

Does my grip and preasure distribution sound correct or should I be using a tighter grip?

[Orion]

A tighter grip isn't going to change where the pressure is concentrated.  A light, but firm grip is best IMO.  If you want to change where the pressure is, just break your wrist a little more, i.e. heel the bow a little more.  But if it feels good to you where it is, don't worry about it.  

There are lots of different definitions as to what constitutes a low wrist.  Here's mine.  A straight grip like on a Howard Hill or Great Northern is a true low wrist grip.  On the other hand, a lot of locator grips are also configured in what is called low wrist.  These have a carved out/indexed area immediately under the shelf with the palm area slanting toward the heel of the grip area.  They are quite common on hybrids.  The lower the angle of the slant, the lower the wrist, or conversely, the greater the slant, the higher the wrist. Even in so-called low wrist configurations, this grip has a tendency to push/locate the bow hand into the index and concentrate the pressure at the base of the thumb and forefinger.

[BWD]

Don't count on this as being sound advise, but I grip my longbows with my bow hand positioned like picking up a suitcase and allow the pressure to distribute across my hand as I put tension on the string. My bow arm is not locked straight at the elbow. That being said, maybe someone will come along and advise you on the proper way grip it.

[JRY309]

I do the same,I grip with a light firm grip on my Hill's or any other of my longbows.It just feels natural to me because I prefer a straight,dish or mild locator grip.

[lpcjon2]

I agree with Orion,But why switch hands if you shoot instinctively stay with what works with the recurve.If eye dominance didn't matter with the recurve then it won't matter with a longbow.

[George D. Stout]

I shoot my longbows like I do my recurves.  You don't have to hold them some special way to make them work.  Most weight should be felt in the web of the thumb/forefinger no matter what the grip configuration is.

[Art B]

You grip a bow for the way it was designed. It's all about limb timing and balance. If you draw your bow to full draw and you feel even pressure on both limbs and you're gripping your handle correctly then this will be your best balance. Sounds like you're gripping your bow just fine.

As far as grip pressure goes, just try finding the best grip pressure by shooting the bow and see what works best for yourself. But generally, a lighter grip allows the limbs themselves to cancel out some vibration rather than the bow arm. ART

[Keuka]

Thanks for the information. The only left hand bow I have to practice with is a recruve. The grip is formed but the palm swell is much less defined than on my Black Widow recurves. This allows me to break my wrist like a longbow shooter.

I'm switching hands for several reasons. I have always shot both rifle and shotgun left handed.  I grew up shooting both handgun and bow right handed because thats all that was available as a kid. I excelled in archery but never was worth a damn with a handgun. Several years ago I tried my handgun left handed just for the heck of it. What a differnce! I was dead on. I've been thinking of trying the bow with my left hand ever since.

In the last couple of years I've been thinking about trying a longbow. I've read some articles and books that say you may never reach your highest potential shooting cross dominant. As a New Years thing I've decided to give them both a try.  If it doesn't work out I'll just pick up my recurves and never change my right hand form. If it does work out I'll be able to use either hand. When your well over 50, you start to see advantages in being able to use either hand.

There's another reason too. I usually out shoot my buddys. I'd like to be able to do it with either hand!

[skarcher]

There's another reason too. I usually out shoot my buddys. I'd like to be able to do it with either hand! [/QB][/QUOTE]
 

[sdpeb1]

The grip I would think is fairly important, you don't want to create any torque on the bow. When you find the right spot you should be sure that it is the same each time you grab the bow.- Steve

[woodbender]

i must be wierd i keep a death grip on my bow when i shoot. if i loosen it groups open up. i think you will just have to experiment and figure whats best for you