Split shooters..

[William Stewart]

I picked up a new set of Byron Ferguson Heavy Hunters and was bare shaft testing them over the weekend.  I ended up shooting more than 3 times the amount I normally shoot and by the end of the day I had a sore spot on the bottom tip of my ring finger.  I use a fairly thin 3 fingered glove but after reading the above post I'm confused on just what is the correct position of my hand.  Since I cant my 66 inch Sky Longbow I think I may be pulling back with my hand and fingers at the wrong angle to the bows cant.  Could this be why my ring finger is sore at the tip at the bottom?

[moebow]

William,

Yes that is a possibility.  If you can, draw in front of a mirror, or have someone video or take a picture of you at full draw.  Then look at the fingers and string.  Do you have a twist in the string?

IF your hand, wrist and forearm are relaxed, the string should be straight (no twist) and you will get a better release.  Let the bow line you up, do not try to force the bow or string.

Arne

[DennyK]

No callouses here, I shoot every day with a thin Damascus glove. I use a deep hook on the string and a very relaxed hand & wrist, letting the bow weight straighten everything out. You gents with the callous on your ring fingers, I will bet that at full draw the elbow of your drawing arm will be out of alignment and in the up position. Look at moebow's picture, that's how it should look. Callouses mean there is too much torque on the string somewhere. See moebow's videos they were and are of great help to me.

[Terry Green]

Didn't read all the responses...but you could have your elbow too high...or you could also be torquing the string.

I'll try and watch the videos and see what I can see.

[Terry Green]

1st vid....watch your string hand rotate 'bottom out' during the draw...looks like you are torquing.

[JamesKerr]

Well I have read this post and discussion and gained quite a bit of insight from it. Number one my drawing elbow was to high because of incorrect pressure on my fingers on my drawing hand. So I went out just now and tried shooting the way Moebow (Arne) recommended as did Terry with approximately 50% of the weight on my middle finger 40% on my index finger and only 10% on my ring finger. My shooting improved greatly and I was able to get consistent straight flight with bare shafts. I am not completely all the way to the 50-40-10 pressure split so to speak I don't think especially after one shooting session and it still feels a little funny just because it's new to me but I could see a vast improvement in my release, follow through, and no more high elbow either. Thanks for the wisdom guys!

[JamesKerr]

Terry, what is a good way to keep from torquing the string and rotating the drawing hand bottom out as one comes to full draw. I watched myself draw today in front of a mirror and saw myself doing this. I would like to know a way to keep from doing it.

[tracker12]

Originally posted by Mr. fingers:
I just read an article about a sore ring finger ken beck of black widow says string torque . Not keeping the string hand verticle. In other words when you draw your hand back to your face the natural position for your hand is the back of your hand turned up. It's not natural to keep it verticle or the correct way.

Just something to check      

Yep.  Good advice.  My torqueing sure was minimized when I started watching for this.

[Chain2]

What about a callous on your nose ? Does that count for something?

[crunch]

Originally posted by Chain2:
What about a callous on your nose ? Does that count for something?

lol, I sometimes hit my nose since I went to 3 under. Wish it was calloused instead of red and sore when that happens.

[moebow]

crunch,

Don't lay you head over to the string at full draw.  Set your head then draw to your face, hold your head still, don't "go to get it!"

Arne