I've been told by cynics (who do use them) that ALL they do is make you feel comfortable/secure that the bow won't leap from your hand on release...due to open hand non-grip. Does that seem right?
I shoot both 60# longbow and 50# Hoyt recurve with almost total non-grip, bow resting on heel of hand.
Yep. That's what they're intended to do -- keep the bow from springing out of your hand at the shot if you use a loose/open grip.
They should not be tight so you can slip your hand into them without trouble, but tight enough to keep the bow from falling away/under your bow hand at the shot.
jk, they serve a purpose. I used them in the 70's because I shot an open hand and they allow the bow to stay with the hand...just rolling forward on the shot. It aids in keeping you from gripping and torqueing the bow...plain and simple. Some here will tell you they are the devil's spawn and you may as well shoot a crossbow, or whatever. Those of us who actually used them appreciate the convenience of a simple bow wrist sling.
To the horror of many, we also used elevated rests, quivers with score card holders, and even powder holders to keep the tab slick. All back before compounds were even invented. We were an odd lot. ;)
George, where does the bow rest if you shoot with a fully open hand?
My bows (longbow & recurve) rest at the butt of my hand and my fingers are barely wrapped around.
It's never mentioned on LW but telling a rookie to try switching from a "grip" kind of grip to a barely-wrapped grip automatically narrows their horizontal spray.
jk, when you shoot a bow with an open hand, and a sling, the bow will roll forward on the shot (normally) and hang from the sling on your hand. Some folks still keep the index finger wrapped around the front of the bow as well. As long as you don't grip the bow you'll get a clean shot, but not gripping at all pretty much assures it. The bow can't go anywhere with a properly attached wrist sling...it just rolls forward. For many folks, it just adds that confidence that if they aren't actually gripping the bow, it won't go flying from your hand.
jk, here's a short video. You'll see most shots the bow stays pretty vertical, some tilt back toward the shooter, some start to roll forward. It may lend some idea of what I lamely tried to tell you.
I did use a wrist sling on a Tamerlane in the late 60s and it helped for target shooting. Right now I'm not using anything for indoor with a Gillo or outdoor for hunting or 3-D.
You can make a finger sling with a small piece of scrap leather that works as well or better than store bought. This ones a strip of leather with 2 short slots cut in it. As for length. It should stop the bow from falling but at the same time not stop it before the arrows left the bow so as not to effect the shot.
I should wear one, every once in awhile my bow will go, better consistency I get with a loose hold but a tight one will get a flyer, no problem with a longbow.
There’s gonna be dif answers here. If you’re into punching holes in paper it’s prob fine. Could you imagine wrapping your fingers up each time a deer comes in? A wrist type sling may help but the first thing I do when I teach someone is get rid of a sling and teach a proper torque free grip. That doesn’t involve open hand nor heeling a bow. Here’s the way I see it. Everyone likes to do things a certain way yet it’s problematic. They need slings so the bow doesn’t fall out, arm guards to prevent slap, some guys need certain glasses to change eye dominance, clickers yo ensure full draw, etc etc Shooting correctly will alleviate unnecessary equipment but suit yourself.
Bowguy, I know guys who use them on hunting bows and they have no trouble at all. Slings have been used since the 1950's to good effect, and not just for "punching paper"...that seems to be an offense to you
Bowguy, I know guys who use them on hunting bows and they have no trouble at all. Slings have been used since the 1950's to good effect, and not just for "punching paper"...that seems to be an offense to you
I know guys who use slings all the time while hunting. I can see no reason they would interfere with any hunting situation, especially when most bowhunters sit in a tree stand with all the time they need to simply slip their hand in the sling when picking up the bow. Most of the good hunters I know were or are what you call 'paper punchers'. Most paper punchers are great shots no matter where they use the bow.
