What is the proper bow grip?

[longbow fanatic 1]

What is the proper bow hand position when shooting a longbow? Does this grip change when you shoot a high wrist recurve? From what I have read and learned, I should be using the "life line" on my bow hand as a landmark. When I shoot with my bow hand in this position, I seem to consistantly smack my bow arm right at the wrist. Additionally, I seem to get left arrows as a result. Changing brace height doesn't seem to stop the wrist slapping, though it does lessen it. Currently, my brace height is 7" What am I doing wrong?

[Str8Shooter]

Shooting a longbow is a bit different than shooting a recurve... in most cases. As a general rule, the longbow has a much lower and less contoured grip. This will promote more hand contact with the grip. This isn't wrong. Most longbows are designed to be shot with this hand contact. Oftentimes, the limbs are tillered and timed to account for this pressure. You can try shooting them like a recurve with the higher wrist postition but this may make the bow want to move around more.

Try this. Hold the bow out in front of you. Balance it on one finger until you find the spot in the grip where the bow balances evenly. This is the bows center. Most longbows will shoot best when the pressure is in this spot. Some bows balance very low in the grip and other much higher. It's all in the design of the bow. If your bows center is low and you try shooting it with the pressure high it will want to fight you.

Pertaing to your original question, the lifeline is general starting point. You may have to find what works best for you. One thing alot of longbow shooters have trouble with is allowing the wrist to break inwards. I would suspect that the wrist is breaking in towards the riser on the shot. I've always tried to maintain a straight line from the back of my hand into my forearm. This will allow you to get a good hand position on the bow and maintain clearance from the string.

Your left hits could stem from a variety of things. If you are breaking the wrist inwards and inducing torque this could be the culprit. The other things that could be sending arrows left (assuming you are right handed) are overspined arrows and being unnaccustomed to the sight window. Many lonbows aren't cut past center. This generally requires a softer spined arrow. Also, it moves the arrow further from center, compared to a recurve, and may cause you to percieve the arrow further away. Sometimes it takes a little time to adjust to this.

One last thing. You don't mention if you shoot a dacron or modern, non-stretch, FF string. If you are using dacron, and your bow is approved for FF, then you might want to try that as well. Dacron stretches more and further during the shot. This can definitely promote a wrist slap even if everthing is correct. I've owned some longbows that were less than pleasurable with dacron but were gems with FF strings.

Hope some of this helps.

Chris

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks Bradd & Sta8shooter. I appreciate all your information and advise. My bows are: Dwyer Defiant Longbow 60" 49@28 and Browning Spartan 62" 45@28. I am using Easton Legacy 2016 arrows w/ five inch shield feathers, cut at 30 1/2." I am using 150 gr. tips and my draw length is 29."

I shoot with a light grip, holding the handle with my index and middle finger wrapped aound the front of the bows riser.

For some reason, the recurve slaps me right on the left wrist bone ( right handed shooter ) directly behind my thumb with every shot. I will research the wrist slap issue, but I just wanted to confirm my grip was correct.

Thanks again!

[longbow fanatic 1]

I Forgot to mention that the longbow has a Fast Flight Plus string and the recurve has a Flemish style  string ( 57"- not sure if its Dacron or some other material ) I bought thing string without any real understanding of the correct string length and material. Perhaps this is the problem.

The longbow zips these arrows straight and with little string/wrist slap.

The recurve is causing most of the left arrows and slap issues.

Does anyone know what is the correct string length for the Browning Spartan recurve?