3 under tab was not nice to me...

[VA Elite]

mine is calf hair...I will likely go back to a glove, if it's working I shouldn't mess with it ya know?

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by Bisch:
Until you find what is right for you, it is all one great big experiment. You just have to try different things until one day you try somrthing that just feels right!

Bisch

Nailed it!

Tabs are an incredible individual thing. I couldn't beging to tell you how many I tried until I found one or two that work great for me. Ironically enough, my absolute favorite tab for target archery is the one you're using, a Black Widow medium three under calf hair model.

[VA Elite]

Amazing how it's different for all people. I will keep several gloves and tabs and just keep shooting until it all clicks

[Jake Scott]

VA,
All the above advice is very good.  Tab or glove, and which one to use of either is extremely personal and may take time to decide.  I have been following your posts both here and in the form forum.  My advice would mirror Mr. Dill.  You are very new at this.  You are building a solid foundation right now.  Focus on shooting form above all else.  When you develop solid form and fundamentals, then worry about things like tabs and gloves.  Using either, good form will get you much further than any glove or tab.  You are in a unique place, because starting fresh gives you the opportunity  to learn things correctly the first time around.  

I do also strongly suggest a second nocking point.  I myself use a black widow three under tab, though I prefer cordovan to calf hair (again, a personal preference).  Keep after it, your enthusiasm is awesome.

Jake

[VA Elite]

Mr. Scott, thank you for you advice. The most important thing to me right now is is proper form and consistent anchor. I have a routine how I practice. I will usually start about 8 yds out and without much thought add a yard after each series of arrows. When I hit about 15-16 yds, I start over again, all the while focusing on my form/anchor each shot. Before I knew it the other day, out of six shot series, I had 3 arrows touching in the vitals at 14 yds. I then understood how important each step is. stance, draw, anchor, bow arm, draw arm elbow, then clean release, repeat again and again. This site has really helped me more than I ever thought. The beauty of this site is there is no arguing and bashing, just sound advice and willingness to help. This place had me realize that you have to be your own archer, no two are alike. It's not as simple has a compound in the sense that a mech release really cleans up some poor form. Drop away rests, peeps and kissers can really aid in shooting. This is PURE archery and I am totally all in and I hope that one day I can pass on knowledge to some guy that has made the switch.

[Jake Scott]

VA,
You're exactly right.  This site is an amazing resource.  You are certainly well ahead of where I was when I was just starting.  Trad archery is a lifelong journey.  Keep it up!!

Jake

[VA Elite]

Jake, how much space between the two nocks? would I just use another brass nock as well?

[njloco]

You more than likely won't get good form while trying to aim at a target, your no different than any other human and can't multitask, by aiming at a target you will neglect form, by concentrating on form while shooting at a target you will not get good groups.

Do blank/ blind bale shooting for 6-8 weeks and then you will never have to look back, it takes discipline to accomplish this, what your doing is teaching your body muscle memory,  so that when you start to shoot at targets your mind only has to think about hitting the target and not have to think about form and also hitting the target.

Good luck on your journey.

[Jake Scott]

You can use another brass nock point, I prefer to tie mine on in a manner that they can be adjusted.  Once you crimp the brass ones down they are there for the long haul, which can be aggravating if you change arrow setups, form, etc.  A lot of guys use serving string, but I have used dental floss in the past, and these days I use separated strands from old worn out bow strings.  Mostly just because these are things I have laying around.  Below is a link to the way I like to tie nock points.  All that said, the brass ones will suffice just fine also.

 

When I set my bottom nock point, I usually leave just a touch of space between the bottom of the arrow nock and the nocking point itself.  Perhaps a 16th of an inch.  Just enough so that the arrow nock doesn't get pinched between the two when I'm at full draw.  This is something you can tinker with, your mileage may vary.  The other guys may have other methods as well.  That works well for me.  

Jake

[Homebru]

I'm certainly not the most knowledgeable guy on the site but, I'll offer a couple of comments:

 

Originally posted by Kevin Dill:
Look at this tab and you'll notice it is a 3 layer tab. Calf-hair / rubber cushion / suede leather. Those 3 layers are separate and able to move independently as the tab flexes and bends. When it is new, these layers haven't really relaxed or formed into what they will after several hundred shots. Break-in is necessary and will yield a smoother feeling release.

My comments above were, as stated, also with a broken-in tab and a new tab (thinner tab more broken in).  Kevin is spot-on that you have to break them in which brings me to my second comment.

Take your time with any trimming.  Go slow and develop your form before you get too aggressive with trimming your tab.  Otherwise, you could destroy and subsequently overlook tabs that, given time to break-in, would work great for you.


 

Originally posted by VA Elite:
what would be causing this sudden string slap on my bow arm? Never hit my arm once with the glove. I changed something somewhere.

I'm going to guess that something has happened to cause you to rotate your wrist in.  You may not realize it but by switching to a tab, you may be "worrying" about the change and experiencing other "unrecognized" changes such as rotating your wrist inward, just a bit.  It all works together.

You've had some great advice to "stop aiming and practice form".  That will both help your form and break in the tab.  You've got time.

Hope this helps.
homebru

[VA Elite]

homebru, thanks. Yeh I have lots of time to go through this ordeal. Im in no rush. I will just play around with tabs and gloves for the next for months

[roy easom]

hey VA i believe the main reason you are getting the contact from the string on your arm is when your shooting a glove its much thicker and bulkier and with a tab its small and thin which gets you into a better and tighter alignment into the face try opening up you stance just a small amount and it should help with your clearance problem and tabs have to be trimmed down unless it fits your hand perfectly

[VA Elite]

I'm going to shoot indoors today and I will tinker with it. We'll see what happens. I'm going to try the two nocking points as well.

[paradocs]

It took me 2-3 months to get completely comfortable with a tab, but I had used a glove for 40 years     I really don't think I shoot any better with the tab overall, but was having problems with a glove getting loose on my fingers in cold weather.  I wear the tab over 1/2 finger wool gloves when hunting, and "bareback" in warmer weather with no difference in accuracy.  Just seems for versatile for me.  Didn't think I'd like it, but it's grown on me.  Give it a fair shake.  You're welcome to try my Bateman's...they are Small, split finger with no divider, but would work 3 under when you're experimenting.

[VA Elite]

Doc, headed up to huntin shak to shoot and get some things done. I will let u know.

[Kevin Dill]

I cannot stress enough the importance of form and continuity over everything else. Inconsistency in your shot will bring inconsistency in your accuracy. That in turn will open up doubt, worry, and concerns...all things which further degrade accuracy. Think about something...

Golfers practice their swing constantly, and they aren't always hitting balls. Batters practice their swing...same deal. They work on form, as all sporting endeavors do. No dependable form? No dependable accuracy or results. You won't really know what tab...or arrow or golf club is best for you until form is solidly established. For my money (and I hereby admit it's hard to ignore) thinking about or paying attention to arrow placement, groups and accuracy is nothing more than a formula for distraction. If you can ignore it and focus on form only, accuracy has an uncanny way of just showing up and building on itself. Try to be accurate? Wrong. Try to be strong on form and technique...you'll be surprised at what happens naturally.

[katman]

Landon, Kevin's advice is spot on and worth heeding. Learn and ingrain proper form first. Yes it is very cool to see the arch of the arrow going to target but when doing form work do it close and concentrate. Standing a few feet from target close eyes and draw to anchor, you can really feel what your body is doing.

[dragonheart]

Many people shooting tabs with a higher anchor benefit from a softer tab.  I cannot shoot a hard backed tab that is stiff and rigid with my high anchor.  Tried that too many times.  I can shoot a tab that is just a piece of leather or soft like a Neet tab.  I like the release I can get with a Cavalier Tab, but there is no way I can shot that with a high anchor and have skin on my face.

[VA Elite]

Did some blind bale shooting. Im working getting my draw elbow down.