High wrist or low, is one more forgiving then the other? I’m not talking about preference, I’m wondering if there is any forearm bone alignment that benefits from one or the other.

Are you thinking about how the riser is shaped, or how you hold it?

Any bow can be shot with high-wristed technique, but that takes some strength. I honestly don’t know the answer to your question, but I believe I’m a bit more consistent with a high wrist because there’s less contact with the riser.

No, not as it pertains to forearm alignment.

I prefer the high wrist. Puts everything in alingnment, just as it should be. I shoot better with high wrist and feels more comfortable.

I shoot better with low wrist. Really is pretty much a personal preference thing. However, I have heard and read that the wrist tends to tire more quickly with a high wrist grip. The argument goes, it's not as natural a grip as a low wrist/straight grip and takes a bit more energy/ muscle to hold it in place, which becomes more of a problem as bow weight increases. I wouldn't know because i don't shoot high wrist bows.

I was think about how the riser is shaped. I was shooting my recurve (3 piece) and the grip is higher then I’m used to (I just got it in a trade) but I shot more accurate then with my lower grip three piece longbow. The higher grip seemed to make my hand rotate a little more making my knuckles more on a 45* angle.

I actually like a lower grip better but don’t want to mess up if I get someone to lower it, that’s why I asked the question.

I would think high wrist would promote better form and alignment. I am personally more consistent with my high wrist bows but prefer a lower wrist. When you get the low wrist right it feels better IMHO.

A plus I noticed, about a half inch to three quarter inch increase in draw with my high wrist bows. 68 Kodiak hunter brought that to light.

Low wrist for me.

I’ve found I’m more consistent with a lower wrist grip than a high. Just more comfortable for me to shoot and be able to repeat it.

Generally speaking and personal issues withstanding,

higher wrist grips keep everything lined up and are much more natural. If you are "instinctive" it is most certainly more natural as your arm and hand are in a straight line. When utilizing your hand eye coordination, that kink put in it by the low grip kinda distorts perception.

Again, this isn't to say that Joe doesn't shoot a low wrist better for one reason or another.

If you are in need of forgiveness, well I can't help you there.

bigJim

If you use your thumb or index finger to point at the target as part of your natural aiming sequence then a high wrist is easier. And most of my high wrist grips are more repeatable. On my self bows or low wrist bows. I still try to point my thumb and wrap my index around the back of the bow and tuck the 3 others fingers along side the grip, to kick my hand heel out away from the bow at an angle. I prefer a big fat palm swell and high wrist grip. But strangely I actually shoot better with a low wrist grip.

If in fact a bow was best designed and tillered to shoot with a straight wrist and high pressure point, and then you lowered the grip profile and heeled it instead, doing so will alter the bow's balance and potentially how it affects arrow flight and vibration. It might be enough to make a noticeable difference, or it might not.

However, if it wasn't actually best designed and tillered for a high grip to begin with, who knows, you may improve its shooting characteristics by making that change.

The most forgiving way to shoot any bow is the way it was designed and balanced/tillered to be used, regardless of whether it was made that way on purpose.

Check out what Jake has to say....

I’m not sure if the link embedded, but this is the URL: https://youtu.be/bUoThuL7nLU

I like high wrist. I think it gives better alignment.

Jeff, I had no idea how important the pivot or balance point in relation to where the hand is placed and tiller and timing. It’s everything for noise, vibration, accuracy and a pleasurable shooting experience. Until I made some self bows and am learning more on each one. Sure you can make do with any bow. But when it’s built to your hand placement. The bow should be silent and vibration free.

Yep. And the first arrow off a new bow will fly so lovely and dead straight away, even though I expect it now, it gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.

Would be interesting to see what bows are being shot by those who like a low and a high wrist hold on their bows. To me it depends on the type of bow and more particularly how it's grip is made. I've found most all ASL bows in particular the HH needs a low wrist palming the grip which allows for bending the elbow easier for less hand shock.

The way the grip is made is what makes the determination of whether you can or cannot comfortably shoot a bow with a high or low wrist.

It is all but impossible to shoot an actual Hill or broomhandle grip with a high wrist.

Yes, I agree Frank.

But high wrist and high pressure/pivot are two different things. Plenty shoot low wrist, with the pivot/fulcrum above handle center.

I prefer a high wrist.Better alignment and no chance of torquing the bow.

“ A plus I noticed, about a half inch to three quarter inch increase in draw with my high wrist bows.”

There’s that, too.... I may even get a bit more than that out of it

And the fact that when I point my finger at something, I naturally fall into “high wrist” alignment.

But it certainly makes sense that a bow designed to be shot very low wrist would provide a different feel if you forced the issue to shoot it “high”

I’m sure that this is part of the reason that so many people feel that the grip on a bow is THE most important variable from one design to the next...

Personally, I learned to shoot with a Howatt Hunter, and have never mer a now that I felt that I couldn’t shoot.... but I don’t recall as I’ve ever shot one in a Hill or broomstick or self-bow style, so I suppose I might have to make an adjustment.

But some people just do not appear to be willing to make any adjustments on their own end, and want the bow to shoot well exactly the way that they want to shoot it.... I’d like to think that some day I’ll be a complete enough Archer to be able to make whatever technique adjustments might be needed to switch from one style of bow to another.... but I guess I’ll have to save up a few more nickels...

Opinions vary on this and that, but when you actually shoot those styles for awhile (not trying for ten shots) then you will discover which works best for you. Everything needs to work for you...not others.

Your wrist won't get tired if the bow has a high wrist grip to begin with, and a high wrist creates the pressure of the bow in the hand at the best place for accuracy. As for how bows are tillered, that also varies, but at one time it wasn't as much a concern that it seems to be now and archers did very well. Tiller is very much an overrated factor in bow design.

High wrist is just a different style that some like and some don't, but if you don't, it's not the fault of the design. I happen to love them in a recurve bow. And now of course, there is the Leatherwall rule that comes into effect: "If it isn't high wrist it must be low wrist". But, there are different levels of grip design that can work best for an individual, but it's usually not something taken into consideration. Most folks are into looks nowadays than function.

Most people think of grip and torquing the grip right or left. The problem with a high grip, in addition to the l and r you can torque up and down. The bow can teeter tooter in your hand more so than a low grip.

If you think about a low grip there's a flat platform for the bow to rest in. Try to buy a compound with a high grip. They don't make them.

As Orion states that it takes move energy to shoot high wrist. Rick McKinney talks about that in his book.

Jake Kaminski has a video mention above. In it he mentions that high grips are harder on your shoulder. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Bowmania

I don't believe high, low,medium, this bow that bow is more forgiving, it's all with the shooter. When the bow fits the shooter it just shoots better for you. But it sure is nice trying all those bows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUoThuL7nLU

Around 5:15 he talks about inability to keep your shoulder down with a high wrist.

I think before that he talks about impingement.

Bowmania

Great video Todd. As Jake notes, it is very difficult to keep my bow shoulder down with a high wrist. Ill take longevity and lower risk of shoulder issues over whatever forgiveness a high wrist affords.

I would caution folks not to dismiss any grip on what you read here or on youtube. Fact is, they have worked very well for thousands of archers over the years. Just because a few don't like them, or condemn them for one reason or another, doesn't mean you shouldn't try one for yourself. I've heard many experts that don't like this or that. Archery is a dynamic sport and one size doesn't fit all. Again, in case you missed it, there are degrees of high and low wrist regardless of what seems to be spoken of here. Don't believe everything you read, and only about half of what you see. Besides, it can be a revelation to actually try something for yourself and find you either like it or you don't....no matter what Jake says or anyone else.

I'll continue to put more stock into what individuals like Jake have to say on the subject of biomechanics . He certainly knows what he's talking about and has the downrange results to back him up.

Jake provides some good information at times, but does he actually have any credentials that make his statements on biomechanics any more relevant than anyone else's?

I would think high wrist far as shape of riser And your heel of thumb resting on that high wrist riser like olypic recurves.

Like this

So far only Orion has hit on it, but a high(er) wrist gets harder to impossible the higher up in weight you go. Olympic archers use high wrist ... but aren't pulling 60# bows. Have also never seen a high wrist ELB war bow, LOL!

Simple biomechanics, and heed the caution Jake K. offers on the shoulder positioning.

Yep

Low for me.

Craig--- great post!

I like high wrist even tho I only own 1. Almost every bowyer tillers for high wrist without thinking about it because whatever they use to hold the bow while its being drawn goes on the deepest part of the grip. And that is where the bow weight goes on your hand with a true high grip. The only reason I don't use a high grip any longer is easton decided not to make aluminum for finger shooters so a high wrist grip makes my draw too long for 32" arrows. Another case of a company not selling what you want because you'll buy what they have.

For me, i let the bow's handle establish my grip, whatever it is. Also, if i try a high grip on a low handle, then consistency becomes a problem.

To have automatic follow through, you have to bend the arm for low, and extend the hand in high. So I like low better because it is a big muscle and movement extension.

I also think that if you shoot all forms of bow you are going to be better off shooting low as it works in bows that are straight through the riser, and yet has adherents in both FITA and among top compound shooters. The only downside to low is that almost all the recurves made during the classical period had ski pole handles that with a low pressure point do not provide a torque free grip, which is where the whole thing about a high grip that only lands between the thumb and forefinger join comes from. Low and high grips can be zero torque, they just built several generations worth of recurves so that they felt good grabbing them off the rack in the store. That was true of compounds in the same period but mostly they had replaceable grips, or they had ugly grips one did not worry about taking a rasp to.

"So far only Orion has hit on it, but a high(er) wrist gets harder to impossible the higher up in weight you go. Olympic archers use high wrist ... but aren't pulling 60# bows. Have also never seen a high wrist ELB war bow, LOL!"

Back when I started adult archery in the late 70s, it was really common to see high wrist bows in both compound and recurve. And back then nobody admitted to shooting much under 65 pounds except Jack Howard (unofficial survey, obviously). I thought high wrist was the ticket because not only were the grips pretty common but most people shot with the hand high even if the grip was low, that whole period the grips were so bad, you just contacted in the throat of the grip which was not only high grip, but no support form the grip.

Someone mentioned that high wrist was more natural for instinctive, though there are plenty of longbow shooters who might disagree.

I would argue that high or low is not an archery fundamental, you can shoot successfully either way. If Kaminsky is right about shoulder position, or if his coach is right, that might tip it into fundamental territory. But you have lots of high wrist FITA shooters like Valeeva who have long careers at the highest level and have shot with success using a high grip.

Appreciate the discussion on grip style and the impact on bow shoulder alignment.

Yep

Whatever grip style you choose it is important to remember that the bow hand and wrist should be relaxed throughout the shot.This prevents inconsistent influece on the bow. For me a high wrist grip tends to make me want to straigten or extend my wrist, which makes me want to squeeze the bow.

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