Holding your release device

[James Park]

It would interest me to know how deep into your fingers you hold your release device. Is it:
- on your finger tips.
- as far back as possible
- somewhere in between
Why?
Which fingers are taking the weight?
Any other interesting points?

For me: I have the release device well into the second knuckle on each finger.
Why: I can get it to go off more reliably.
My index finger takes most weight, followed by my middle finger.
I bend the third knuckle of my index finger very substantially as well.

[Kuru]

Good subject, will be interesting to see how different people shoot releases. I've done a bit of work with a sports physio on this subject. I currently shoot a 4 finger carter release with 3 fingers, partly due to release aid torque with my little finger muscle. I never noticed it before but after running electrodes on my hands it really showed up. I hold my release close to the tips of my fingers because it's a more sensative area then down at the base of my hands. Also I've found if you hold the release at the base of your hands , because it's less sensitive you tend to grip it alot more to try and get some feeling whereas if you hold it near the tips you don't grip it as hard because you have plenty of feel. This is all how I personally approch release aids.

[mike]

Good question Jim.

My remark would have to be "depends"!!!

If using my Stan, I have it at the 2nd knuckle on my index and near the finger tip of the middle finger and not touching at all with the other fingers for the DRAW. Then at ANCHOR I wrap middle and ring fingers around to 2nd knuckle and place the tip of the little finger onto the release to provide extra leverage for the release action.

For my thumb trigger release, I just have all fingers holding by the 2nd knuckle from draw to release.

I have shot equally well with both...

I don't think it makes a lot of difference and I think that different release designs require different holding patterns. And personal comfort is important. As long as there is consistency.

What I would be interested in is the actual action that people use to set the release off -- the role of back tension, the use of fingers (and which ones) and if using a trigger, the movement, if any, of the trigger finger. Also, the angle that the release makes in relation to the horizontal is interesting as many people incline their release up towards their face, whereas some hold the release in a plain horizontal position (some wierdos hold their release as if they were holding the string like in recurve...)

Thoughts anyone...








:p

[Bruce]

As I tend to concentrate on field I tend to hold the release as deep in my hand as I can . I use a back tension release and find by grabbing onto the release deeper I can build more tension in my back muscles easier especially in extreme terrain as we need to shoot on our range here in geelong.

[James Park]

The reason I bend the third knuckle of my index finger is that if I am having trouble getting the release to operate I simply have to hold on a bit longer and my finger will straighten at that knuckle on its own accord, and pull the trigger into the base of my thumb. That is, all I have to do is be patient. Same with a so-called back tension release: as my index finger straightens a bit it rotates the release which then operates. That is, again, if I am having trouble getting it to go off, I just need to be patient and it will all happen.

[Marcus]

I shoot a 2 finger Stan release and with it I go to the main knuckle with the index finger. I also use my thumb to help brace the weight and some of my middle finger against the inside of the Stan to help draw. Once at full draw I relax my hand, mainly the index finger, while maintaining the draw length to set the release off.

With a Thumb release I take the between the knuckles on the first 3 fingers.

[James Park]

At the Nationals, most of the top archers had the release device well back into their fingers. That is, a deep grip.

[YetABeginner]

At the Nationals, most of the top archers had the release device well back into their fingers. That is, a deep grip.

In Pellerite's book he advocates a very deep grip on back tension release aids to prohibit using the hand to rotate the release.

My real success with using scapular rotation (back tension) to fire came with a Solution 2.5 from Carter.

Due to this release being designed with a "ring" for the second "middle" finger putting this release that deep in my hand is hazardous. The second joint in my longest finger is very large and forcing the release past it could lead to getting the release stuck on my hand!

Consequently I've taken to holding the release between the first and second joint on my fingers. This promotes having the back of my hand flat from that bend on back.

I've recently been working with moving my anchor forward on my face so that the string just barely touches my nose. I did this because I was realizing that using the anchor I'd been dealing with was making me use a lower draw elbow and I had an arch in my draw wrist. Moving the anchor forward along my jaw, on the same plane, moves my draw elbow up higher and seems to better promote use of scapular rotation.

I'm not trying to decide if more rotation of the release prior to disengaging the safety works better for me. My prior anchor had been with the release about parallel to the ground. I am not working with an angle where the anchor finger (index finger) is lower than my other fingers bringing more of the back of my hand against my cheek.

[Ozzy]

World record holder & world champion (& gorgeous) Mary Zorn appears to hold her Carter thumb release between the tips & first joint of the fingers. :roll: :-?
I guess it works for her ! :P :wink:

[DjWoody]

I use a wrist release with a caliper and trigger. I let the release hang off my wrist and just pull the trigger when i want to shoot.

[Robert43]

Hi Used to use a wrist aid and hated every second of it.so I have got a backtension aid and love it .I use a deep grip Robert :lol:

[Zoe]

Size might be an issue :o
I mostly use a big male Carter thumb trigger and have small hands. A deep grip (b/w 2nd and 3rd joint) feels intuitively nice, but the barrel sits really awkwardly in my thumb webbing and it's really hard to get a consistently clean release. With a medium grip (b/w 1st and 2nd joint) the trigger sits perfectly which I find much more important for a smooth release.
(Have a tiny little Stan Luxor BT that I would always use a deep grip on).
Maybe hazard a guess that smaller hands are more likely to have a shallower grip?

[John Barry]

well i have a wrist release andi use the first nuckle on my index finger, and that seems to be the most comfy place for me.


Anthony.

[Chris]

i shot my carter colby with a deep hook and found it pulled me out of line and just gave up on it.

now shooting a CNC two finger it is much better with it being held in the middle of my fingers

[iron_butt]

I am now holding my Zenith with a flat hand back. But I find that I hook my index finger deeper than usual when I am under stress. It takes longer to fire and eventually affect my shooting frequency.

Before I can handle the stress during big event, I guess I should hold the release with a fist which will leave no room to bend my index finger further.

good idea? comment pls.

[Killjoy]

Currently experimenting with a hand held release. Tru-Ball King George (borrowed from a mate). Used to use wrist held(Little Bitty Goose).

I tried holding the tru ball on 1st knukle position and a deep holding position.

I feel that i am more consistant with a deep hold. I am able to place my thumb around the trigger and get a smoother release.