Using a thumb ring to compensate longer draws

[Safari Scott]

Hi all,

A little while ago I bought a little Korean bow for something different. While it's been fun, a 45# horse bow is still no match for a 60ish Centaur (which I might add is still one of the finest bows I have ever owned)

Anyway, having a reasonably long draw at 31 and a bit, I have always been quite limited in the bows I can shoot, I have a 64" and 62" curve and the afore mentioned longbow at 62".

But after a bit of training I've managed to be able to shoot my longbow this way and not feel like my finger is about to disconnect from my palm haha.

Anyway, it got me to thinking, why don't more people use this technique for long bows and recurves? You have much less surface area on the string, so there is much less pinch, which is what has been my major issue with shorter bows.

Are there any other shooters out there that have had similar experiences? Does it work as well?

[Pat B]

Shooting with a thumb ring is a different ball game plus you shoot off the right side of the bow for a right handed shooter. It could be difficult being consistant switching back and forth from a Mediterranean release to a thumb ring.

[KenH]

Why?

Most Americans have been seduced by the English tradition of archery; ever since Maurice Thompson published The Witchery of Archery back in the 1870s.  Not to mention all those movies with Errol Flynn and others.  To most Americans and Europeans, 3-fingers seems like the only "right" way to nock and shoot arrows.

Shooting Asian style, with a thumb ring takes a completely different set of actions and responses.  It's not hard to learn if you start with a light draw bow and work your way up.  It's great for you really long draw guys, true; but expect to be talked about behind your back at most clubs!

[halfseminole]

I shoot thumb exclusively, and I draw about 36".  I can't draw 3 under or split due to an old injury.  That said, in my eyes it's superior to those in every way, so I don't feel handicapped at all.  

Just to be clear, that's 36" to corner of mouth or so.

[Jakeemt]

Joel turner does. His technique is very interested ing. He actually uses a style of fixed crawl to shoot of the left hand side of the bow. I have been toying with trying the idea myself.

[snowplow]

Jake, what is fixed crawl?

[halfseminole]

It's one way of adjusting to shooting on the opposite side of the bow.  I use an altered grip (more thumb pressure) if I want to shoot off the left side.  Some people install a thumb loop so the torque isn't imparted to the string, allowing them to shoot off either side.

There are a LOT of Asian techniques for shooting in any style you can imagine.  I can shoot any style with either hand, but I'm right hand thumb sytle dominant by a long shot, thanks to old injuries.  They have basically dictated my style to me.