Att: Longbow shooters

[frassettor]

I had put my recurve away, because I'm concentrating on my BW longbow for this upcoming deer season. I noticed that when I shoot my longbow I have use more of the heel of my hand  ( more pressure below my thumb)in order to shoot it more accuratly...Why  :confused:  I do get more string slapping my forearm though this way . My recurve it seems like I shoot it more accuratly with more pressure between the thumb and index, and not alot in the heel of my hand.

[beaver#1]

try rolling your wrist just a bit so that your big thumb nuckle is closer in line with the arrow.  this helped my arm slap.

[macbow]

Most of the the traditional style longbow hasndles are ment to be shot with more hand on the riser as opposed to recurve risers. Now with the hybrid style grips on longbows that is sorta out the window.

Many folks need a arm guard with a long bow and not with a recurve.
Ron

[Leland]

Are you bending at the elbow alittle on your bow arm,that will help.  Leland

[frassettor]

Leland, Im bending a little, but if i do it to much, its harder to control the shot.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Keep last thumb knuckle in line with mid bow. Try to maintain a suitcase like grip. This should help you avoid arm slap.

[Jeremy]

Hold the bow and draw it... look at the position of your bow arm elbow.  If you bend it does the elbow point down or out?  If it's down, that puts your forarm right in the way of the string (also puts more strain on your body).
I had the same problem when I first switched from a 'curve to a longbow.  Funny thing was my elbow was 'out' with the 'curve but not the lb.

[Daddy Bear]

I am the complete opposite. I shoot a traditional straight handle longbow using a classic broke wrist/heel down style. Whereas I shoot a pistol grip recurve with a straight wrist. I find the later places my forearm closer to the string and arrow path where I'm more prone to having my forearm buzzed by the string. With the longbow I can shoot bare arm and only need a guard to keep clothing in check.

If you are holding your bow arm correctly and solid, a technique you may try to gain additional clearance is to slightly open your stance. A drawback with this technique though is that it takes some of your back muscle out of play putting more onto your arms.

Daddy Bear

[bushytail]

Check your brace height.You may have to add to it.

[frassettor]

It says to put it anywhere from 7-7 3/4, I have it at 7 1/2 now.

[Rob Fin]

I shoot my PLII with no armguard with the brace height at 7". I think its all about the grip and I agree with those who suggested the "suitcase" grip with the 1st thumb knuckle nearly lined up with the center of the bow.

[fowlarcher]

You shouldn't have to grip your bow in an unnatural or uncomfortable way. And shooting with a bent elbow is not consistently repeatable and could lead to a creepy release.
Try to determine what happened on shots when the string burns you: sq. enough to target, not too much across your chest; sloppy release; torquing bowhandle/string; etc..
Ruling out flaws in shooting form, sting path should be considered. Arrow spine, wt., and bow brace ht. all have an effect on the strings lateral movement.
Increasing brace ht. increases limb preload which will keep the string closer to the bows centerline at the end of it's travel (where the string gets you). It also moves the string closer to your elbow than wrist where there's more room. However, brace ht. should not be adjusted outside of the bows sweet spot to compensate for other problems.
I'm sure you'll work this out as pain is a great motivator. Please let us all know what solved this problem for you.