Shoulder pain-my fix...for now

[Doug Treat]

Shoulder pain- the bane of the older traditional archer. Mine started probably 10 years ago when I shot a 63# bow. I have since dropped all the way down to 40# and have killed elk with it so...very happy at that weight. Anyway, even at 40# my shoulder sometimes whines. I have found through trial and error (mostly error) that if I turn my draw hand sideways, that somehow takes pressure (more like a pinch) off my bow hand shoulder. I don’t know why. There must be some physiological reason.
I’ve been trying a myriad of different ways to release the string including a mechanical release (didn’t really like it), a “9” type release, a hook type release, etc. I think I found the one, at least until I find something better. Here’s a picture of what I’ve tried so far:

[Doug Treat]

The one on the far right is my favorite so far. It’s a cut off eye bolt that hooks on the string under your arrow:

[Doug Treat]

When your index finger relaxes, the eye part of the bolt swings on your middle finger and allows the string to release. Here it is at full draw:

[Doug Treat]

Just starting to relax index finger:

[Doug Treat]

String breaking free:

[Doug Treat]

This pic shows how the eye rotates out of the way:

[Doug Treat]

And... follow-through:

[Doug Treat]

As you can see, I use one stall on a glove to protect my index finger with this method. I hope this helps someone else out too as I have been able to shoot my recurve with less shoulder pain with this compared to shooting fingers.  BTW, I got the idea of using an eye bolt as a non-mechanical release from a video I saw on YouTube.  It's on the backyard bowyer's channel if you want to check it out.  He has several different non-mechanical release aids on there but, for me, this one seems to work the best.  It's gives a quiet, clean release because it swings out of the way where others that I have tried kind of pluck the string making it noisy.  Let me know if you have any questions about this.  I haven't been using it for too long, but so far, the only down side I can think of is that it would be super-cold in cold weather.  I guess I would just keep it in a pocket and slip my finger into it right before the shot if I was hunting in the cold.

[MCNSC]

Thanks for posting this , I may give one of those eye bolt releases a try. Having pains has a way of taking the fun out of shooting.

[Doug Treat]

You’re welcome, Mike. Hope it helps.

[buckster]

Well it probably doesn't help them shoulders, when you're the only guy in camp to kill an elk, and then insist on packing it down the mountain by your lonesome! Some pretty impressive "tinkering" skills there buddy! McGyver ain't got nothing on you!

[Longbowwally]

That eye bolt release is creative thinking Doug! Very cool....

[Doug Treat]

Well it probably doesn't help them shoulders, when you're the only guy in camp to kill an elk, and then insist on packing it down the mountain by your lonesome! Some pretty impressive "tinkering" skills there buddy! McGyver ain't got nothing on you!

Haha. You’re right, Barry. I knew though, that if I let you help me pack out my elk, you woulda carried the whole thing in 1 load, you beast! I miss Colorado elk camp. You guys were an awesome group!

[Doug Treat]

Could there be a danger in developing a bone bruise with small contact area with the eye bolt on the middle finger?

Mine has gotten a bit tender after hundreds of shots. I imagine that the finger will toughen up after a few hundred more. Better to use it shooting my bow than other uses for that finger.

[Wheels2]

Take it from me, don't wait.  Get the shoulder checked by a good ortho doctor.  I left mine go way too long due to my wife's issues and I ended up with a pronounced bone spur, detached ligament and small tear in rotator cuff.  Looking at 4 months of recovery, maybe more.