Contemplating a permanent switch

[Mudd]

I'm sorry Rob!

I took what you wrote and changed it's meaning in my head as I read it. I apologize!

My whole point was that all I did was to move one finger, everything else is exactly the same as before.

Oooppss! On the 1st three bows I tried it, I did add a second nock over the arrow but when I went back in the afternoon/evening to see how it felt with the other 4 bows, I decided to leave off putting on the extra nock.

God bless,Mudd

[Javi]

Mudd, are you gun barreling or anchoring low and just shooting 3 under.. makes a big difference if trying to shoot longer distances or canting the bow.. Sounds like you may be anchoring low..

[Mudd]

Mike I didn't do anything any differently than before.

I have never used my arrow as a sight, in fact if I see my arrow, I'd be better off to let down and start over because I ain't gonna hit what I want to hit.

I am not going to pretend I know how it works, all I know it that it does.

My anchor finger(middle) is still going to the the back side of my eye tooth as always.

God bless,Mudd

[Javi]

That's what I thought based on your comments.. Although shooting that way is pretty common it isn't the usual picture of 3-under that pops into the mind when we hear the term, and I think that were folks might get confused..  I’ve taught a very few to shoot that way when there was some trouble with their split finger release (pinching the nock and raising the arrow off the shelf) and it is very effective.  The downside of the style being a little more nock travel on release generally requiring a slightly higher nock height (when shooting off the shelf) to avoid shelf contact or slightly raising the contact point under the rest pad.  Another is increased risk of dragging the ring finger primarily because of the string angle.  
 
The upside is that when anchoring as you do (middle finger in mouth) it can bring the arrow more parallel to the shoulders which is a good thing; creating better alignment and increasing accuracy… (Another solution for this is to use the index finger rather than the middle finger)

[Maxx Black]

Mudd! I like to hear a positive result when something new is tried even though it isn't much of a change . Good Job! Maxx

[Rob DiStefano]

the main shift 'tween split and three is which string finger gets the lion's share of pressure.  for split, it's the middle finger and with three it's the pointer finger.  in both cases it's important to maintain most of the string holding pressure on the finger that's under the arrow nock.  and in all cases, the pinky just about goes along for the ride ... which brings up the subject of the 2 finger flemish string grip.   :cool:  

addendum - it should be noted that the middle finger lies perfectly in line with the forearm bone, whilst the pointer finger is slightly offset.  so, with 3under, you need to slightly torque the hand for optimum form alignment.  more than a few world class olympic fita recurve archers shoot split finger, but remove the pointer finger off the string, which is in effect a flemish string grip!

[bentpole]

Been shooting 3 under always Roy. Great shooting! Looks like you have a fine stable of bows as well!

[RC]

It will continue to work for you if you don`t start "thinking" about it.It is for me a much cleaner release but I could never get the "feel" for it.Sometimes to much info is bad. If it feels good...do it.RC

[Javi]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
the main shift 'tween split and three is which string finger gets the lion's share of pressure.  for split, it's the middle finger and with three it's the pointer finger.  in both cases it's important to maintain most of the string holding pressure on the finger that's under the arrow nock.  and in all cases, the pinky just about goes along for the ride ... which brings up the subject of the 2 finger flemish string grip.    :cool:  

addendum - it should be noted that the middle finger lies perfectly in line with the forearm bone, whilst the pointer finger is slightly offset.  so, with 3under, you need to slightly torque the hand for optimum form alignment.  more than a few world class olympic fita recurve archers shoot split finger, but remove the pointer finger off the string, which is in effect a flemish string grip!

And some shoot split and drop the ring finger... which is another really smooth release..

[Shakes.602]

Was taught to shoot Split "Waaaaaaaaay Back When", but after Picking Archery back Up after Many Moons, Started shooting My "Wheelie" 3 under, and it just came Natural to do the same on the Recurve and My Precious LongBows!! Tried to go to Split on My LongBow once, Oh My...... I went Right Back to 3-Under!!                  

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Javi:
 

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
the main shift 'tween split and three is which string finger gets the lion's share of pressure.  for split, it's the middle finger and with three it's the pointer finger.  in both cases it's important to maintain most of the string holding pressure on the finger that's under the arrow nock.  and in all cases, the pinky just about goes along for the ride ... which brings up the subject of the 2 finger flemish string grip.     :cool:    

addendum - it should be noted that the middle finger lies perfectly in line with the forearm bone, whilst the pointer finger is slightly offset.  so, with 3under, you need to slightly torque the hand for optimum form alignment.  more than a few world class olympic fita recurve archers shoot split finger, but remove the pointer finger off the string, which is in effect a flemish string grip!

And some shoot split and drop the ring finger... which is another really smooth release.. [/b]

that's a flemish two finger release.

[Bernie B.]

Great looking groups!  You must be a fast learner.  I switched to three fingers under in 1969, and have never looked back.  I don't "gun-barrel", but only look at what I want to hit.  It's a great way to shoot a traditional bow!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[Javi]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
 

Originally posted by Javi:
 

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
the main shift 'tween split and three is which string finger gets the lion's share of pressure.  for split, it's the middle finger and with three it's the pointer finger.  in both cases it's important to maintain most of the string holding pressure on the finger that's under the arrow nock.  and in all cases, the pinky just about goes along for the ride ... which brings up the subject of the 2 finger flemish string grip.      :cool:    

addendum - it should be noted that the middle finger lies perfectly in line with the forearm bone, whilst the pointer finger is slightly offset.  so, with 3under, you need to slightly torque the hand for optimum form alignment.  more than a few world class olympic fita recurve archers shoot split finger, but remove the pointer finger off the string, which is in effect a flemish string grip!

And some shoot split and drop the ring finger... which is another really smooth release.. [/b]

that's a flemish two finger release. [/b]

Funny you should say that.. I started dropping the ring finger about 45 years ago and at that time I had never heard the term Flemish release... nor had I ever seen anyone doing it, it just felt good and worked well for me.. now I see a few folks shooting two finger dropping either the ring finger or the index finger.. and even a few dropping both the ring and index finger shooting with only the middle finger.. which is about the cleanest release I've ever seen..

[Javi]

Good article on different release (loose) from 1894...   http://www.archerylibrary.com/books/badminton/   read chapter V...

I was wonder where all the names for various releases came from.. kind of interesting

Another from 1922

 http://www.archerylibrary.com/books/morse/additional-notes-on-arrow-release/docs/notes01.html

[Rob DiStefano]

from my view point, the main thing about 3fu is no finger gripping of the arrow nock.  yer at the mercy of the fit of the nock to the string's center serving and it better be right, not too tight and not too loose.  there are consequences for either.  i spent a fair amount of time (actually, about a decade), shooting a tournament freestyle recurve with a thumb rope, and that forced me to be concerned about the arrow nock fit, even when shooting 200+ arrows at a tourney.

[Thumper Dunker]

Good shooting Mudd. I switched a few years back Now I can't hit any thing using split. Just feels good.

[Gen273]

Good shooting Mudd!!!!

[huntmaster80]

Mudd, it seems to be working for you!!! that is some great shooting

[huntin_sparty]

I am going back to 3 under too. I shot it well but went to split cause I didnt feel trad enough.  Well I am over that and going back to what I shoot best 3 under!

[Rob DiStefano]

3 under, 2 under, 1 under, thumb release, thumb and forefinger, split finger - ALL are as trad as yer ever gonna get.