Floppy leather rest questions

[PEARL DRUMS]

I just built an osage self bow and for the first time I shot it in off my knuckle and fell in love with that syle fast. I thought about possibly using a bit of a floppy leather rest for reference only and a touch of help holding the arrow. My concern is my feathers getting ripped off, and how much "flop" do you need? Pics would be helpful if anybody has some readily available. If there are other ways to roll or form the top of my grip for a reference tool, feel free to suggest. Thanks

[vanillabear?]

[Pat B]

[PEARL DRUMS]

Now thats cheezy easy Pat! I like it.

[Pat B]

Thank the Ferret! d;^)

[okie64]

Hey Pearl I love shooting off my knuckle. If I'm makin an elb or indian style bow I always just wrap my grip a couple of inches above center and put a mark on the side of it where my arrow should be takin off from. Like vanilla said with properly spined arrows they dont even touch my hand.

[Dick in Seattle]

I'm another knuckle shooter.  I don't use the floppy rest, I just either insert a small leather wedge in the top of the wrap, or do the wrap with a fold at the top.   I'm kind of limited in my picture handling right now, I'm getting everything into a new computer. (Slight pause while I scream!)

 If you want to see examples, go to my site at:  www.dickwightman.com    Click on Archery Activities...  then on "Gallery".  Bunch of my bows there.   Look at "Road Trip", "Look at Me", "Bamboozle" and "Chocolate Moose".   They show good examples of both approaches.

[Knawbone]

Cool, I'll remember that one. Thanks for asking PD

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I also enjoy shooting off the top of my knuckle, but some type of arrow indicator is nice to have. Hand placement just isn't enough for me, so the last bow I made that shoots off the knuckle I incorporated an indicator into the top of my leather grip. I took the top 1/4" or so of the leather and rolled it under, then tied the leather wrap in place around my handle. This left a nice fold at the top of the leather wrap that the arrow sits nicely on. What I like about it the most is there is zero contact with any part of anything except the side of the bow itself. I think this allows for a much cleaner release and arrow flight. Maybe that's why this little bend in the handle flatbow is so dang accurate? No shelf or anything to deflect my arrow upon release? I dunno, all I do know is that I really like it. One last thing, I stuck a cloth or actually flexible fabric band aid on the side of the bow where the arrow sits just above the leather wrap so it wouldn't make noise when I draw. I could hear the arrow sliding along the side of the bow as I drew and it irritated me. The fabric band aid quieted the arrow draw instantly.

BTW- What ever happened to the Ferret? He wasn't around when I joined back in Aug. 2010, but I've heard alot about him.

[Pat B]

I'll be 61 in July and my skin gets thinner each year. I like shooting off my hand too but it doesn't take much anymore to slice my skin so I started using the floppy rest. Best thing since sliced bread. Still feels like shooting off the hand but with a little protection. I wrap the leading end of all my fletching and have for years. That used to do the trick but not in the last year or so.

[4est trekker]

I second everything Pat has said thus far!  I do the very same.

[AKmud]

Here's a couple....I use Ferret's pattern that Pat posted.

   

   

[PEARL DRUMS]

Thanks for sll the tips. I think I am leaning towards a combo of a rolled top and very slight tab like Pat posted.