Anyone just not able to shoot a tab?

[DanielB89]

I’ve tried everything I know to do to make a tab work for me and it just won’t work.  Every time I about one I get slapped in the face. 

I’ve read trim them, etc, but it hasn’t worked for me yet.  I believe the string is what’s hitting me in the face. 

Also, I feel like my anchor is not nearly as solid with a tab. But also feel the tab gives a smoother release than my glove.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pine]

I've shot for over 50 years and I have never been able to use a tab.
I shoot bare fingers or a shooting glove. 

[Alexander Traditional]

I've spent a lot of money on tabs. I love the idea,but it just feels very strange to me.

[Roy from Pa]

Everyone is different I suppose.

I've shot a tab since 1971, I don't shoot well with a glove.

If you're slapping yourself in the face then I suspect it's how you anchor and release.

[Terry Green]

I don't use a tab because I can't keep up with one. I'd have to buy a hundred and stro them everywhere. I also don't like fiddling with a tab on the end of my fingers.

A Smooth release is not up to a piece of magic leather, think about that again, a Smooth release is not up to a piece of magic leather. The Archer is responsible for a Smooth release.

Some tabs and some gloves are more comfortable than others, but all really offer only finger, nerve and ligament protection. They were not created to make a Smooth release or be a Band-Aid shooting Aid. Just figure out which one works best for you and which one is most comfortable for you.

I've killed a half a dozen animals at least without a glove. Yes sometimes I can't even keep up with a glove. 

And don't let people that paint with a broad brush put monsters in your head

A glove was good enough for Howard Hill. 

[Owlgrowler]

funny thing is, I used a tab, Black Widow, when I was going through my compound phase. I've tried a couple different brands, even made a few, but I just can't get the feel I like with them. I hunt and do my hunting season practice with a light 5-finger glove, either a cheapo Gorilla or most times the thinnest Mechanix, (I forget the name). Nothing better for me and I have tried them all

[kadbow]

I have shot a glove for over 30 years and have been shooting a big shot glove for about the last ten years. I am hunting Alaska next year and in a trial run of gear this fall I realized my big shot glove would not easily fit into the trigger guard on my .44 mag. Well I have been trying to convert to a tab for the past month and things are going ok if I don’t think about it too much. When I start thinking about my release I have issues. I know it is just a mental thing and if I stick with it it will become second nature just like a glove. Another benefit is not having to cut 3 fingers off my gloves for cold weather shooting/hunting.

[David Mitchell]

Well, simple solution...don't use one.  I shot with a glove for years.  One day a guy at our bow club had a tab he wasn't using and asked if I wanted it.  I tried it and haven't been able to go back to a glove in years now the tab just works so much better for me.  I have bought and given away quite a few gloves in trying to use one again so I just stay with what works.

[GCook]

I haven't been able to yet.  Maybe it's my anchor point.  Maybe it's I'm not doing something right.  Maybe I'm just not the brightest bulb in the box. (Actually that's a given)  I'm going to try again this spring.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[kat]

You're not alone in not being able to use a tab. I have tried repeatedly with many different brands, but just don't like them. I have used them trimmed and even left them long. I know it is all in my head, but....
I have settled with dura-gloves. To each their own.

[BAK]

I've tried them and to some extent made them work, but I flat  out don't like them.

[Sam McMichael]

Davis Mitchel has it right. Just don't use it if it doesn't work for you. Don't fret about it or give it a second thought. As long as the glove works, you are good to go. Oddly, I went the other way, starting out with a glove and changing to the tab.

[sneakybow]

I used to use a glove. I put one on now and it feels like a pillow strapped to my fingers. No way I could go back to a glove. It feels way too thick for me now, no string feel.  Every person is different, just like buying boots.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[old_goat2]

Yeah, people that won't commit to them and people that don't try a quality thick enough one.

[Orion]

I used a glove for more than 40 years and tried tabs several times during that period.  Then, tried a Black Widow tab and it worked perfectly.  Have since also adopted Bateman tabs.  I expect I could shoot almost any brand tab now. 

A little futzing to get the tab on the string vis-a-vis a glove, but enables a hold closer to the face, more in line with the eye.  Also, easier to get off the string cleanly.  I wouldn't say I'd never go back to a glove, but have been quite satisfied with a tab for the past 10 years or so.

BTW, if you're hitting yourself in the face with your draw hand, it's not being caused by the tab.

[Hummer3T]

A beginner compared to most on this post but cant use tab, bare fingers or most of the time glove.  Think it is a little of what you start with is how your preference and skills are developed.

[McDave]

Since many things can cause one to hit one's face when shooting, it might be educational to take a slo-mo video when you shoot, both with the tab when you hit your face and with a glove when you don't, so you can see if you can zero in on what's causing the problem.  If you are successful, I’m sure some of us would like to see them, for our own edification.

If that's too much trouble, then just use a glove.  To the many fine shooters who were already mentioned, I’ll add Rick Welch, who will only use a glove because he believes he hits his face with a tab.

[reddogge]

I'm weird. I shoot a glove for hunting and 3-D with a hunting style bow. For indoor and field archery I shoot a tab and a target bow. Back in the 60s and 70s I shot everything with a tab.

My only tip is I use the same references on my face with both and have no problems at all. Probably for hunting a glove, to me, seems more practical.

[DanielB89]

A friend let me try his SAM(super Archery mit) and it’s almost like a hybrid.  I shot it a good this this evening and am going to give it some further testing.  It feels like a good compromise of both.

Dave,

I need to do the slow mo video.  I’ve got some other flaws I need to work out too. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BWallace10327]

Don't overthink it.  Finger protection is SOMETHING taking the abuse of the string instead of the fingers.  What that SOMETHING is doesn't matter.  I hate to say it, but I'll never believe someone can't shoot with one or the other if they set their mind to it.  Ever hear "I can't shoot a longbow, but I"m lights out with a recurve" or something to that effect?  I just don't buy it.  Mind over matter.