Shooting Glove

[TheFatboy]

Am I the only one in here who doesn't use one? I thought it was normal to shoot with bare fingers...

[TheFatboy]

Not criticising those who DO use a glove, if that was anyones first thought - not at all! I just found out that there are more glove-users than I expected.

[reddogge]

I would think most shooters use a glove or tab as opposed to bare fingers.

[WestTnMan]

I practice a few shots without just incase I ever forget my glove. Too rough on my fingers to continually shoot like that for me though. More power to ya if you can, one less thing to mess with.

[TheFatboy]

Never owned a glove, and my fingers are at their greatest. Can't imagine not being able to feel the string with skin  

[arrow flynn]

do you use an armguard? whats the drawweight on your bow you must have some thick callous do you take adeep hook on the string? love to see a video ican pull to anchor ijust dont have the cajones to release

[preflex]

i sometimes shoot without the glove, but on my one bow i put the nock off at a weird angle so it can and will cut you, ive got a nice groove in my glove, my finger is still healin from last time i shot w/o the glove it cut me good (shot at least 100 arrows that session) i like the glove cause it takes the strain off the joint from the string sitting directly on it but i dont like how you cant feel the arrow/string, but u do get used to the glove. i cant stand tabs had one slip on me when i was on a "firing line" and the arrow exploded in to like three pieces and one almost got the guy next to me.

[Blackhawk]

Shooting heavy bows without finger protection for an extended period of time could result in soft tissue damage and even permanent nerve damage.  

I suppose one could shoot all they want after that w/o protection since there's no feeling.  

Of course, there are exceptions, but i'm not willing to go through all the pain.

[mjdglobal]

Yeah I definetly like the glove.  I shoot the thin leather Damascus (no padding) and I think it has great "feel".

[TheFatboy]

If I use an armguard? Every time. After getting string slapped on a bare forearm once, you never forget the armguard again  :D

Drawweight is 70@28, but I tend to overpull it by an little inch or two. I actually don't have much that much callus. If it's a video you want, that can surely be arranged  

[Tsalagi]

Don't take this wrong, but I don't understand why you wouldn't use a glove. I mean, it's basically protective gear.

[TheFatboy]

I don't like not being able to fully feel the string. There are powerlifters who don't use gloves, even when they deadlift more than 1000lbs. When you get used to it, it doesn't hurt at all.

[freefeet]

Originally posted by TheFatboy:
When you get used to it, it doesn't hurt at all.

Like not wearing shoes.  LOL

[TheFatboy]

Pretty much. I used to wear flip-flops and shorts all winter. People were like: "What the hell? Aren't you f-f-freezing?" - just told 'em that you'll get used to it. Sure, it's cold, but nothing serious. Even my teachers were worried that I'd get sick. I didn't. I barely ever do. Like, once a year maybe. Flip-flops rule!

[Brently]

It's just mind over matter, if you don't mind, it don't matter.

[highpoint forge]

I wear both. Belt AND suspenders. Better safe than in pain and sorry......

[Encino Man]

I use the Damascus glove for feel. Never liked the tab or thicker gloves.I used to shoot bare fingered about 1/3 of the time. Once I built up some serious calluses' it caused in grown finger nail issues. Had to give up the bare finger thing.

[freefeet]

Since this thread came up a while ago i thought i'd have a go at ditching my glove.

My fingers weren't tough enough to go bareback straight away, so i started using Transpore White surgical tape on my fingers.  I'm currently using three layers and my fingers are slowly getting used to the abuse.  My intention now is to move down to 2 layers once my fingers have toughened up a bit more and then down to one layer and then to bare skin.

I certainly much prefer the tape to the glove, the release is so much cleaner.  It was a bit tough at first coming to full anchor as the further i drew the more it hurt, and also trying to keep the arrow on the shelf is a bit of a problem at the moment as my fingers are still getting used to a whole new feeling when drawing.  But overall i'm definitely convinced that i won't be going back to a glove.

Point to note, it's Transpore "White", the normal Transpore don't work very well.  Transpore White is a woven version of Micropore.  Very durable stuff!

All the best!

[zinndl]

Originally posted by Blackhawk:
Shooting heavy bows without finger protection for an extended period of time could result in soft tissue damage and even permanent nerve damage.  

I suppose one could shoot all they want after that w/o protection since there's no feeling.  

Of course, there are exceptions, but i'm not willing to go through all the pain.

Just curious as to what poundage would be considered heavy? I shoot 60# longbow, I use a glove and still have a pretty good callous on my ring finger. I agree with Blackhawk, I would think with no glove your fingers would eventually become damaged.

[don kauss]

I tried to use a thick glove at first, only because a friend suggested the brand, but I couldn't stand not "feeling" the string. I forgot my glove once, and had to shoot w/o...I ended up liking it a lot. It got me thinking about a friend of mine who is a fantastic Hockey player, he tried out for the San Jose Sharks a few years back...he told me that a lot of those guys won't wear socks in their skates because they can't "feel" as well...