Let's talk about arm guards

[snowplow]

Sometimes when I wear my leather arm guard and it rains really hard here in the Pacific Northwest it stains my clothes Brown which is just kind of annoying. Lately I've gotten some nicer pieces from Sitka and kuiu and first light. Not only do I not want my left arm stained Brown on every shirt, they also fit a lot more tight on the forearms. So they really don't need anything to hold them out of the way. Do you guys wear arm guards with these still? The string slap shouldn't be an issue with a little bit of padding they provide. And is there another material that you've seen used forearm guards that doesn't soak up the rain and stay wet for 2 days? I can build and sew all my own stuff so I don't even need something pre-built. Just kind of tire kicking in to see what's out there.

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[Orion]

I can shoot a (higher braced) recurve without an arm guard, but not an ASL longbow.

I can tell you this.  If you get a good slap on the arm, the thin fabrics you're talking about aren't going to help soften the blow at all. 

I suppose there are ways to tan leather that don't result in bleeding when the leather gets wet, but I don't know of any. Might just try some different brands of arm guards. 

Could perhaps glue a thin liner to the underside of your arm guard to stop/soak up the bleeding.

Good luck in your search.  Let us know what you find out.

[two4hooking]

English bridle leather will not bleed.  Nate Steen makes his armguards out of this.

They will get wet though but they will also dry.

[Broken Arrows]

I use a vented arm guard like the one at Lancaster Archery. Check it out.

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/shooting-gear/guards-gloves-tabs/armguards.html

[Bowguy67]

Every bow I shoot, every person I teach to shoot never has string slap. If you hold the bow properly it’s not an issue.
Guys love to argue but imo we don’t know what we don’t know. Believe me if I showed you you’d not even own an arm guard

[two4hooking]

You also don't shoot an ASL.

[kenneth butler]

Bowguy67   I would love to know your secret. Any tips will be appreciated. I have had a couple of bad injuries and broken veins over the years. I would rather forget my tab than my arm guard.Thanks. >>>----> ken

[Woodpuppy]

I don’t use an armguard, but I’m not shooting ASL. I’m shooting r/d longbows and recurves. As I cant the bow over, I rotate my shoulder so the point of my elbow points to my left, not down. Never have a problem with string slap.

[kenneth butler]

Well I guess i was hoping for a new revolution. I am 76 and have shot every kind of bow since being a little kid. I have  tried all the normal things. May I ask how much shooting you have done? It doesn't happen often but when it does you will be thankful for an armguard. thanks for the quick reply. >>>----> Ken

[kenneth butler]

I am sorry--so confused-- I got an email notice and thought Bowguy67 had answered. I didn't notice it was Woodpuppy that posted. >>>----> ken

[Fattony77]

Bowguy67   I would love to know your secret. Any tips will be appreciated. I have had a couple of bad injuries and broken veins over the years. I would rather forget my tab than my arm guard.Thanks. >>>----> ken

I don't know about his secret, but I know that I started having a major issue with string slap a while back. I posted the question on the Shooter's Form forum and Arne Moe taught me something that helped immediately and has worked ever since. It was: 1st- The location on the arm where the string is hitting can help determine the cause... Lower on the arm (closer to wrist) is likely to be a low brace height. Higher on the arm (closer to elbow) can be resolved by your grip on the bow. If you keep a 45* angle with your knuckles in relation to the vertical center line of the bow (and of course don't lock your elbow) the string will not be able to touch your arm. When I get back to my phone, I can try to post an illustration that better explains what I'm saying. Or you could do a search for my topic on that forum.

Sorry to be off of the main topic of the original post, but I was hoping that I could help someone with this knowledge that was passed to me. As for the original question, I've seen some slip-on guards that looked like sock material, but haven't tried them. I have thought about just cutting the toe out of a black sock and using that to hold down sleeve material, since that is now the only reason that I ever need an armguard.

[Bowguy67]

Just change your grip. You should never grab a bow at the same angle as the handle. Never heel the bow.
If your knuckles were at a 45 from a riser your forearm moves to the side making room. If you used an arm guard to hold a giant jacket back it might have merit.
Doing so to prevent string slap isn’t necessary.
Push off the wrist bone right up into your forearm.
Here’s a pic that may help.
If someone had nails such as a female we show resting them on bow back. It’s the rotation that moves the forearm

[Bowguy67]

And guys forgive me. It’s no secret. I’d been sick, actually recovering from a large brain tumor and after work I often am whipped and pass out.
I hope that pic helps you understand. We even teach small children this and it works every time.
If you prefer a lower grip imagine you’re telling someone to stop with your hand. Close fingers now. You again have a lower grip w correct arm/finger angle.
Also your elbow should never straight face down.
Imagine a shooter right next to you. Your elbow should face their toes. Down and to the side. This happens because of the shoulder rotation from turning the arm.
Hope this made sense

[kenneth butler]

Bowguy, sure hate to hear of your health problems. I have been through several cancer operations myself. The after treatments were worse than the surgery. I appreciate your reply and trying to help. I have that picture,I have studied MoBow's grip video. I don't think there are any stones left to turn.  We are all built different-both bone structure and mussel development. You must be one of the fortunate in that regard. I am not. I do notice that most pros use arm guards but it could be a fashion statement.>>>----> Ken

[Bowguy67]

Ken, thank you. Glad you’re past any issues too. I’m still healing but I do what I need to do.
I have a theory on this. Without seeing you yes you could have some skeletal issues that prevent what I’m saying but it’s not real common until we age.
The pros use an arm guard for one because they shoot different and have dif requirements than us. The other thing is very many of them are self taught. Or had Uncle Joe show them. Like I stated even bad form if repeated exactly can yield consistant results.
If you can make the stop sign and almost anyone can. Your lifeline is to side of bow, knuckles canted your forearm moves aside. Pretty impossible to hit. I wish you were near there’s prob something I’m not relating properly.
It works for pretty much everyone except a lady last year w major skeletal issues.
Hope you don’t have them. You need to be bone on bone as well. You can place your hand on a post and use either the shoulder muscle or allow the pressure to set the shoulder into the socket. You want it to the later.
The formats I teach are varied, kids, women, mother/daughter, mens, etc. works for all.

[kenneth butler]

Thanks Bowguy.  I lean into a wall to rotate the elbow and set the shoulder.  I have learned to do that with the weight of the bow when I put pressure on the string. I even leave a little bend in the bow arm. There is still very little clearance and any little mistake like plucking the string or shooting from a strange position and I get hammered. Longbows and low brace heights are the worst. The only thing that helps a lot is an open stance then it is hard for me to engage the back and I can't handle the weight. I am maxed out at 45# @ 28" as it is but I draw to 29 1/2 or a tad more. So that is approaching 50 but I hate to drop anymore weight. I already have way too many bows I can't shoot anymore. A good arm guard takes care of the ocasional flub. Don't teach everyone not to use arm guards. I make them and tabs.:^)
Take care.>>>----> Ken

[pavan]

Bowguy, sorry to hear of your health issue.  However, I let my entire hand meld to the grip of any bow and do not ever hit my arm with recurves.  With Hill style bows heeling the bow makes it work properly and point properly, an arm guard is no big deal to use.  My favorites are both Schulz made one by John and the other by James.

[Bowguy67]

Thank you Pavan. Some guys can grab the bow, it also depends on hyperextension of the elbow. Typically in women. They do everything right than hyperextend.
Wish I could somehow help ya Kenneth. So hard w just words

[OkKeith]

Dustin-

I have a couple of saddle leather arm guards that I treated inside and out with silicone waterproofing spray. They bead water for a year or so then I just respray them. The stuff is made for boots so it works great. You can get it pretty much anywhere they sell footwear.

I also have a couple all cordura nylon arm guards. One (I think) is made by the Catquiver guys, no idea where I got the other one. I wear them mostly in the summer but spray them with the silicone as well.

I replaced all the leather laces and ties on ALL my arm gaurds with .125" bungie and a cord lock. It's easier to adjust regardless of either eyelets or speed hooks. If your wearing the same jacket most of the time you can just snug it up and slide it on and off without readjusting.

I hope this helps with your question.

OkKeith

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[Bowguy67]

It’s hard taking a picture by yourself but here’s the gist for the fellows that had problems.
Shoot off the wristbone, roll the shoulder and you have clearance. Hope it helps


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