Bow Grip

[Bow Bum]

Is it possible to not be able to shoot a bow consistent due to the grip? I have a Kodiak Hunter that at times I can shoot great, but when I'm shooting poor, or not quite as well as I want I feel like I'm always trying to get my bow hand a certain way and cannot find the sweet spot. Especially when I feel I've held up my end of the deal with good anchor, release and follow through. I've shot various other bows and have a few models in mind that really feel natural in the bow hand and I've shot some at the expo with great groups.

Proabably the most reasonable way to remedy this is to buy a different bow. (How convenient says the wife) However I want to be sure I'm not fooling myself.

Lets hear some TG wisdom.

Thanks,

Brian

[Winterhawk1960]

Originally posted by Bow Bum:
Is it possible to not be able to shoot a bow consistent due to the grip?

It most certainly is.......and that is the sole reason that a bow either stays on my rack or leaves. It isn't just you, we are all different and prefer a certain "feel" especially in the grip. I have owned bows that one time I could shoot very well and the next time I'm all over the place with. I guess if I really worked to find the exact way that each bow wants to be held that I could "learn" to shoot them all.

That being said, there are entirely to many bowyers out there today that use a grip on their bows that I do prefer........so I pass those bows along to someone that will use them.

Winterhawk1960

[Gen273]

I agree with Winterhawk 1960  

[Friend]

For me, the grip is the most important feature of the bow. That is where the relationship begins or is disolved.

[droz il]

Yes. it definitely can.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Bow Bum I have had the same issues, I really feel you shouldnt have to work at getting proper hand placement on your grip (It should happen naturally). When you find the right grip it should feel right and put your hand in comfortable position and allow you to put arrows where your looking. The grip is the only real connection you have to the bow and imho should be comfortable and repeatable without effort. My favorite grip to date is hands down the asbell grip on my Black Widow psa, puts my hand in exact position everytime and truly does put arrows where i am looking.
Just one guy's opinion, maybe this can help?

[legends1]

It must fit and be balanced to the shooters hand to shot proper. Design, bow weight, bow length, wood type ,color,ect,ect.But its all about proper grip fit.

[hvyhitter]

Everyones hands are different so some bows shoot right where you point and others you have to "muscle" to hit anything. Predators fit my hand great, Widows dont. I can shoot both very well but I have to really watch how I grip the widow to make it work.

[BWD]

To me grip is everything...almost.

[Whip]

Yep, grip is everything, and everyone's is different.  That is why asking everyone here their opinion on which is the "best" bow is so meaningless.

That being said, another big factor in my mind is the length of the bow.  I find that a longer bow is more tolerant to inconsistent hand placement, release, and various form errors.  The Kodiak Hunter is not a long recurve, so that may exacerbate your problems to some extent.

[Lee Robinson .]

Grip is very important. A bow is a fulcrum and lever system that needs to be balanced when we shoot it. The arrow needs to receive a balanced and stable vector forces during the release. Without a stable fulcrum/limb relationship, it is unreasonable to expect to obtain stable flight when shooting a bow.

Since the grip functions not just a nice place to grip the bow, but it is actually the fulcrum (pivot point) of the bow...and is therefore the bow's foundation. While it should be comfortable and natural, more importantly it should be shaped to promote proper alignment (tortional stability) and pivot of limbs (longitudinal stability). If the grip/limb relationship is not tillered to properly balance at the pressure point, then it is very difficult to get proper arrow flight.

[Bow Bum]

Thanks for the reply's.

I had a heavier bow that I could shoot more consstently, but it was just too much weight. I've kept the K-hunter just cuz its a Bear, but may be letting go of it soon.

I take a liking to the heavy riser, full palm swell recurves. I shot a timberhawk at the expo, and thought it was REAL nice. Pittsley Predator was a close second on how it fit me, and seemed a bit faster.

B