Are there any Howard Hill owners that could possibly let me try a grip?

I live in Alice but work in Corpus Christi, 2 hours (120 miles) south of San Antonio.

I'd be willing to make a drive out of it. Heck if it's nice outside, I'll probably head out on my Harley.

Thanks for the response.

A.R.

I apologize for the informality, I was posting when I probably should have been sleeping.

I also meant to be looking to feel the differences in grip types: straight, dished and locator. I don't necessarily need to shoot your bow.

I hope someone is available and willing.

Thank a lot!

I don't live inTexas, but I can tell you there's very little difference in the HH grips as done by HH. I've had and have dished and straight, and after a few arrows, I can't tell which I'm shooting unless I look at the grip. The indexed grip is pretty much a straight grip with a little slant. I doubt you'll notice the difference among them.

Of course, there is a big difference between them and a pistol grip recurve or hybrid. Good luck in your search.

I prefer the locator grip on mine. Very subtle and comfortable.

If a grip is too large for your hand or too sharp for your hand it will get your attention. If an oversized grip is too fat at the contact points in your hand, that may not show up until shooting the bow. Not all locator grips fit all hands the same. I had one and had the need to take a hard spot off it, because of where it made contact, it left a bruise. The thing about a Hill style straight grip, if it is too sharp a slight flattening and corner rounding with a rasp and sand paper done a step at a time before resealing is quite easy to do. I am down to my four keepers and do not have any standard Hills left or I could have sent you one. I am sure you understand you may need to adjust your bow hand if you are shooting a deep grip recurve. I know a number of shooters that shoot and grip Hills very similar to any other bow, it can be done, but many of those also go back to recurves. I know lots of people that have allowed their form to match the bow style, those tend to stick with the longbows and get more of them.

I have a straight grip, but I'm not anywhere close to you for you to try. I prefer it over a dished grip, but probably not a big deal for me.

The straight grip is like wrapping your hand around a standard deck of playing cards. I prefer it, but I realize it isn’t for everyone. It wasn’t for me either, until I shot one with that grip. Then it made perfect sense.

The straight grip is like wrapping your hand around a standard deck of playing cards. I prefer it, but I realize it isn’t for everyone. It wasn’t for me either, until I shot one with that grip. Then it made perfect sense.

I appreciate the input.

It appears that a straight grip might be better to start with, and then adjust the grip dimensions as needed.

A.R.

Straight/Dished/Locator... then you have all the subcategories under those....rounded/flat spot/a more sharper wedge.

Then the way you put your hand in the grip.. grab it like a suit case like Howard Hill, rotate it more like a recurve shooter, or somewhere in between.

We maybe are making too much out of it. This bow has a slight dish one inch below the arrow rest. Just hold how lays in your hand naturally and shoot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJazvAm1PAM

'it' 'it' I skip words when I type fast. At the time my wife shot this, I had been looking all over the yard for those dumb reading glasses. One look at the video and I found them.

a couple different ones.

I hope you can find a few to try because it can make a difference. My first two Hill's had a straight grip and I learned to shoot it but struggled. My buddy had a Tembo with a locator grip that was noticeably thinner. Took the measurements, sent my Tembo back to Craig to copy it and I have been shooting it great since the change. I admit to being a longtime med/high wrist recurve shooter so it helped to be a bit similar, they aint the same by a long shot but a grip change made a noticeable difference for me so would encourage you to try em all before you settle.

Yohon, that's good to know. I'm glad you finally got it right.

I emailed Craig. He was very helpful, but just didn't have any extra risers in stock for me to try; shaped in the different contours. I couldn't have been the first person to ask...

Hopefully he can help me out in the near future.

Thanks again!

A.R.

Alex, as long as the grip size is not too sharp or too large, I think if you lay any of the grip styles in your hand and get it settled in, they will all work for you. There are some that are so grooved in to shooting with a straight wrist on a deep recurve grip that they may fight with a straighter grip at fist. The Hill grip has had a number of explanations. 'Like a suitcase', 'like a bird, you don't want to hurt it but you don't want it to get away either' of as John Schulz stated, 'Get a hold of of it and it will work fine for you.' 2&1/8" deep seems to work for most people. The difference in application of the the three Hill grips is not so much that it will change the applicated use. Some say that they shoot Hills the same as recurves, but the most out spoken shoot recurves or target style at targets with longbows. Many find that they settle into them over time and a bit of draw length reduction naturally occurs, they find that is a good thing overall. I would bet if you follow the direction on the John Schulz video, you will find a moderate dished grip to work the easiest. Understand that following that program, may change your draw length if you are now shooting with a straight and stretched form with a recurve or a compound. If you are a new comer to traditional archery, you may find that grooving in a shooting style to be easier that for someone that has been doing things a particular way for a long time. A 40 longbow will kill any deer in Texas. A 50 pound longbow is enough even for those mouflan sheep that are running around in west Texas. My buddy is heading out there with a 49@27" longbow next week for one.

Thank you, Dean.

I will definitely consider your advice on draw weight / grip pressure.

I would be considered a smaller framed archer,34yo. 5'5" with a draw length between 25-26", medium build. The "Bobcat" model interest me, as I would not have a problem with a 40# draw weight.

I have been out of trad. archery for seven years now. Would you suggest getting the "Bobcat" at 35# then maybe a "Tembo" at 40#, later on?

Also, I wonder if Craig would accept a hand tracing to fit the riser to my hand.

A.R.

Great thing about Craig is that he's been at this so long I doubt there's much he hasnt seen or done for customers so yeah I bet a tracing of your hand would be a great idea. I bet he could also recommend a bow or two also that would fit your draw length/build ;)

I've shot many of them, but find the locator best for my hand. It just feels more comfortable from the get go and enforces that web/thumb area as the pivot/pressure point. Would be best to try some but get a broom handle and put a leather wrap on it and see what a straight grip feels like.

I'm sure I need to do a little more homework on my end.

I'm definitely excited.

Thank you gentlemen, A.R.

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