Anyone heard of or shoot with 2 fingers?

[Tradtical Commando]

I was in the how to threads and was reading an article a guy made about making some aluminum glove inserts to alleviate string pinch. I noticed a couple guys on there talking about shooting with their bird ad ring fingers only. Does anyone do this and can tell me a little more about it?

[Paul_R]

That's called Toelke style do a search and there's a few threads on it. I tried it and did really well but it stresses the tendons at the base of my wrist. Kind of a carpal tunnel thing. I still shoot 2 under but with my index and bird finger.

[ron w]

I shot with my first 2 fingers for years due to an injury. I shot split and 2 under.......no problem.

[Randy M]

Originally posted by ron w:
I shot with my first 2 fingers for years due to an injury. I shot split and 2 under.......no problem.

Same here.  I injured my ring finger on my right hand and it took about a year to heal.  I shot 2-finger, split-finger for a long time until it healed.  At 3D shoots, people started calling me "Crab-claw".

[Jack Hoyt 75]

Two fingers could create some real issues over time with heavier weight bows.  What would be the advantage?

[Tradtical Commando]

I tied searching it with no luck. It would seem like it would be better in every way. I was just wondering if there were any pros or cons to it. I have a ridiculously long draw and string pinch has always been an issue. Its hard not to get out of bed and go try it right now…lol. Gotta get up at 430 to chase big birds all over the woods though. Class starts early and those birds log to take me to school.

[Paul_R]

Originally posted by Jack Hoyt 75:
Two fingers could create some real issues over time with heavier weight bows.  What would be the advantage?

With 2 under and speaking only for myself, smoother release. Much smoother. That ring finger causes nothing but grief.

[nineworlds9]

Works great split finger/ ring & middle with lighter weight shorty bows.  I find it changes my shooting with a given bow switching between 2 and all 3 fingers so its prolly something you should either do for a while/stick with or not at all or just to mess around.  After trying it enough I decided normal way is best for me and the benefit on the light shorty bows didnt seem great enough to matter.

[Paul_R]

Originally posted by Tradtical Commando:
I tied searching it with no luck. It would seem like it would be better in every way. I was just wondering if there were any pros or cons to it. I have a ridiculously long draw and string pinch has always been an issue. Its hard not to get out of bed and go try it right now…lol. Gotta get up at 430 to chase big birds all over the woods though. Class starts early and those birds log to take me to school.

2 under = no string pinch. Even with the shortest bows.

[BOWMARKS]

Missing down to the first joint of middle finger so I shoot with first and ring fingers. Not much choice on my part so learned real quickly with no problems.

[blakeschack5466]

I shoot my 55# recurve as if I were shooting normal split finger shooting except I don't hold any weight on my pointer finger I literally just set it on the shaft. I also figure I have about 80% of the weight on my middle finger and 20% on my ring finger.  I think the middle finger should bear most of the weight regardless of your style because the middle finger is in line with the bone structure of your wrist and arm. thats my 2 cents.

[Machino]

I shoot the with two fingers in the Toelke fashion and have come to like it quite a bit.  My method, and the one he showed me a while ago is to wrap your middle and ring under the arrow. "deep hook".  Your index will point forward as the arrow does.  When you draw, you will rest your index on your temple and the cup between your index and thumb will rest on your cheek bone.  It seems that the arrow is closer to eye level and you get a hair more draw.

All this being said, I posted an inquiry on this style last year and it seemed like people thought I was crazy.  But coming from Toelke, I'm taking his word for it.  Its working great on my new Kestrel!

[longbow fanatic 1]

I've been shooting two under now for awhile. I like it better than three under. I use index and middle finger. Works for me.

[damascusdave]

I shoot bows up to sixty pounds draw weight two fingers under...I agree that taking the ring finger out of the equation makes for cleaner releases...if you do some research you will find that split finger with index above and third below has been used enough to have its own name...it is called a Flemish style release

DDave