Hey everybody. I haven't posted in awhile but this really caught my attention. While looking thru ebay I came across a finger tab selling for $110.00. It claims to have all the bells and whistles. I didn't know that finger tabs HAD bells and whistles. Traditional archery is sure getting complicated.

WOW !!!

It has all of the bells and whistles because there is somebody somewhere that believes they are bells and whistles, and that they need them. It’s really sad...

I went to visit a bowyer yesterday. Shot some really expensive bows. Had the money in my back pocket, came home with the money in my pocket.

The good thing is we have a lot of options in our gear and equipment. That sometimes is the bad thing too. We shoot a stick and a string. Pretty basic, until we make it something more.

Barry, they have $140.00 bow quivers too but you don't need them either. I don't know how the average wage earner could keep up with some of the expensive accessories that are out there nowadays. Luckily there are still cheaper alternatives. I'm using a tab (Neet) from the 70's or 80's and have an older Black Widow tab I picked up for $5.00 at the Pa. Bowhunter's Festival last year. None of that expensive stuff makes you shoot better, it just makes for good talk at the local club...or the golf course.

Some real good tabs out there for a little more than a tenth of that, or around $15. I have paid a whole lot more than $15 for some fancy tabs which were not nearly as good as a $12 to $15 Bateman cordovan tab or Black Widow leather or calf hair tab. Was a custom tab made in Europe which was praised and extremely expensive, so maybe they are the ones you may be seeing.

I won't spend much more than the cost of a small town BBQ sandwich plus sweet tea and fried okra for tab anymore, if that much.

That's expensive,I'm perfectly happy with my Bateman cordovan tab for $10 I bought years ago.I also shoot my Cavalier cordovan tab I bought used for $20.

I really like Bateman tabs. I take the spacer out . I got 2 many years ago. They last almost forever so they’re pretty cheap in the long run.

I use a fairly pricey $60 tab for my Olympic archery, but a $12 tab for trad.

I use my home made tabs.

You're probably looking at a very specialized tab for Recurve target archery. Some of them cost more than that.

On the other hand, it wasn't all that long ago folks here were promoting the "advantages" of $40-a-piece broadheads.

When I was shooting, I used the KANT-Pinch tabs. I think that they were made by Saunders?? Some of the stuff advertised for traditional archery is WAY OVER THE TOP! (Just sayin')

I shoot with home made tabs i make with seal pelt backed with a layer or two of thin leather laminated together with contact cement. Cost O..almost. sandy

Been using a Saunders plastic tab for many years.

25 plus years ago I tried a Bateman. Liked it so much bought 3 more. Just took the last one out to break it in . Great tab

I switched from using a glove after a few years, I use an old calf hair tab for a templet and make my own out of scrap leather/hide and use Barge and old seat belt, Working very well for me.

Kant-pinch pinch for 30+ years

I ought a Bateman which has been great then I mad several for myself . I used cordovan from an old wallet.

When they went to $10 they were getting too steep for me. Started making my own. Codjigger laughs at me but I can't make myself cut a piece of luxurious seal skin for tabs,strike plates,or rugs. 1000 denier nylon and calf hair makes great tabs. A piece of a mouse pad and a dab of barge with either one, makes a fine custom tab. If I could find a piece of cordovan I would love to try it. Just like bows though none keep the ocasional arrow from having a mind of its own. >>>----> Ken

Years ago the buffalo mitt came out and I got one and broke it in and bought a couple that I seen on tables at shoots. I love the Mitt . I don't think there is anything cleaner as far as a tab goes. The feel is there just like using fingers without getting torn up.

I never could get used to a glove or any of the tabs you see out there.

I'm guessing if you need a 100 dollar tab, you can tell the difference between it and a Neet piece of leather.

Then again it's archery. I spend money on stuff just to find out about what other people are doing. Pretty much knowing I wouldn't use it.

Bowmania

Look at the tabs the Olympic shooters are useing I bet they paid more then $10. And they do have some bells and whistles. It's your money spend it the way you want.

I haven't paid more then $20 - $25 for one but I'm not going to say anything about anyone that wants to spend THEIR own money on what they want.

What one buys is his or her own business, that much is a given. Whether or not it makes a difference in how well they shoot is always an interesting question. I've seen guys throw money at 'stuff' in hopes something will make them AA in a shorter time. I've also seen guys shoot world class scores with a "Neet" shooting glove, so I'm cautious about the money versus quality thing.

If it works for you and gives you an edge, then perhaps it's worth the investment. Only the guy paying the price will know that answer. In the mean time, my cheap Neet tab did get me to AA back in the late 70's, so I'm pretty loyal. I can see other folks being loyal to what works well for them though. Que sera, sera.

I really like my safari tuff Rod Jenkins tab.

make my own or use the Bateman tab with the finger hole Have a Barbee too

unborn calf skin with a thin back layer.

SAM tab for last 30 years. Got enough rat holed to last my lifetime.

Jim Keller,,, me too,, mine probably cost 50 cents a piece when using leather I bought but most come from thin upholstery scraps a friend gave me,,, I think Pearson used to give hundreds away at his school exhibitions,,

Guess it's like paying over $500 for a bow likebI did for years. Nothing wrong with that at all, its your money. Now I'm back to production bows where I started in the 70s, using a Neet Monster tab. $14 shipped. Used a glove 40 plus yrs but switched to a tab a few yrs ago.

I use tabs and gloves both. Normally a tab simply because I can make my own, and MY fingers are more maneuverable with a tab.

Been using the kant-pinch calf hair tabs for well over 30 years now. I thought about switching to a glove but after trying one I borrowed from a buddy, I decided I'll stay with my tabs.

That is ridiculous for a tab. I didn’t want to spend the $35-$40 for a good Cordovan tab so I bought a shell myself and have made several tabs. I have made 4 or 5 tabs so far with the shell and still have enough for about 20 more and I haven’t spent $110 for all the materials. I don’t know about bells or whistles but they work for me.

Still -

I don't know which tab you're looking at, but unless it has gold inlays, it's an Olympic tab and some Oly shooters are convinced that "all the bells and whistles" help to customize the feel of the tab. It doesn't, even in Olympic recurve, but if "Brady" or some other gold medalist uses it, it has to help, right?

It's marketing bullshit, and that's it. Unfortunately it sells. And for the record, the trad guys are guilty of the same thing, spending upwards of $1K on a "custom' R/D LB with purdy woods that doesn't shoot any better than an entry level recurve at 1/5 the price.

BTW - the STD Olympic tab is still between $30-40 (AAE Elite), lasts forever (almost) and is more than adequate for any Olympic shooter out there.

Viper out.

I was about to say the same thing Viper. It's funny that a $100+ tab would be used as an example of excess on a forum where guys routinely spend over $1K on a one piece bow with exotic woods that can't even keep up with a $150 Samick Sage.

You know what they say about fools and their money though.

Money is a relative thing, what's an outrageous fortune to one man may be chump change to another man. My tabs are bottom feeder priced :-)

Hip

I shot a tab for years with a compound, I believe the neet can't pinch with the leather that covers your finger at the top of the nock. I try and try to shoot one since I've gone traditional, but can not get comfortable with them. I bought 2 different ones this year, 15 dollar max for a cordovan tab. I really smack the crap out of my nose with them. When I try to adjust for it, my anchor is not as solid as I like. I keep going back to my Damascus glove from 3-rivers. Come to think of it, I should order another to break in.

Black Widow tab for me .

Saunders plastic tab for me.

Make my own. Would a nice cordovan tab work better? Maybe; but I sure ain't gonna pay $110.

I use a tab exclusively.

The ones I use are in the 35 to 45 dollar range in value, and worth every penny. 8^)

Rick

Mine were originally in the $1.50 scrap leather pile range and worth every penny! Carved them out with a hand held single edge razor blade about 20 or more years ago, still my go-to tabs.

If I didn't have them I would go for a Barbee tab- if they are half as good as his old bowstrings, they are also worth if every penny!

AAE Elite, Cordovan faced, been using the same one for years.

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