Experimenting with split finger

[Safari Scott]

So I started off split then swapped pretty quickly to three under due to a finger injury. Well the finger is pretty much useless for strength but I was playing around using one over one under. It was super quiet and even a little more accurate. Pretty punishing though, I pull about 56 and only weigh about 160 pounds so after an hour it felt like my other two fingers were going to fall off and they were quite bruised.
So my question is, will it get better if I keep at it or is two fingers, over ambitious at 56. Also why is split finger seem more quiet? What do you guys think, what do you prefer?

[maineac]

I learned split.  Switched to three under under after being trained as a NASP instructor.  Got my first recurve and had it tillered for three under and shot it that way.  Bought my first longbow and went back to split.  It just felt more natural.  I don't notice any noise change in my recurve tillered for three under.  Many say shooting three under on a bow tillered for split will make it louder.  If you like the split stick with it.  I don't understand why your other two fingers felt so banged up.  Is the string hitting them some how?  If the two fingers drawing the string can handle it I don't see an issue.  If they are the ones you are talking about they will probably toughen up with use.

[mooshkat]

I also tried 3under recently, 3longbows and 1 recurve all are noisier 3 under, went back to split. Also i felt i had no control of the arrow, i was shooting pretty well though, just watch for looser fitting nocks.

[BWD]

I experiment with split fingers every day, since it's the only way I can shoot. Tried 3 under several times, but just not my cup of tea.

[njloco]

So, I'll take it that it's the ring finger that is useless, you can always draw with three fingers split but drop the ring finger once at full draw, don't know what if any glove or tab you are using.

I shoot split and always have.

[amar911]

I also have been shooting split all my life for a total of 55 years of archery (makes me feel REALLY old to write that). I have tried to shoot 3 under on a few occasions, like at Rick Welch's school and Rod Jenkins' school, but even they couldn't teach an old dog that new trick -- and even advised me against changing. I don't tend to need a lot of padding for my fingers when shooting, but some people do. Maybe try something like the Big Shot Glove to help protect your fingers.

Allan

[coaster500]

At 60 I still shoot two finger split...  the finger are holding up much better than the shoulders  

Tried three under felt like putting with a driver to me??? Sometimes a little tape on the fingers inside the glove is just the trick when I'm shooting a bunch...

[petalumapete]

I'm 55, have been shooting split finger since I was 8. I tried three under for about a month. It just never felt right for me.

[nineworlds9]

When I got back into trad last year I tried both and for a while used and liked three under because I felt more comfortable pulling weights over 45 pounds with that grip...I quickly noticed that it made bows noisier (this is not a myth if bow has standard tiller) it raised my point of aim/increased my trajectory and my release wasn't quite as clean.  I forced myself to go back to split and at first I hated it...well now many many months of practice later I can easily pull my 90# English longbow back behind my ear split finger and I get clean releases and reduced bow noise.  I have tried playing with three under again sometimes but every time Im like "no way forget this". Split finger is the dominant style for a reason.  But hey, whatever floats your boat ya know.

[overbo]

It will get better,just don't over do it and cause a injury.
I shoot bows up to 70lbs split but I hold all the draw weight on my middle finger at fulldraw prior to release.