Lets talk about grip pressure...

[slayer1]

I have only been shooting trad since August of 2006. I have discovered that 2 things greatly affect my accuracy. The first thing is back tension(already been discussed in a previous thread) the other is grip pressure or placement. I just went through a 3 week period where my accuracy went to crap. I found that when I apply the proper pressure to my grip the accuracy came back.(I shoot a long bow with a locator grip). I would like to here some opinions on how the grip affects the accuracy of arrow flight.

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

I shoot a longbow with a plain grip. (No locator grip.)   I've found that when I have a good, firm, or even a tight grip on the bow handle, I get good arrow flight, and good accuracy, and in the end, good groups.

However, I have days where I get really sketchy releases, and that throws my accuracy off a mile.

But, as long as I got a good grip (The tighter the better, as long as I'm not straining) my accuracy is usually pretty good.

[heartshot1]

Interesting,
Just started shooting longbow a month ago and found that the grip is everything. Need to grip it pretty firm or everything goes to the left on me.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I shoot recurve. I kep my hand open during my draw, and close at anchor. If I grip too firmly, I shoot low or left (usually both). Also, proper back tension helps my grip some how. With out proper back tension, my grip usually gets too tight and my shot suffers greatly. The lighter grip and back tension keeps me more concious of push to the target.

[Leland]

I shoot a Dwyer like Slayer.I was having the same problem as Jerry & cured it with the method Jerry described.  Leland

[carphunter100]

I keep an open grip until I start pulling the string. Then as I pull I close my grip. This way my bows seem to sit there self in my hand were they need to be. This works for me with my recurvs and longbows. Not saying it is the right way to shoot but it works for me.

[Pete Darby]

I shoot longbow and find that how hard I grip it doesn't matter.  I never try to choke it, but normally just hold it so it doesn't move in my hand.  But when I am working the pressure of the bow against my hand I will relax it to the point the bow spins around in my hand on release and I still achieve the same accuracy.  However, how I push against the drawn bow is the difference between an accurate shot and one 12 inches low and right (lefty) at 20 yards.