Manchu ring issues

[Bronoulli]

I shoot a 50# longbow and recently switched to a Manchu thumb ring due to finger joint pain. When using the Manchu ring in the proper location (mid thumb joint) the blood pressure in my thumb gets so high at full draw that it causes bruising ahead of the thumb joint near the nail. The ring in my opinion is sized well because it slides on and off with only slight resistance.

Anyone that shoots using a Manchu thumb ring have any suggestions?

[Pine]

Ouch, that hurts just reading this.
I don't know anything thumb rings but I always figured they would be painful just looking at them.
I had to switch to a release aid because to hand and finger problems and I can still shoot now.
Hopefully someone will chime in and have advice to help you with the thumb ring issue. 

[Bronoulli]

Thanks pine. I have a release aid (wrist strap) as well but am not as consistent with that as I am with the thumb ring yet. Do you use a D loop or do you directly attach to the string?

[PrimitivePete]

I have yet to try a ring but I'm real interested to do so, I wonder if the width of the ring you are using is causing the issue. I'll be following this thread, you may also want to reach out to Joel Turner, I know he has been using a thumb ring with great success

[Pat B]

The hole in a thumb ring should be oval so it slides on and off one way but not the other so you kind of slide it on and do a 1/4 twist to lock it in place. This should give you better blood circulation in your thumb. If a thumb ring is too loose it can come off on release and injure you or someone else.
 The tongue of the thumb ring, where the string goes should sit on the thumb pad with your first finger locked over the end of your thumb. The release happens when you relax your finger.

[Pine]

Thanks pine. I have a release aid (wrist strap) as well but am not as consistent with that as I am with the thumb ring yet. Do you use a D loop or do you directly attach to the string?

I have a loop on my release that wraps around the bowstring. I just put it under the nocked arrow.

[Soonerlongbow]

I know traditionally thumb rings are used with wrong sided bows. Is it possible to use a normal sided bow & a thumb ring?

[Pat B]

A thumb ring releases to the right and fingers release to the left that why you shoot off the right side with a thumb ring, left side for fingers.

[Bronoulli]

I am going to try a different style of thumb ring (the one that looks like it has a tongue that covers the pad of your thumb) . Hopefully it works out better and does not irritate finger joints. I will let you know. 

[Petrichor]

I am going to try a different style of thumb ring (the one that looks like it has a tongue that covers the pad of your thumb) . Hopefully it works out better and does not irritate finger joints. I will let you know.

Hope these two new one work for you Will. I’ll let you know when I get them in. Oh and happy bday hunting partner!!

[Bronoulli]

I now have more than 3 dozen shots with the classic vermil thumb ring with only slight soreness on the inside of my thumb. Soreness I associate only with a newly forming callus. Time will tell if this method is the best for my fingers but I have hopes. I have found that my left hand bow is cut rather proud of center and I am having alot of my arrows going far right of where I want them to go.

Just working on new form and hitting what I am looking at now. It is hard to get my eye aligned over the shaft so I end up hitting better by not aligning anything and just flinging arrows with anchor near to behind ear and index finger tracing the shaft acting as an instinctive pointer.

[SlowTurtle]

I was reading a piece the other day on a guy who uses a thumb ring. He is right handed but shoots left handed bow so he can look down the arrow.

[Pat B]

The first time I shot a thumb ring was with an Asiatic horn bow James Parker made. Standing and looking at the target like I was use to with a Mediterranean draw the arrow went way right, many feet from the target. Shooting with a thumb ring is like learning to shoot all over again. Once overcome you'll get a lot smoother release and a far more accurate shot. It's that learning curve that will kill you. 

[Bronoulli]

Hey Pat,

That is where I am right now I am shooting right handed with a lefty bow. I am glad to see others experiencing the same thing with far right arrows.

[Pat B]

It's a whole different learning curve.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I don't shoot a thumb ring but check out Joel Turner he shoots with his thumb he uses a glove he modified he did a YouTube video.