I was at a 3D shoot along time ago, and this guy was using a leather strap release because he had hand problems.

Has anyone here ever used or made one. How does it work. I imagine a loop around the wrist, and some way to hold the strap around the string. But does it have to go in a particular direction?

Because of the cold weather in the mornings I need to wear gloves, and today I tried a mechanical trigger release for the first time on my ILF recurve. Took some getting used to, but helps with me concentrating on back tension.

I had problems with the fingers ( arthritis) on draw hand and purchased a release. You place hook on string and pull trigger to hold and then draw to anchor and when set release. It actually worked pretty good, only issue was finding anchor. And yes it took time to get used too, so shoot close to target. Ken

Strap release?

I assume you're referring to something like the old Wilson release. I used one for while, way back when, and found it worked very well for lighter weight bows.

I had an injury a few years back and had to use a a wrist strap trigger release. The darn thing was deadly poison. I moved a loop down the string until I had the same look as shooting with fingers. IIRC, it was about an inch and a half below the nocking point.

Look up Talon release. Works very well. Simple and easy enough to make if you are so inclined.>>>----> Ken

Here a couple dating back to the early 1960s that were made locally in Wis. when I started bowunting. One is a wrist strap, the other works same way just goes around the last two fingers.

I have used a mechanical release on a recurve with great results. However there are some tuning issues that differ and must be addressed.

One prevalent one is that the paradox (bending of shaft) changes from horizontal to vertical, preventing shooting strictly off the shelf. A rest is required to eliminate/reduce fletch contact with the shelf. Also, you need to position your shaft in a manner to reduce fletch contact with the riser's window.

I also determined, for me, that a release does not do as well on bows that are not center shot or cut-past-center.

I don't know, but I would suppose that the leather release would require some of the same tunings considering that the string would not be affected by finger torque.

Of the various releases I experimented with, I ended up preferring a wrist-strap release that has a short swivel barrel.

It is also my contention that many stickbow shooters have problems obtaining a good release using fingers. A mechanical release just might be a cure for them.

As for being TRADITIONAL. Back in the late 60's it was common for target shooters to use string and hook releases.

George Stout sent me a wrist strap mechanical release ( thanks George) I tried for six months to hit my back yard let alone the target, I just have been shooting for too many years split finger to master anything like that it feels so unnatural.

That reminds me I need to send it back to George, Sorry George I will mail it this week.

I tried it a bit to mess around I didn’t care for it

I am having bad pain in my right hand joints. Might have to look into that. What will my buddies say about me shooting a release and a longbow?

I tried a mechanical release when I was fighting TP terribly . It was the most un- natural thing ever. Not the same as a strap release I'm sure.

babysaph said: "What will my buddies say about me shooting a release and a longbow?"

Possibly something stupid. The objective is obtaining the best accuracy possible when hunting a live animal.

Folks on more than one continent were using release devices on browsing before any of us were around.

Black widow sold one my buddy had years back. Strap went around string and thumb held it

Hmm...that should say on bows not browses.

Actually I believe that old Wilson release is it.

I did do a session this morning with a mechanical release and it wasn't too bad after a while. Other than a few clown like flinches now and then I was able to get used to it.

But I decided to scrap the release idea and come up with a 3 under tab that will fit over my mittlens. Having always shot split finger, it took another couple of hours shooting 3 under to get used to it. I think using the mechanical relase helped me to transition over. After a while I was grouping failry decent with the three under method.

Shooting three under with all the fingers together helped with the soreness I was getting shooting split finger on the right ring finger. I added a thick layer of leather to my exisitng tab as well.

I have two notions in response, maybe more:

Basically the ring finger is not important; you can just put it aside and forget about it. The old English and Welsh longbowmen used two fingers only, one above and one below

But there was an old kind of release called, I believe, a 'flipper', that was very simply a bit of leather strap and with two layers held between thumb and forefinger. Perhaps someone knows more about it and will help us. - lbg

This is the results of shooting in with a modified Tru-Fire mechanical release at 20 yards after determining best shaft spine was an (aluminum) 2016.

Did have some fliers, who doesn't, but majority of shots at 10, 15 and 20 yards were in the center...using a clean target face for each distance. Shooting with finger release, at 10, 15, and 20 yards I can keep most shots in a 4"-5" spot, but never a group this tight.

Slightly off topic. But, for those of you older guys with hand/finger/joint pain....

Follow liver transplant, I succomed to "post transplant rapid on- set osteoarthritis". Just 6-weeks after surgery my knees hurt and my thumbs were swollen. Could not open a jar of pickles for the pain. X-ray confirmed cartiledge loss in my thumb joints.

Started taking Chondroitin. 2-weeks later I could tell an improvement. 8-years out and I still take the Chondroitin, but I have no pain at all.

Nothing wrong with using a release if you want to.

So you used the mechanical release right on the string instead of an extra release loop?

On thing that hasnt come up yet is, you will pick up some speed using a release. For guys shooting lower pound bows that could help a bit. Im shooting a free flite release, flipper rest and also vanes. Ive picked up 7-8 fps. I shoot bows in the 40# range so any thing that helps is good.

Sucks

I tried one a couple years ago like the top right in Raghorn's pictures. Interesting but saw quick it required some learning.

HighValleyRanch asked: "So you used the mechanical release right on the string instead of an extra release loop?"

I migrated to using a string loop. Experienced less post-shot noise.

I have never used a strap release but did use a mechanical wrist release and an elevated flipper style rest for most of one year due to an injury to my string hand and resulting surgery to repair it. The release did change the tune and I gave up try to use it off the shelf and had great success with an elevated rest. It saved a hunting season for me in a year that I couldn't really shoot a rifle either.

Never worry about what your buddies think, they are not walking your path.

I also tried one like Raghorn's at Tannehill a couple years back. There was a lady selling them. I tried it and was asked not to come back,

Craig, see this thread moosehunter started in July......titled thumb release....... https://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm? threadid=334076&category=88#5142544

monkeyball, P.M. sent. >>>----> Ken

I have a Talon release. They are no longer being made.

I think with some tweaks, it could be a viable option for those of us with finger and hand issues, arthritis etc.

It's nylon strapping - which I quickly learned that cutting and sewing it requires a skill set I don't have.

Working with a pack manufacture to make the changes and hope to have some prototypes by years end

Guys I found it. Go to the video's he shows & demonstrates it much better than I can with pictures. Go to YouTube & type in: "Up date Talon Thumb Tab." I have one & have made several with smaller straps & just a hand held loop. They work very well. I used one when I lost my grip from a pinched nerve in neck. I will go back to it when my arthritic fingers will no longer curl around the string. Good luck, >>>----> Ken

If you can locate an old "gator jaw" release, you wont need a string loop.

Actually they are available from GREENE MOUNTAIN OUTDOORS

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