I know that some people do a very light grip, some squeeze it pretty hard, some grip it deep (more in the palm), some grip it with the meat of the thumb, some have a very bent elbow, and some more of a straight arm. Does is REALLY matter?!?! Or does is just come down to consistency, which is what I'm thinking...
I personally grip it pretty firm, a straighter arm and a bit deeper in the palm. Thanks in advance!
I personally think everybody grips them about the same other than the the tightness of the fingers.
The grip on a bow pretty well dictates the hand/elbow position unless you try to "man handle" it. Then that causes problems. The more you try to man handle the grip the more taxing, uncomfortable and stressful it gets.
That's a good question. I'd have to consider the grip on my dad's old Paul Bunyan bow a pretty straight grip. I never really paid attention to how I grip it, but I know it's more difficult than the contoured grip on any of my other bows. I have to agree with Frank and Jim, try to man handle it and you're going to have problems.
I tried dished and locater grips on asl's off and on over 30 years. Just could not shoot an asl accurately. I gave up around 15 years ago. Fact is I hate losing to an inatiment object. So a while back I called Hill Archery and explained all this to Craig. He said , well try straight then. It made no sence to me because you hab.c. e no reference point. But I did the order and was shocked to find with this grip in didn't matter how I held it. I just pick it up ane shoot it with no thought of grip. And it works! So my answer is a big NO grip doesn't matter. Well at least east on a straight grip.
Everyone will have a different story to tell yet all will work for them. I don't grip any bow for that matter, I let the bow fit into my standard hold, and fingers very loosely around the pivot area. It works "for me" on any bow design from ASL to full working recurve.
Style of grip on ASL’s be it locator dish or straight I always grab it like any other tool and hang on tight and put all the pressure of the draw on the full hill of my hand in the lifeline,there will be a small pocket of my palm not touching the grip and I cant the bow allot more than most do.Dish is my favorite only because it feels more comfortable than the other two but do shoot all three equally as well to my ability.
Yes, it matters, to find what works for you. Re elbows: when extending the bow arm some men will naturally have a bent elbow (usually burly boys), some will have a straight elbow and some will have it hyper extended. The latter may have to make some adjustments.
The wrist should be bent a bit. Make a fist, look down and you will likely see the back of the hand at angle to the forearm. Lean your weight against a pole, or the edge of a door. You will see a similar angle; this is your natural strong angle. Hold the bow that way.
With a straight grip I naturally place my hand high enough to just touch the arrow - very consistent. This is so subconscious that for years I did not even notice, but there it is.
For gripping the handle Howard Hill wrapped his last three fingers far around the bow, in photos visible farther than the index. He said he gripped mainly with the last two. I favor the middle two. Either way tends to settle the bow properly into the palm.
I tend to grip the bow fairly gently, so it can find its proper place - no manhandling. Bows are female, just look at those curves. Spears and clubs are male. - lbg
