Gripping the bow

[SuperShuki]

Hi, folks,
I'm new here to the forum, so hello everyone,
I am part of an archery club in Jerusalem, Israel, and we have an instructor who mainly shoots compound bows.  I'm shooting a 43#@28 traditional longbow.  
I have/had a problem that as I get tired, my left (bow) hand flinches to the right an incredible amount.  My instructor keeps telling me to relax my left hand and not to grip the handle.  He also suggested I use a string around my fingers to hold the bow to my hand.  
This hasn't really seemed to work, until I saw greyarcher1's video on youtube about stand and stile (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PqzNV0ooIs&list=PL81D485C18F72A9CD&index=30)
Where he suggests to let the bow fly forward instead of to the left or right.  So I tried that, and it seems to work.  My question is, since every photo I see of traditional archers have them holding the bow, with the bow hand fingers touching the bow, is it proper for the bow hand fingers to touch the bow?  Should the left (bow holding) hand be completely relaxed, with only the palm touching the bow? I have seen bows with grooves for the fingers - and my instructor says that that's just hogwash to sell bows.  Is he right?
Any help would be welcome.

[moebow]

Welcome Super...

There are varying ideas and thoughts for the fingers on the bow hand.  The target shooters usually will use some sort of sling to catch the bow and will not have much if any finger on the bow grip.  Since you say you are shooting a long bow, you will probably have more "finger" on the back of the bow than a target shooter -- it is just a matter  of degree and whether or not you use a sling of some sort.

Here is a thread from a while ago that shows a suggested grip.  As in most archery techniques, you have to find what works best for you.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=005763#000000

Arne

[Scott Barr]

I suggest you watch all of several Arne,s you tubes about shooting form.  I cannot tell you how many times I go back to these and get something new each time.  In addition to the pictures he provided,  it is helpful to see the grip suggested in action.  

Since you indicate your bow arm "flinches right" when releasing, look at Arne's you tube about arm alignment and engaging back muscles or Terry's " shot clock. "

Good luck and enjoy the journey.

[SuperShuki]

Thanks guys, will try your suggestions!