Originally posted by Mudd:
Learner I started keeping that little finger straight because of arthritis in the finger.
Old Doc Robinson always told me if something causes you to hurt... don't do it. I have headed his advise in most cases.
It took me a lot of years to stop what I was doing that was causing me the pain but I can say now that I am free from the "Chew" and all other forms of nicotine delivery systems.
God bless,Mudd
Thank you, Mudd....and here I thought that it was done as a special technique to improve your release!
And it's great to hear about getting rid of the bad stuff.
I have been trying to get the cleanest release, as I learn to shoot Hill style. I've been experimenting with anchor point, thumb position, etc. My eyeglasses really complicate matters, hence my quest. That and my own physical build.
I was having an issue with a persistent nock low lately. Not a lot, but just a few degrees. I found that keeping my thumb parallel to my index finger, with the tip on the back of the string as I draw, helps somewhat.
It seems that with my facial structure, when I keep my draw thumb angled down over my palm in the "standard" position, the second joint (at the web) juts out enough to push my hand away from my face slightly. (The second joint is what many confuse as the "base" joint of the thumb, but the actual base joint is down near the wrist).
So keeping the the thumb parallel with the index finger keeps that joint flatter, which allows me to keep my draw hand closer to my face, and possibly more in line with my eye, as well as giving me a few more degrees of freedom to cant my bow.
So when I saw your photo, it made me think that it may also be good to keep the pinkie facing forward, which may help my ring finger, by allowing for a cleaner release. Just a thought I had.
Best wishes,
Frank