I keep trying low thumb position and can't seem to get my anchor comfortably. I tried high and it seems more natural and gets the arrow under my eye better. Thoughts on both ways please. All the searches are pretty old and the photos are deleted. Could be I originally learned how to shoot high thumb back in the sixties. Starting over.

Not sure if this helps, but I found if I point my thumb at the target, it relaxes my bow hand.

BOWNUT, you need to be comfortable in your form. If you shoot better with the hitchhiker thumb, then that should be your answer. I think ol' Fred Bear shot that way. Myself, I need it tucked in under my cheekbone. We say it over and over and over again. You need to do what works for you and not how it works for someone else.

You have two thumbs. Both should be pointed at the target. Fred's thumb up was just a bad habit that puts tension in you wrist. "BUT it feels comfortable". Did you ever quit smoking? That feels uncomfortable.

You may shoot better with a bad habit, but over time good habits win out.

Bowmania

Sorry John, didn't read your post closely enough. Thought you were talking about your bow hand.

I basically form a 'Boy Scout salute' with my draw hand. The second thumb knuckle against my jaw for a solid anchor, first knuckle of the index finger to corner of mouth for reference.

Howard Hill (he's still the king) advised placing the thumb on top of the pinky nail. I have taught many pupils that way. Once you get the hand of it you don't have to touch the pinky but should be close to it.

The reason is to get the thumb low enough to go below the curve of the jaw so you can get your hand close to your face. - lbg

The problem with the thumb on the pinky nail is that in many people it doesn't allow the back of the hand to relax.

Look at your draw hand, and try your thumb in different places and different psoitions.

In the end, you want the hand to be relaxed, and that back of the hand nautaurally straight. It it isn't, you have tension in the hand, which causes tension in the fingers, which makes it difficult to execute a good release.

Have you tried your thumb under your jawbone??? Mine fits there quite nicely. It also gets my hand very close to my face.

"Howard Hill (he's still the king) advised placing the thumb on top of the pinky nail."

Longbowguy, that's the 'Boy Scout Salute' I mentioned in the post above yours. On anchor, my thump pad slips away from the pinky nail, as the knuckle seats against the jaw. It's still a useful starting point for me.

I imagine that if you shot string-touching-nose then thumb anchor/location would be less important. I find the 'thumb anchor, index finger reference' gives me consistency.

(And I owe a shout out to Viper's book for the emphasis on the solid anchor. Domo, Sensei.)

Guys I’m gonna say something that I hope no one is offended by. Good, proper form makes things easier. Easier to repeat and that makes grouping/accuracy easier to obtain. Now even bad form if repeated consistently would result in the same. Way back when we started, there were very few archery instructors to help us. We all had Uncle Joe, dad, some gym teacher, a friend, etc show us. They didn’t understand any nuances or problems that could arise and they certainly didn’t know how to avoid them. As we age n such our muscles, bones, etc can be damaged and we may need to adapt or change slightly due to the issue. This doesn’t mean anyone/everyone should make life more challenging. It also doesn’t mean if someone is so set they need to change. No one is forcing you. A fellow that teaches w me is the state champ compound shooter. His grip is actually not right. He’s was taught incorrectly. He doesn’t teach that though. He shows proper grip. If we are talking about a string hand we tell students to either touch the thumb and pinky together more or less to make a pocket or do a Boy Scout salute. Either method allows your hand to “pocket” allowing this to fit under jaw. We show an anchor of your pointer finger to the mouth corner. Not the eye as earlier stated. I wonder if the hand in the under eye anchor is dead hand or comes back to the shoulder as it should w proper back tension? Ok so Uncle Joe didn’t show you that?? If you dead hand you might throw a hand out, up, down, sorta pluck a string. If you don’t consistently you can group. No one is making you change. It shouldn’t be something we pass on though for the newer generations sake. Bow hand position is critical. Proper position/good bow grip requires NO arm guard. I am shooting a traditional style longbow w no arm guard or no slap. Doesn’t mean you need to throw yours away. Imo means we need to learn better teaching techniques before we pass on mistakes. I’d much rather take a newby and teach them than someone w all kinds of issues. Seems every issue causes different problems most times. If your older, maybe your hands aren’t perfect or limited. I’d advise the thumb down towards the pinky and either a pointer finger or middle finger to mouth corner anchor. If you hands won’t allow you and the Fred Bear style is more suited to you than use it. Here’s the thing though. Fred Bear sold bows and was an archery nut. He wasn’t an archery instructor so saying he (or anyone else) did this or that is like having a car salesman, just because he’s involved w cars, teach your kid to drive. Hope this made sense

My thumb hangs limp rather than forcing it up or down. Making your thumb or pinky do something else just adds stress. Stress hinders a smooth release.

Find what works best for you.

I've looked into this deeply as I have big hands.What fdp says is right on the money.

Guys, I'm going to say something and if your offended, I can't do anything about that. Put your had out as if you're going to shake someones hand. Then cover your pinky finger nail with your thumb, If you felt something in your wrist you shouldn't shoot with them touching. If you didn't fee something in your wrist your dead.

Bowmania

Thanks for the replies. Some of this may be the way I'm built. I use a deep hook and have a fat thumb pad and short fingers. The only way it seems to work is if I draw low and bring my thumb up to my jaw and pointer to corner of mouth. From bottom up instead of straight back to anchor. When I get it wright they go where I'm looking. I try to keep my thumb relaxed.

Shoot how you feel comfortable,no one here is right or wrong, other than I was taught that Bob Wills ship is still the king

Shoot how you feel comfortable,no one here is right or wrong, other than I was taught that Bob Wills is still the king

Go figure, I try to be funny a it bites me every time, sorry fellas.

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