Fletching Hits hand

[wharvey]

I recently purchased a Martin Hatfield I found on the Tradgang classifieds and really like the bow.  Draw weight was a bit higher than I wanted but I'm almost fully adjusted to it. Same draw length and I can hold for at least 10 seconds without shaking.

One thing I noticed is my grip is a lot higher than that when I shoot my Martin Howatt Hunter. The grip on the hunter positions the index knuckle on my bow hand about a quarter inch below the shelf. The grip on the Hatfield puts my knuckle right level with the shelf.

As a result of this higher grip my shooting has improved but I now have one of the fetching feathers brushing my knuckle. Hits just hard enough to be annoying and will become painful if I shoot more than a dozen or so arrows. Wearing a glove on my bow hand, even a light cotton one, takes care of the issue.

I like this higher grip and my shooting has improved enough that I any bow I buy from now on will have such a grip. The actual question is, is this brushing of the bow hand normal with this kind of grip and how do others deal with it?  I assume I can rotate my nock or perhaps put less of a helical twist on my fletching but everything is working so well that I really don't want to change much.

[Broken Arrow 1]

A friend of mine had the same problem with a new bow he bought. He wears a leather glove over that hand now and says it is working great.

[Jwilliam]

I had the same problem with my Horne Brushbow. I solved the problem by adding a thin piece of leather to the shelf. It raised the arrow just enough to clear my hand.


Bill

[Jeff Strubberg]

Right handed?  Try left wing fletching or turning your nocks just a bit.

[3undr]

I shoot right handed and the only time I have this problem is when I use left wing feathers

[BobW]

Jeff has it....LW solved my problem (and it was a bloody one) with just a switch of wing.

[Mo. Huntin]

I would probably just rotate my knock especially if it is not a glue on.  I think the thin leather idea is good one unless you think that will put the arrow to far away for what you want.  I can't see turning a knock effecting your arrow flight.  good luck Broseph

[Hawkeye]

Could also try shooting cock feather IN.  That might be a quick fix, at least.

Your painful problem is one of my fond memories of starting archery as an 11 year old boy.  Had a $10 "Cherokee" wood bow from a souvenir shop with 3 wood arrows.  Every time I shot, the quill would cut a new furrow into my skin, usually bringing blood, but always pain!  Didn't matter, didn't matter!  I shot over and over just to watch the arrow fly.

Good news is, you shouldn't have to go through that to enjoy archery with the advice you've received here.  Enjoy the new bow!

Daryl

[Pat B.]

Might try raising your nocking point a tad..

[Izzy]

Ill bet you Pat has it.I saw that happen a couple of weeks ago to a fella and the nock being raised worked like a charm.

[30coupe]

Pat and Izzy beat me to it. Good job guys. The Badger recurve I just traded for puts the shelf right at my hand, which I like, but until I got the nock right, the feathers hit my hand. I had the same problem with my Mahaska longbow, but that was before I discovered Tradgang, so I just bled a lot until I stumbled onto the solution.

[highpoint forge]

Try the Asbell shooting stance which opens your setup. Solved my same issue as well as string slap, even with a heavier bow. Also be certain you properly set nock and brace height as well as bareshaft tune your arrows. Eliminate as many variables right away....

[wharvey]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll try moving my nock up some. (Although that isn't that easy as it is served in. I hate the brass squeeze on ones.) and recheck the brace height. The shelf rest that came with the bow was worn so I put a new bear skin rug on it. Even left it a tad wide figuring that would solve the problem but didn't change a thing.

In some ways I am surprised at the number of people that have this problem since I don't remember reading about it. I did start wondering about those who shoot off their hand instead of a shelf.

As I mentioned, I can simply wear a glove and live with it. May just do that until warmer weather hits.