Hand Pain on Release

[LimbLover]

I don't usually post in the shooters forum as I never really have questions related to actual shooting! However, I've had some issues with hand pain lately and I'm hoping one of you can help me out.

I'm only 29 but I played football for several years (including college) and was an Offensive Lineman. I hit people with my hands a lot and because I have smaller wrists, my thumbs and the back of my hands took a lot of abuse.

I used to have a deep L-hook anchor - index and thumb formed an L and I used to hook the L behind my jaw. It was comfy but I had to give it up because I started getting a lot of joint pain in my thumb and it caused me to creep forward (with any poundage bow).

So, I changed my anchor: middle finger to corner of my mouth, palm to the side of my face, thumb resting on the top of my hand. This alleviated my thumb pain and I am shooting better than ever. HOWEVER, I am now getting pain in the tendons on the back of my hand behind my draw fingers upon release.

I'm trying to figure out why. I recently switched to finger stalls (the cheap NEET ones with the stretch material on the back of the hand and velcro strap on the wrist) and they seem to be causing the problem. I'm shooting a L and I think it may be too small, the elastic may be actually putting tension on my fingers and pulling my hand back.

I don't seem to be getting this pain with a Demascus glove or a tab.

Do you think the stalls could be causing it? Have you heard of anything like this?

[GreyGoose]

Shucks, to be 29 again.  I, too, am a big guy with small hands, and they're the weak link for me in a lot of activities, including archery.  That said, I have to admit I had never heard of a finger stall and just now googled the term to get a picture. I am curious why you were using them as opposed to a glove (or tab).  I was going to speculate that on release, the balance of tension in tendons and the stall is suddenly disturbed, but that would be the case with a glove, too.  Are you wearing more than one stall?  At any rate, I'd just go with what doesn't cause pain, as long as you shoot well.

[LimbLover]

I'm sorry GG. Not stalls. I'm shooting one of these:

 

[BowsanAiros]

Sounds like the strap on the glove is pinching the nerves in your wrist. You may want to put the strap on loose or just go to a tab.

[wtpops]

Im not quite 29, im darn near twice that     I have larger size hands that are very strong do to a life time of construction work but also have a life time of abuse do to that work. You need to adjust to what will work with your hands. If you can shoot a certin glove with no pain then thats the one for you. there are many types and styles out there to chose from just keep at it untill you find that one that works best for you.

Like the marines say "Adapt and Overcome".

[LimbLover]

I guess I'll try the Demascus this weekend and see if it eliminates the issue. FYI - I've had absolutely no hand pain with the tab.


Maybe it is the strap...never thought of that!