Shooting grip

[Allyn T]

I've only ever shot a compound before and with those you rest the bow grip on the pad directly below your thumb. I wanna shoot off my fingers without an arrow rest on my self bow. How do you guys hold the bow? I've seen a lot of handle designs where it narrows towards the belly, do you hold in the V of your hand or do you guys still put it on the pad below your thumb?

[TimBo]

It varies, but I think lots of people grip similarly (pad under thumb).  Some might think of the main pressure point as more between the thumb and index finger.  Others put more of the palm down and have less of a straight wrist.  I would say do whatever is comfortable.  You can add cork or leather to your existing grip if it doesn't feel right as-is.

[bradsmith2010]

since the grips vary,, I hold a loose grip as described above, but really let the bow handle dictate the grip,, if you shoot a the bow enough, your grip will adapt as needed,,

[Allyn T]

Ok I'll play around with it. I see handle shape being more important in my future

[bradsmith2010]

I think the more simple the grip, the easier to adapt to it,, many great examples in Native American bows,,,

[Pat B]

I use a bulbous grip on my bows so I use a whole hand grip with the fat part of the bulbous grip in the center of my hand.

[Allyn T]

Any of you shoot with no hold?

[bradsmith2010]

you mean in the shot sequence,, not holding a full draw,, ? if thats the question, I dont hold a full draw,, but when I get there I pull through the shot,, like trying to get the best of a long shot or through a chronograph

[Allyn T]

you mean in the shot sequence,, not holding a full draw,, ? if thats the question, I dont hold a full draw,, but when I get there I pull through the shot,, like trying to get the best of a long shot or through a chronograph

Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about! I like the idea of pulling through. I had originally intended to come to anchor and release with no hold

[bradsmith2010]

since I shoot quite a few short bows too,, my anchor floats,, and I dont really need to hold unless Im waiting for the deer to step into a shooting lane,,I make the short bows heavy enough that there is no danger of over draw,,, I just draw it as far as I can and release,, knowing I am at the right draw length at that time,,

[Pat B]

I release as soon as I hit anchor. If, over time I find myself short drawing I will hold for a second or 2 for a few shots then back to release on hitting anchor.

[bradsmith2010]

I sometimes tie a string on the arrow to hit the right draw, ,till im used to it,,

[Allyn T]

I release as soon as I hit anchor. If, over time I find myself short drawing I will hold for a second or 2 for a few shots then back to release on hitting anchor.

Thats what I'm going to attempt to do, how quickly do you draw

[bradsmith2010]

I try to draw smoothly so when I hit full draw I am aimed at the same time,, not sure how Pat does it,,

[Pat B]

Allyn, that depends on the circumstance. When I'm hunting and I see a deer on the way I stand, set my feet to where I think the deer is coming and put tension on the string. From this point I usually don't remember the actual shot. I'm concentrating where the arrow will go and my brain and body does the rest. On 3D targets my draw probably a second or two from start to release.