Anyone else have this pain/numbness??

[sheepdogreno]

I am fairly new to target shooting with a recurve and I have been shooting as much as I can for about a month now. I shoot 3 under with a neet glove and I've started to develop a numbness/pain from the last joint in my middle finger to the tip. Doesn't bother me when I shoot but it does later. Its almost like the tip of my finger is dead!!! I've gave it a 3 day break and its still there. Is this normal or should I be concerned of nerve damage??

[9 Shocks]

I had that bad for a while when I was shooting a Damascus glove but switched to a thicker glove (American Leathers Buffalo) and it helped tremendously and I feel I get a cleaner release with the nylon stalls.

[2bird]

Same as 9 shocks, in fact i'm getting ready to buy a big shot crossover. you may want to stretch your hands before and after shoot also, that helps me.

[woodchucker]

Sounds to me, like you're starting to develope calluses. (not a bad thing!)

Back in 1998 or so, When I first got back into this Traditional Bowhunting thing... I would get home from work about 6-7am and shoot for an hour or so every morning. MAN did I develope calluses!!! If it REALLY bothers you, Try using a tab over your shooting glove, and see if it makes a differance.

I don't think it's anything to be concerned about.

[sheepdogreno]

Thanks for the quick replies! I have a tab and really don't like it...I was going to ask about thicker gloves...one I have now isn't the best...

[bogeyrider63]

Had the same issue last year. Went to a thicker glove. First a howard hill then a big shot crossover. Took me a while for it to clear up for me.

[M60gunner]

Sounds like your middle finger is the strongest and taking most of the abuse. Usually the third finger and pinkie are the weakest anyway. A tab will help distribute the weight across all 3 fingers.

[njloco]

I use a bateman tab, but when my fingers bother me, which is very  rare I also put on a Damascus glove, it doesn't seam to effect my shooting at all. Naturally once the pain subsides, I switch back to just a tab.

I will also say I shot with a glove since 1957, and only switched to a tab just two years ago at the behest of a three time world champ and a two time national champ. He told me once I get used to it I would never go back to a glove and, while it took awhile to adjust, he was right, I would never go back to a glove ! He was also insistent on it being a Batemen Cordovan tab.

[tecum-tha]

Build your own glove, then you can have the overlays as thick as you want and also with various armor possibilities.
As an idea, the German build along I did:
 http://www.free-archers.de/forum/index.php?topic=33148.0

It seems I need to make an English pdf of it....

[DennyK]

If you are developing a callous on your ring finger you are torqueing the string, I'll bet your drawing elbow is in the up position and not horizontal with the bow arm. Try distributing 50% of the draw weight on your middle finger-40% on the index finger and 10% on your ring finger. Put the string in the first joint of each finger. Hope it helps!

[sheepdogreno]

Thanks for all the advice! I have been looking at new gloves and paying close attention to my form

[sheepdogreno]

Well I just had my first session after having a week break due to finger problems.... And wow my form and the ease of pulling the bow was so much better! I think all of my bow muscles finally recooped after giving it a break for a week! Anyway back to the finger, I wrapped the joint in tape before putting on glove and that helped a lot.paying more attention revealed that I'm holding almost all the weight on that finger. With a thicker surface from glove and tape my release was a lot better