At the range yesterday I brought my chronograph to test – if any – the difference in speeds between a glove and a tab. I was always ‘taught’ that tabs were faster and offered a cleaner release, but for hunting the glove was the way to go for me.
The bow used is no speed demon, so the results may be different for heavier hunting weight bows. The bow is an English- type self-bow of yew, with a bit of reflex/deflex, made by Mike LaBrake. It pulls ~44-pounds at my 27” draw; not a hunting bow, one I just use for fun with wood arrows. They do say, however, that if a “well made wood self-bow” should give – for speed – the value of 100 plus the pull weight. So theoretically I should be shooting around 144 FPS and my numbers were right in there.
I tested 5 gloves and 1 tab. From left to right as pictures and as tested: – Neet deerskin glove with calfhair fingertips – Howard Hill glove for heavy bows – Old ‘Damascus’ type leather glove – New ‘Damascus’ type leather glove – New Neet typical leather glove – New calfhair tab (Seller sells on FBook)
I shot the same 3 arrows during this test and always in the same order. I did not yet weigh the 1st one shot to see why it was always slower, but I was amazed at how consistent the results were. I began using the new Neet calfhair-tipped glove for all my yew bow shooting, but the more I shot the old Damascus glove, the better I liked it, as I felt my groups were tighter and it had a smoother release.
Anyway, I just thought some here might find this interesting. I for one, was surprised that the tab gave the lowest speeds.
Note I checked the brace height before and after the test and being a wood bow, I shot it for a while before beginning the test. The BH was the same afterwards as before.
And for another 'control', I shot the same glove at the end of the test as I did at the beginning and the values were only off ~1 FPS.
Had to show off the arrows I made for this bow, not true medieval looking arrows, but tails painted with good ol' RustOleum spraypaint and then hand crested with red and black Sharpie markers, LOL!
I spent some time with a world class FITA shooter learning all sorts of interesting information. One thing he told me is that he has seen 10 fps variation between tabs. FITA style shooting is not what we do here. Your data shows what I have often suspected. Shoot what you want to each day.
I get different results with my setups, but based on point-on since I don't have a crono. You only have one brand of tab there, so it's a rather limited test. My poin-on will increase by about five or six yards when using a tab, particularly one like Rick Barbee makes. That said, you shoot what works best for you, not anyone else. That's the best indicator of what you should use.
all my years of shooting a compound with fingers I shot considerably better with a tab a solid 3 under calf hair tab to be exact but for whatever reason I have always preferred a glove when shooting trad bows ??? perhaps the more consistent index finger in the corner of my mouth or just the fact that the glove is always there & ready for the quick shot just my preference
My testing is a lot different. Unfortunately I don't know the name of the glove. The tab was a Barbee and I found 5 to 6 feet difference. All shot with the same arrow and about 10 shots each. Came out to ave. 5.6.
I'll probably do it again, because I have other chrono work to do.
Older gloves are usually grooved. That is where the results start changing. There is not enough difference to bother me. I just like the freedom of turning the tab to the back side of my hand and do what ever needs doing. I also fasten the elastic to the front side. When the tab is turned there is nothing but an elastic ring on my finger. It doesn't hinder climbing or what ever. >>>>-----> Ken
