Pronghorn Shooters

[47pronghorn]

I can't shoot my Pronghorn! I'm thinking it may be a grip issue. How do you grip your Pronghorn?

[Rich in CO]

I dig Pronghorns, the grip just fit's me. I have found for me don't be afraid to grip that bow, it's a pretty low grip, and just grabbing her & firing away works best for me

[47pronghorn]

I'll give that a shot. I've been shooting with lose fingers, palm down. How far up do you grip? Maybe I have been gripping too high. I grip to where the shaft would almost sit on my knuckles.

[Roadkill]

I just grab her, and some how get it settled in withe web centered.  Do not think about it as it just happens

[DannyBows]

It's a low wrist grip as Rich said, and I grip mine with firm, even pressure using all my fingers, not unlike how I grip a Hill style. It sounds like if you are keeping your fingers loose that's more like a high wrist recurve type of grip.

I also grip mine up as close to the arrow as possible.

Practice with it for awhile and I'm sure you'll soon be loving her. Herb's Pronghorns are among the best.

[47pronghorn]

Roger that, I always thought you were supposed to hold them loose. That's probably the problem, I notice it hops to the side upon shooting with the grip I currently use.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Grip it like your shaking hands with a good friend you haven't seen in a while.

[Bowtie]

I grip with a full grip, but not tight (relaxed hand). My grip is fairly close to the shelf, but not where the fletching hits my hands. Very similar to DannyBows desciption. Give yourself a little time and you'll find the right grip/feel.

[PrarrieDog]

You may be trying to shoot it like a recurve. Like the boys above said, grab it like your shaking hands. I do put more pressure on the web of my hand but make good contact with the whole hand Fare well pilgrim.

[JOEBO]

If you can't shoot it send it to me and i'll figure it out for ya!  

[Terry Lightle]

Do not shoot a Pronghorn,but cannot shoot my bow with a loose grip.When I put the choke hold on mine I shoot it a lot better.

[Igor]

Hold it like a small bird that you don't want to get away yet don't want to harm it......I do feel the pressure mainly in my heel....


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glenn

[centaur]

My hand is right up tight to the shelf, and as others have said, a firm grip is the way to go. Sounds like you were gripping the bow like a high wrist, when it is a low wrist/longbow style. Big difference.

[47pronghorn]

Thanks for the replies, I really wish I could go shoot today. I've got a sinus infection AND strep, bleh.

[BOHO]

hope you feel better soon.  generally though I think longbows are gripped tighter than recurves. I used to try and shoot my legend longbow like a recurve and it didnt work so well for me either. wish I still had that bow.  :(

[FerretWYO]

Did you get it figured out.

[Hud]

A proper grip for me with the Pronghorn, is the same as an R&D, or longbow; heel the bow with even pressure, and held with the bottom two fingers, the top two are loose. Gripping, or squeezing should be avoided as it causes tension in the forearm, and could result in torque or flinching. Tension is also a killer if your shooting moving or flying targets, because the movement is supposed to be fluid. The grip pressure is sufficient to hold the bow at release.  

If you have ever have shot skeet, trap or birds with a shotgun, played golf, baseball or tennis then you know that tension in the arms, caused by a tight grip is not conducive to a fluid movement.

Upon release, the bow hand stays on target and the fingers, open and the hand stays at the face, moving slightly back.

[TSP]

Pronghorns aren't fussy regarding grip so it may be something else causing the problem.  I use the same grip for all my longbows (including a Pronghorn) and recurves...a firm but not death-like grip.  

Firm vs. light is always a bone of contention but having shot straight-wrist style in the past I've found a firm, full-handed grip more versatile for hunting.  Getting good alignment (from the arrow point to the tip of the draw elbow) and controlling the bow can actually make it easier to stay stable through the shot, especially with low mass bows and under less-than-perfect shooting conditions.  Think of it like gripping a hunting rifle.  To obtain and maintain the good alignment you wouldn't hold your rifle lightly in both hands, you'd snug up the trigger hand into your shoulder for stablity to help control gun movement and to get your eye and gun on target through the shot.  With a hunting bow your bow hand (trigger hand) controls/stabilizes the 'front sight' (shelf) and keeps you on target through the shot.  

Using target-style (light grip, allowing the bow to flop forward or move on it's own at release) has not worked well for me for normal shooting, but some promote this method religiously and get good results.  Try each approach for yourself and find out what fits best.  

BTW, hope you feel better.