Thumb Tab

[Bob Morrison]

Can anyone tell me if a thumb tab. a leather tab for your thumb with no assist. Just pulling with your thumb and index finger. Is considered as legal for different shoots Barebow, 3d etc.???

Bob

[Rob DiStefano]

those are considered exactly what they are, release aids.  the rest depends on who's holding the event.  national orgs separate fingers from release aids, as usually do state events.  local events can be quite different.

[Bob Morrison]

Thanks Rob. I still wonder if using just my thumb and index finger with no protection? Is this still a release aid?

Bob

[Rob DiStefano]

Thanks Rob. I still wonder if using just my thumb and index finger with no protection? Is this still a release aid?

Bob

it absolutely is a release aid.  so is the asiatic thumb ring that 2000 years old, and that's about as trad archery as trad archery can get.   

there is no question that any manner of flap, rope or ledge release is not only a release aid, it's lots more consistent than fingers.  LOTS.   

[Bob Morrison]

My bare naked fingers and thumb is a release aid????

[Rob DiStefano]

My bare naked fingers and thumb is a release aid????

if that's what's gripping the string, nope.  that's a finger shooter - split, two under, or three under.

the "thumb tab" is really a flap of whatever that replaces yer fingers. much less string torque, lots less string contact, far more consistent if the archer does all the other form things in a good manner.  i competed with straps (that's what we called them back in the 60's and 70's) as well as ropes and rope ledges.  FAR easier than fingers and that's why any other manner of pulling back a bowstring other than with fingers is considered a release aid.

[Bob Morrison]

Thanks Rob, I get asked this question a lot. Not that I will ever shoot competitive but it is nice to have an idea what is legal. It does seem strange to me that a finger tab is fine but a tab on your thumb is a no no, sure hope deer never hear about this.

Bob

[Rob DiStefano]

there are very definite advantages to using a thumb flap tab on the string as opposed to fingers on that string.  pure physics and why releases are in a separate class.  there are local-to-me trad clubs/shoots that will allow a thumb flap/rope release, typically those archers are known within the clubs and that they can't use fingers and can only shoot with an aid.

[Hermon]

Are we talking a thumb tab like the Talon, or a thumb tab like Joel Turner shoots?

[Rob DiStefano]

Are we talking a thumb tab like the Talon, or a thumb tab like Joel Turner shoots?

a talon style thumb flap tab thingy. 

what is it that joel is using?

[Hermon]

[Hermon]

In a podcast or video, Joel says that his index finger is touching the arrow so it is legal.  I'm sure each shoot will rules themselves.

[Jim Casto Jr]

I.B.O. rules clearly states for every class, "....shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring..."

So.... shooting with your thumb is not acceptable in I.B.O.

[Bob Morrison]

Like Joel Turner shoots, I Like Rogers Talon 3 or 4, can't get the hang of the thumb tab. Been playing with glove like Joels and like it a lot.

[Hermon]

Not to be argumentative, but if I shoot with a standard tab, my fingers are not in "direct contact with the string".  I understand what they are saying, but three under is ok, split is ok, two fingers os ok, but not a thumb?

[Jim Casto Jr]

Guess I should have posted the whole sentence; it reads, "A recurve or longbow shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring using a glove, finger tab, or bare fingers...."


The key part in context of this discussion is, "shot with fingers."  Can't speak for other organizations, but I.B.O. is pretty clear.

[Rob DiStefano]

I.B.O. rules clearly states for every class, "....shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring..."

So.... shooting with your thumb is not acceptable in I.B.O.

interesting.  the IBO doesn't consider a thumb a finger. 

imho, a true FLEXIBLE leather thumb tab is not a release aid, but a thumb RING is a true ledge release aid.

all of this is moot to me since the critters we hunt aren't gonna tell us we're not allowed to hunt 'em with straps, flaps, rings 'n' things. 

[Rob DiStefano]

a good thumb release tutorial vid ...

[Roy from Pa]

That is cool as heck...

[Rob DiStefano]

so, should a bare thumb that draws a bowstring, or a bare thumb covered by a piece of leather, considered "trad" ... or is it a "release aid"?