3-under louder ?

[tmattson]

Been shooting with a tab 3 under. Just got a new American glove to try, was shooting with it 3-under and thought I would try split finger. To my surprise, I noticed it seems quieter, switched back a few times to confirm, same results. I will try again today, but is this common, anyone else observed this?

[Alexander Traditional]

I went to three under,and shot that way for a pretty good while. I still do shoot some of my bows three under,but trying to on most of them to go split.

My shorter bows were harder to shoot,and quite a bit louder. To answer your question I didn't have one bow that wasn't quieter shooting split.

[Friend]

Three under is quieter yet has never prevented me from consistently harvesting critters.

[SS Snuffer]

Every year I try to make the switch to 3 under. I move my nock point up , shoot a few arrows into a very small group and think this will be the answer (it's always louder) than proceed to get larger and larger groups until I switch back to split finger. Everyone that can really shoot good seams to shoot 3 under. Not me!

[Orion]

Not everyone SS.  Olympic style shooters don't shoot 3-under.   

OP, yes, three under is generally louder because it increases the unequal stress on the limbs, often taking them a bit out of time so they don't come to rest at the same time at the end of the shot.  The resulting additional/unequal limb vibration is what causes the increased noise.

That's why folks who shoot three under usually adjust the nock point upward, or, if they can adjust their limbs, such as on ILF bows, adjust to zero or even negative tiller.

[tmattson]

Good info, and makes sense. Now just some practice time using the new glove and split. For sure some adjustment in the future as last year was using a fixed crawl with the tab 3-under. Any good books and or videos that focus on shooting split? Suggestions on using point on with split?

[Alexander Traditional]

I was hitting high,and thought my brain would readjust like it did when I went to three under,but it's not. I've had to change my anchor going back to split. I anchor a little higher,and it's actually been more consistent instead of right in the corner of my mouth. I hit right under my nose or tight on my cheek bone.

[smokin joe]

I have managed to get my bows quiet for shooting 3 under by fiddling with the placement of my string silencers. What works for me is placing the top silencer at 1/4 of the total string length down from the top, and placing the bottom silencer 1/3 of the total length up from the bottom.

Also, fiddling with the nock height and brace height can make a difference.

[ron w]

A lot of it is your release, my friend and I both shoot 3 under. My bows are always more silent than his. Even when we trade bows I shoot his quieter.

[reddogge]

Good info, and makes sense. Now just some practice time using the new glove and split. For sure some adjustment in the future as last year was using a fixed crawl with the tab 3-under. Any good books and or videos that focus on shooting split? Suggestions on using point on with split?

I've always shot split since an 11 year old. I've tried 3 under but every bow I try is louder. The only 3 under bow I shoot is a Gillo target bow for field and indoor shooting and I don't care about noise.

I shoot split with a middle finder anchor and my arrows are 30.5"L for a 27" draw which helps get my point on to 30 yards. I can easily manage the gaps from 30 yards in by gapping at the riser so I'm looking at 1" at 20, 1/2" at 25 and point on at 30. Anything over that and I'm aiming above the target or using different parts of the riser, shelf as elevation references.

[Alexander Traditional]

I shot Joe's bow! It was quiet when he shot it,not so much when I shot

[Huntschool]

I have been shooting 3 under for quite a number of years.  Those include shooting bows that did not offer a tiller variation for 3 under.  I don't recall any of my bows being really loud.  Perhaps back in the day, I was not looking (listening) for it and today I cant hear that well....  LOL 

Fast forward.....  With the high performance bows of today with FF (low stretch) strings I do think there are some loud (in general) bows out there be they LB's, RC's or whatever.  I do think there are several things that play to the sound thing. 

First and likely most important (my opinion) is release, not placement of hand in my mind.  I shoot both a glove and a tab.  I don't hear any appreciable between the two.  However, with either one if I make a bad release like plucking the string or something there does seem to be a bit more noise. 

Second is the placement of silencers if that's what you are looking for.  My current bows, save for one are tillered for 3 under so the idea of unbalance between limbs is not a factor.  I do use silencers on my hunting bows but not on my target (3D) bows as I want all the speed I can get out of those bows.

Third is arrow weight per pound of bow.  Shooting a light end arrow will likely be a noisy situation and I think we all know that.  Get the weight up into the MFR's suggested range and sound will diminish.

Just the thoughts of an old guy....

[mahantango]

Joe, that's how I set all my bows up as well. (Google heterodyning). I don't find much difference in noise between split and three under but agree that the release is the biggest factor. One thing that helps is to keep the weight off the ring finger. I have to use a very thick tab thanks to arthritic fingers and find that increases noise some.

[Silent footed]

I have noticed the same thing. It has to do with the tiller. A split finger tillered bow will be a bit louder when shooting three under; and a three under tillered bow will be louder when shooting split.

[Missouri Bowman]

Just recently had to go to three under because of an injury. At first I did notice that my release seemed louder then split finger. As I messed around with my release and getting my arrow flight to be good I moved my nocking point down about 3/8” from the original. The noise went away and flight became perfect. I’m liking the three under.

[joe vt]

I have never had a bow (longbow or recurve) that did not shoot quieter with split. 


3 under was always is louder in my experience.

[hvyhitter]

Ive been shooting 3 under for about 25 yrs now. Tiller does NOT matter. All the bows Ive shot (alot) have always tuned at about 5/8, 9/16 nock height. Some were tillered "3under," some not, didnt matter. As to the noise, I think its more the pitch or tone that changes making it seem louder,(think guitar string). Ive walked away from a friend without looking while he shot both ways and was at about the same distance when I couldnt hear the shot......YMMV

[Guss]

I’ve had the same results as joe vt, everything I’ve  shot has been louder 3 under..I am a split finger shooter.

[Chain2]

My results were 3-under was louder on every bow I’ve tried EXCEPT, my new Whip. Dan tillered it for 3-under, Apache, as is written in the bow. It is very quiet.

[BigJim]

Tillering for 3 under vs split is unnecessary if you properly tune for nock height. In my experience, most people shoot with their nock sets too low. Also when shooting 3 under, it is very helpful to use a nock above and one below the string.

As you move your fingers down below the arrow, you change the timing of the limbs... the same thing you are doing by adjusting your nock points. A higher nock set brings your fingers up the string and tuning the nock set will help to bring the limbs back in to time.
Nock height for a given bow is a personal thing. The simple difference between the size of two shooters hands will affect nock height, especially with 3 under.

At first, I too noticed more noise shooting 3 under. Once I settled in, the noise went away... unless I make a bad release.

BigJIm