Glove or tab? The ol' opinion. What's your stand by?

[alex321]

I was recommended a tab by a famous coach in the UK, Pip Bickerstaffe, but I chose to ignore him and shoot with something like Byron Fergusson...

I lost one of the removable fingers and bought a tab, last week, just to tied me over until I find the missing finger...

Well, what a difference... My release is so much cleaner and I am resolved now to listen to what people with more experience than me say...

Cheers
ALex

[ChuckC]

I shoot OK with a glove, I shoot much better with a tab, however, the glove hides my hand and the tab requires some other means to hide my hand.
ChuckC

[el chupa nibre]

I find I personally shoot better with a glove. Some cornstarch on the stalls makes for a very smooth release.

I'm a big fan of the Black Widow Stick-Tite glove, without the nylon. Like how the design keeps the stalls tight to your fingers!

[Mr. fingers]

I always preferred a tab when I shot compounds.
After switching to trad it been a glove. Started with an American leathers big shot then went to a thinner neat glove,with calf hair tips the to a Damascus then I tried a Bateman cordovan tab this year and could not get the feel of it I went back to an American leathers big shot I like the protection I get a clean release and my accuracy has  improved overall.
In theory a tab should be more accurate but I don't find that to be true for everyone. There are some great shooters who shot or shoot using gloves.
Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Byron Ferguson, Terry Green, Rick Welch, just to name a few  

[Orion]

I shot a glove for about 50 years.  Started shooting a tab several years ago.  Now I shoot a tab during the summer for targets, 3D and stumping, and a glove for hunting.  Faster for me to put the glove into action. Easier to grab an arrow out of the quiver and put it on the string and shoot, without looking down at the string to get my fingers/tab properly aligned on the string. I think I get a cleaner release with a tab, but accuracy really doesn't change.

[Homebru]

Well.....um......well....generally speaking, I shoot a Three Rivers Dura glove.  I like a bit of string feel and the Dura glove provides that and shoots well.  I have noticed a difference from one to the next but, a quality product that works well.

I know that "olympic archers shoot tabs" and realize that there probably is some benefit there.  I've shot a tab a couple of seasons and try one off and on and it works well.  Strange to get used to after shooting the glove.  What now?

I watched Mike Hays (owner / bowyer of Black Canyon Bows) shoot without a tab or glove or anything this weekend.  It reminded my that I'd exchanged some PM's here on TradGang with someone this past winter.

I just installed a new, to me, option on my bow.  On another thread, someone mentioned that they shoot RPM Slicks, so I inquired with that person about them.

   

These are designed for bowfishing.  This individual spoke highly of them. I bought some and put them in a drawer.  Fast forward to one hour ago.

Pulled out an old string....off with the cat whiskers.....on with the RPM Slicks.....on with the beaver balls....on the bow.  HOLY COW!!  Placebo effect but, I shot the tightest group I've shot in years and my bow was quiet as a churchmouse.

So, for the time being, I don't shoot either a tab or glove, I shoot RPM slicks.  I'm going to give it a couple of weeks and see what I think.

Hope this helps.
homebru

[NBK]

I go back and forth on this.
I used a tab when I shot three under for a few years, having the same benefits already mentioned such as a clean release, etc.
My best advice on this is go stump shooting several times trying to simulate "your" hunting style.  You will quickly discover what you like and what you don't.  For me, I prefer a glove so I can keep eyes on the game while nocking an arrow and fingers going onto the string automatically by feel.  I also like the arrow control it allows when chanting the bow.  Plenty of guys can do all this with a tab, but this is what works for me.

[pinky]

I have always use a glove, usually a three fingered glove and sometimes regular leather work gloves. i have tried a tab on a couple of occasions but never long enough to get used to one. maybe i'll have to find one of those tabs again.

[Bigjackfish]

I have been shooting trad for a year,started with a glove and tried a tab about 2 months ago .For me the tab is the way to go much better release.