Switching from two under to split three

[Bud B.]

Since I was a kid I have shot with two fingers only. It just never felt right with three. I used to shoot two finger split. Last year I went to two under and accuracy improved. As I get older and still shoot a heavy (to me) bow occasionally I find my two finger method is beating up my index and middle finger on my left hand. I think arthritis is setting in a bit too.

I have tried three finger split before, but three fingers seem binding and makes me feel like my elbow is tucked in too tight to my body. But I am determined.

I started trying it yesterday but seem to get a consistent high left hit. I got that tamed some and I think with practice it'll come, but with a pending hunt in Jan and Feb I wanted to see if anyone else has switched from three or two under to (or back to) three finger split and what did you find that helped. I like the quiet release with three split. It is noticeably quieter with my Hill bows. ALOT quieter.

Just reaching out for some support and tips from those who have walked this path.

Thanks.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Try laying your index finger along the arrow shaft. It is pretty much two under with your middle and ring fingers bearing the weight. I cannot promise it will work as well for you as it has for me but it is worth a shot.
If the weight is difficult to bear you can also try moving the string one knuckle closer to your hand, I get the same point of impact doing that, however it tears your face up a little bit if you shoot a lot in one session

[Bud B.]

I think after about a thousand shots I'll get to feeling better about it. I did stump shoot some over Thanksgiving with a self bow made of Hickory and shot three split. I didn't do too poorly with it. It's the transition that's going to be tough. Reprogramming 40 plus years of a habit is going to take some effort.

[NBK]

Bud, Read your post looking for support, well, I switched from shooting 3 under for the past several years to split finger at the end of the summer.  I felt really comfortable/confident in my shooting all year, but I tried to focus my practice sessions before the season on stump shooting with one arrow.  I tried to make it as realistic as possible, canting, shooting while kneeling, sitting whatever.  Bottom line, for me, while my 3 under vertical style worked well at 3-D shoots and backyard targets, it was just more practical at typical stickbow ranges to shoot split due to better arrow control, more focus on the target and less on the arrow.  My whip longbow was also noticeably quieter and "felt" better on the shot.  I'm a hunter, not a competitive range shooter, and I feel for me this style fits better.  

As far as the process, I changed my anchor from index finger in corner of mouth and feather on nose (3 under), to middle finger just behind my canine and base of thumb tucked behind the base of my ear.  This kept my elevation change to a minimum.  Lowered my nock point down about 1/4 inch for good arrow flight.  Didn't take too long to get confident out to 25 yards which is about 5 further than I like to shoot anyway.
I'm certainly no expert, but hopefully this helps a bit.  Good luck!

[Bud B.]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll keep trying as work allows. Not much shooting the last two days and it looks like Saturday will be the next opportunity.

[Bud B.]

I have several hundred more shots to go to reprogram the years of two finger shooting, but it's starting to click.

16 yards. 1916s cut 28.75 BOP w/200 AND 225gr field points.

 

[NBK]

Yeah!  I'd say it's starting to click.  Nice shooting.

[Bladepeek]

Bud B. You said years of shooting 2-fingers. I'm guessing that is 2 under? Has anybody tried 2-finger split? I draw a pretty light bow and I'm wondering if that might give me a cleaner release.

[Bud B.]

I was two finger split until about a year ago, then tried two under and saw noticable improvement immedaitely, but I've not been kind to my joints. I wake up in the mornings and it's like having ridden a motorcycle for 100 miles without a rest. Your hands take a bit to get loose and it seems my finger joints are always sore. I'm not that old, but feel it sometimes.

The three finger shooting hurts too. My ring finger on my left hand got injured back in the early 90s while making an arrest of a shoplifter that I ended up having to chase on foot. Torn ligaments caused my finger to lose complete closability when making a fist. The loss is minor, but the ring finger hurts when shooting three split. I'm just going to have to accept it and move on.

As far as cleaner release, I am finding that shooting three split for over a week now is getying more and more comfortable and I feel, for me, it is a cleaner release. My bows are quieter too shooting three finger release. So far i don't see going back, but I've also learned to never say never and really mean it. For something like this, anyways....    

[Bud B.]

Still seeing improvements in the three split, but, for those three split shooters out there do you draw and hold at anchor or do you hit anchor and release with a pull through style?

I'm  finding that pull-through style gives me more consistent releases and better vertical alignment with my target. Holding at anchor typically gives me consistent left hits (lefty shooter).

Thoughts? Ideas? Comments?