Thumb Ring?

[monterey]

Does anybody here shoot with a thumb ring.  If so, can you explain how they are used and possibly how to make one.

Things are slow here, need something new and different to occupy the mind.  

[fireball31]

I am interested as well. I always thought if I could learn to use one it might make it possible to buy bows with the shelves on the wrong side.

[iohkus]

Lots of stuff on u-tube; type in thumb ring,
or Korean archery.

[Pat B]

Kay Kopppendryer(sp, jaap's wife)) of Umi Bows wrote a book on thumb rings, their use and how to make them.
  I have used one a bit. It is totally different than a standard draw and release and you have to retrain your brain to shoot where you want. The thumb ring goes over your thumb and on the inside of your thumb pad, hooks around the string and your forefinger holds it all in place. When ready to shoot you just relax your forefinger and the arrow is gone.

[riverrat 2]

You-Tube is a good one iohkus. There you can see it in action. Hurts my thumb knuckle. Plus it just feels odd to me. But those who use it make it look good. I bet if you condition yourself to it,you can get a heck of a release. Plus I am willing to bet you could shoot a very short bow because finger pinch is a non-issue.

[MercilessMing]

To test it out, you can carve out from 1/2" PVC elbows before you go for using horn or other stuff.  That PVC elbow cost $0.25 each from HomeDepot.


 

 

 

Ming

[LongStick64]

Great Post Ming, I'm going to try this when my Saluki comes in.

[2treks]

Thomas Duverney made a video years ago,it was about Korean bambo arrows. In the video, a man made thumb rings out of billiard balls. Three/ball. Very cool the way he did it.
Plus you get to learn about bamboo arrow making as a bonus.
I think 3rivers still offers the video.


CTT

[monterey]

Does the arrow have to rest on the opposite side of the bow that we use for a Med release?

[fireball31]

from the little bit of research of have done, Yes it does. Because you are twisting the string the opposite of your normal hand. This tends to swing the arrow away from the rest.

[Pat B]

Consider your fingers opening to the left on a med release. With a thumb ring your thumb opens to the right so the arrow needs to be on the right side of the bow for a thumb ring(unless you are a lefty)

[Capt]

I have been shooting exclusively with a thumb draw for the past few years now and the two most important things I can tell someone who wants to shoot with the ring are: start with a low poundage and make sure your ring fits properly.  The second point has probably caused more people to give up thumb ring shooting more than anything else.

The biggest adjustment outside the actual draw will be your sight picture.  The arrow is on your draw hand side of the bow so you can not see it unless you look through the bow.  It is truly "instinctive".  At first your arrows will shoot to the right until your mind adjusts.

Another misconception is the arms "have" to move dramatically on release.  This is not true if you look at many videos of Korean archers the movement is very minimal.  I will say the bow WILL move as your grip is very soft with the thumb draw.

If you are interested in the thumb draw I would suggest "Kay's Thumbring Book" it is a very good introduction to the thumb ring technique.  I would also suggest to do some research as you can hurt yourself if you do not have the correct ring or proper draw.  What is even better is if there is someone in your area that shoots thumb draw so they can coach you.

[monterey]

Looking like a righty needs a lefty bow.  Dang, I had one and sold it!