Thumb towards target

[Gregg S]

Just thought that I'd post this. I read it on here somewhere and it helped me so maybe it will help someone else too. It was suggested by someone (I really don't remember who) to point your bow hand thumb towards the target when you shoot. I'm not sure if it's the pointing of the thumb or that it kinda makes me keep pushing towards the target, but, for whatever reason my groups have tightened up since I began shooting this way. So, thanks to whoever suggested it.

[Quinn]

Thank you Greg, we'll take all the help we can get.

[jcp161]

Interesting. I'm going to have to give this one a try. Thanks.

[eric-thor]

how in the world do you point your thumb without hitting your bow arm?i point my index finger and slide the arrow down it durring draw. im open to anything but please be more specific maby a picture?

[Winterhawk1960]

eric-thor,

You can point your index finger AND your thumb at the target at the same time. I do this all the time and am one of those people that doesn't need an armguard. It keeps you from gripping the riser very hard, but the reason that I do it is because before I release I allow my index finger to go around the riser.

Winterhawk1960

[BobCo 1965]

Yes, I also like to point my thumb towards the target. It kind of gets the bow (recurve)in the right portion of the palm. Depending on the bow, I either curl all of the fingers or allow just my index finger to point downward in front of the riser. I never touch the arrow during the draw since the the grip would have to be altered or changed at full draw to bring the finger back down off the arrow.

[eric-thor]

ok let me tell you what im doin mabe we arent that far off first of all i shoot a long bow with a locater style riser its a thomahawk thunderstorm by dale kartch . when i position the bow in my hand i make i flat virticle plaine with all digets extended than i drop my thumb 90deg.to the sidei put the bow flat against my palm and rap my thumb around th handle them gently bring my fingers around the front ,les the index witch gies the shaft as i draw to ref.then it gently joins the rest.my thumb is at like 45deg forward. is this not right ?

[Gregg S]

Eric- whatever works for you is the way to do it. I read this on this site somewhere and tried it and it seems to improve my accuracy. I don't need an arm guard when I shoot unless I'm wearing a bulky jacket for hunting. I shoot a recurve. The only part of my hand that touches the riser is pretty much jsut the base of my thumb. My hand is tilted very slightly away from the riser. My palm doesn't touch it at all. My thumb has always been pointed in the direction of the target but now I push it very slightly towards the target. Once again, I'm not sure if it's the pointing of the thumb or that by doing this, it just makes me push towards the target more consistently. It may not work for everyone but I just thought that I'd pass it along.

[eric-thor]

not at all im not saying im right or anybodys wrong im here to learn and try different techniques i m om a journey to be the best i can be im just confused by the explaination of the technique you are shareing . maby some people ca do whaat i cant because of different hand size,shape ,ect....

[eric-thor]

or style of bows for that matter.

[Gregg S]

I really didn't take it like you were saying anything negative. You are right about different types of bows and differences in peoples hands. Best of luck.

[eric-thor]

hey gregg , just wanted to get back to ya . i figured out what u were talkin about , lol just kina happend i was bareshafting today workin on gettin the right arrows and all that good stuff , and i realized that i had also changed my grip as well , guess what ? i found my thumb pointin forward as well all by its self lol!!!and i was more consistant with my bareshafting as well . thats one thing i love about this life while we fight to accel in it sometimes good things just kinda happen and its a long and winding road to get where we r goin. or at least where we think we r goin.

[Gregg S]

Your right Eric. It's a journey. Sometimes I find myself retrying something that didn't seem to work for me ten years ago and now it seems like the best thing since sliced bread. Glad our paths crossed on that windy road. Good luck with your shooting.

[eric-thor]

thanks again . good luck to you as well.