Fingers

[Jock Whisky]

Got two questions on the effect of finger placement on trajectory, if any. (For the record I shoot split fingered.) I've got two ways to go.

One is a deep hook with all three fingers on the string. Most of the weight is taken up by the index and middle finger but the ring finger does come into play. Page 40 of Shooting the Stickbow shows this.

The other method has most of the weight taken up by the index finger, less with the middle finger and hardly any with the ring finger.

Would one of these method cause arrows to impact higher than the other?

Will one method result in better accuracy than the other?

[reddogge]

I think you will be more consistent with method one. That's what I've been shooting for 66 years. And yes, the pressure on the ring finger will be reduced. It's one of those things I don't think about when shooting. Whatever method you choose, make sure it is automatic. You don't want to be thinking about this when you shoot.

[PrimitivePete]

I think more important than finger pressure is to ensure there isn't any twist to the string by the string hand which could result in arrow flight. I believe the right hook and finger pressure is largely determined by the anchor and the amount of force used to draw the bow by the arm or back.

[McDave]

I don't think it hurts to experiment around with finger positions until you find what works best for you.  I think Pete's comment about the hook and finger pressure being largely determined by the weight of the bow has merit.  My experience has been that I get a better release from lighter weight bows by moving the string out on my fingers a little.

Recently, I've been experimenting with Kisik Lee's method of having the string in the joint of the middle finger and on the pads of the ring and index fingers.  If you stretch your fingers out and look at them, the middle finger sticks out further than the ring finger and index finger, at least for me it does, and it makes logical sense that you would hold the string that way if you want an equal bend in each of the three fingers.  However, when I tried his method I found out too late that I was stressing the tendon in my middle finger, and I really thought for about a week that I had seriously injured myself.

I don't blame Kisik Lee for his suggestion, although I’ve gone back to my old method where the string is in the joint of each of the three fingers, with pressure more or less as you describe in your first option.  I blame myself for not paying attention that I was over stressing my middle finger until it got out of whack.

Whatever method you choose, the most important thing is to shoot with a relaxed hand.  I already knew that but I must have forgotten.