Finger pinch

[Srongchoo]

Question from a newbie. Is finger pinch/pain normal even through a tab? The tip of my index finger is worn out and don’t want to cause any damage. Do you just have to build up calluses on your finger even through the tab?

[Wudstix]

Not an expert, but what is you draw and bow length?
 

[Srongchoo]

Shooting a 62” hoyt Buffalo 45# @28” and 28” draw. It’s not stacking, just wearing out my fingers. Shooting an omnivore tab. May need to try a thicker one I guess

[M60gunner]

You might build up callous on the fingers at that draw weight. Now that I have dropped to that weight mine are disappearing. I use a Black Widow tab or my American Leathers glove. I had them take the inserts out. Now back when I used to add a layer of leather to my BW tabs, I was shooting  70#-80# bows.

[Tater John]

Take a deeper hook so you are getting off the finger tips. It will probably feel awkward so don’t give up to soon with it. You should get improvements
Rusty

[Srongchoo]

Currently shooting from the crease closest to the tip of my finger. Would you move all the way in to the next crease?

[Tater John]

Yes or the pad a skin between the first and second crease

[Tater John]

I use a tab also

[McDave]

Question from a newbie. Is finger pinch/pain normal even through a tab? The tip of my index finger is worn out and don’t want to cause any damage. Do you just have to build up calluses on your finger even through the tab?

You stated that you hold the string in the crease of the joint nearest the end of your fingers, yet the pain is in your fingertips.  Most likely, your release is faulty and you are dragging your fingertips across the string.  Holding the string in the crease of the last joint is probably the most common way to hold the string, and there is no particular reason to move the string further up your fingers unless you shoot the bow better that way, which a few people evidently do.

With a proper release, the tips of your fingers do not need to be protected at all.  This is because your fingers should relax to release the string, and the string pushes them out of the way.  So no, you do not need a thicker tab, unless the pressure of the string against your fingers at full draw is painful.

The most common release error is to try to open your fingers to release the arrow.  You can't open your fingers fast enough, so the string rubs against them painfully, in addition to deflecting the arrow so it misses the target. 

To practice relaxing your fingers rather than opening them, hold a full paint can at your side with the same finger grip on the bail that you would use on a bowstring.  If you relax your fingers properly, the can will drop straight down the foot or so to the floor and land flat on the bottom.  It is said that it is possible to do this without the lid on and without spilling paint, but I’ve never tried that, so I can't swear to it.

[McDave]

My tab, that I use to shoot about 100 arrows a day, without any callouses on my fingertips.

[Srongchoo]

Question from a newbie. Is finger pinch/pain normal even through a tab? The tip of my index finger is worn out and don’t want to cause any damage. Do you just have to build up calluses on your finger even through the tab?

You stated that you hold the string in the crease of the joint nearest the end of your fingers, yet the pain is in your fingertips.  Most likely, your release is faulty and you are dragging your fingertips across the string.  Holding the string in the crease of the last joint is probably the most common way to hold the string, and there is no particular reason to move the string further up your fingers unless you shoot the bow better that way, which a few people evidently do.

With a proper release, the tips of your fingers do not need to be protected at all.  This is because your fingers should relax to release the string, and the string pushes them out of the way.  So no, you do not need a thicker tab, unless the pressure of the string against your fingers at full draw is painful.

The most common release error is to try to open your fingers to release the arrow.  You can't open your fingers fast enough, so the string rubs against them painfully, in addition to deflecting the arrow so it misses the target. 

To practice relaxing your fingers rather than opening them, hold a full paint can at your side with the same finger grip on the bail that you would use on a bowstring.  If you relax your fingers properly, the can will drop straight down the foot or so to the floor and land flat on the bottom.  It is said that it is possible to do this without the lid on and without spilling paint, but I’ve never tried that, so I can't swear to it.

That’s got to be one of the best explanations I’ve heard yet. Thank you!

[Wudstix]

McDave;
The paint can trick really sounds slick.  You're right the "release" has to just happen and not be forced.  That is the main reason I shot heavier bows, don't seem to get a smooth release with lighter bows.  Like to just draw, focus and think about release and then it happens.
 

[Srongchoo]

Yeah I just stepped out and took a few shots and it made a world of difference. Seemed to help with my back tension and follow through as well. Felt much more clean

[Orion]

If most of the pain on your index finger is near the top of the finger, it is likely caused by a drawing arm elbow that's too high. Check your drawing arm to make sure it's not too high and in alignment with the bow arm and arrow.

[Tater John]

Trimmed behind my finger tips, no calluses

[Srongchoo]

If most of the pain on your index finger is near the top of the finger, it is likely caused by a drawing arm elbow that's too high. Check your drawing arm to make sure it's not too high and in alignment with the bow arm and arrow.

The pain was actually more on the pad and underside where the index finger/middle finger meet, plus some in the pad of the middle finger. Not the top

[LookMomNoSights]

Did ya hit it hard?  Meaning,  have you been going out there and slinging 100 arrows at a pop because you are just lovin' shooting that bow?   If so,  and that is something new for you,  you might just need to reel it back a bit til that shooting hand gets used to things...... 

[Orion]

Given where you indicate the pain is, follow McDave's advice.  No sights, too, perhaps, if you're been shooting a lot on tender fingers. Looks like you're on your way to resolving the problem.

[toddster]

Here is my experience, for long time when I shot, I never got any pain shooting my bow.  But after shooting around 50 arrows, my index finger
on the inside of the nail, I would get sore.  There are a few things that I come to find out that worked:
1) I had my wife take a few close pictures of me drawing to anchor, after studying them, I noticed when I draw my index finger (my hand design) curves downward, must of been from breaking it few times when young.
2) Also in the pictures I noticed my draw elbow (if high will put added pressure on arrow downward).  I went back to basics, and worked on drawing elbow straight back, keeping it level, on close bail shooting.  This made a difference, and felt more back tension.
3) Get a deeper hook on the string, this will let the tendons in your hand relax, offering a better release.
4) I switched to a glove, this said for me all gloves are not created equal.  I used American Leather glove for long time, then I decided to get a Bateman glove that made a huge difference, without inserts.

[PrimitivePete]

I would also be careful on the grip on the string, the entire hand should be flat, from the knuckle to the wrist, straight and flat. Some have a tendency (like me) to curl the hand in order to get a deeper hook, this can pull the elbow out of alignment, cause you to collapse your form which will make it difficult to get a clean release and move some of the back holding tension to your bicep.
When I have a dynamic response to the release, I impact the string the least and allow for the best possible result.