Deeper finger release

[Butts]

Tried a deeper finger release last night. App. 1/8" past the first crease of the fingers. (was turned onto an on line demo via this site) My shooting hand actually came to rest on my shoulder. holy smokes!! :thankyou:

[Desert Archer]

Congats on a major discovery. Most of the Olympic style target shooters I've ever met shoot with a "deep hook". It is advocated by most of the books on recurve shooting (target and otherwise). Your hand moving back after the shot is an indication of good back tension (another great discovery).

Keep at it, it only gets better from here.
Dave

[Cato]

I have long understood the value of a deep hook. But, I shot a very thin layered cordovan tab that allowed a lot of "feel" of the string. However, if I tried to go past the first joints, it just didn't seem to work well.

But then Papabull turned me onto the W&W 360 tab. The extra thickness of the material seems to make it easier to go deep. I now go beyond the first crease, and really like it. Very smooth. It also seems to give me a better feeling of control of the string.

I know we are all different. This seems to have helped me.

[steve morley]

My hook is just on the crease, everything feels more relaxed and even though I have more contact on the string the release feels much more consistent and controlled for me. :shooting:

I cringe when I look at archers shooting off the tips of their fingers cant imagine the long term Tendon damage they're doing to themselves.

[BLACK WOLF]

I also grip the string along the first joint of my fingers and allow the string to rollor twist clockwise slightly. I've tried the deep hook and didn't like it.

I use to shoot with a much shallower grip and can attest to the problems of developing tendonitis by shooting such a shallow grip. It sucked! ;)

Ray ;)

[swampy]

Isn,t all the way into the first joint deep? I know what ya mean about the ww360 being easy to go real deep(past the first joint) but I prefer it to be deep into the first joint but not beyond it.

[Grey Ghost]

I use a 3-under cordovan tab on top of a damascus glove and hook on the second joint. Sure saves my tendons and fingers. Try it, you might like it.
gg
:2cents:

[Cato]

GG,
You know what they say. If a little bit is enough, then to much is just right! :highfive:

[jhinaz]

swampy,

"Isn,t all the way into the first joint deep? "

I've read differing comments on "deep hook" over the past two years that I've been using it. It use to be defined as "well past the first joint" but now seems to be "in or around the first-joint" .............

In his new book (Total Archery), KiSik Lee shows a picture that places the string just behind the first-joint of the Middle Finger and not quite to the first-joint on the Index and Third fingers..... and he refers to it as a Deep Hook. - John

[DAS]

Maybe I should try hooking the string with my elbow :) Now that's a DEEP hook! :highfive:

[Grey Ghost]

DAS, that might result in a might short draw. You have tried this havent you?

gg :)

[swampy]

When I say deep into the first joint Im talking the string is laying on the middle segment of finger up against the joint.It sounds like GG is sayin the same thing except up against the 2nd joint but still on the middle segment.

I think I splained that right :lol:

[Cato]

2 more thoughts:

A deep hook increases your draw length a little, doesn't it? It does for me.

I am with Hank on this. The joints on your fingers don't line up exactly, for most people. I hook beyond the first crease, and then let the string settle forward. It pretty much leaves the string deep in the first crease of the first and third finger, but a little deeper beyond the crease on the middle finger. The heavier tab material seemed to help this. As Hank said, it seems to alllow the hand to be relaxed, at least for me.

[jhinaz]

I made two identical tabs that put the string half-way in the middle section of my fingers and it remains there without "rolling" until I release. I use the Cavalier Cordovan face and custom made my own aluminum plates.... 1" deep instead of 1 1/2" that comes on the Cavalier - I like to tinker as much as I like to shoot the bow;o). - John

[MDBowhunter]

I have grabbed the string several different ways, each was in the first crease. One way was to have the fingers pointed slightly foward, one was to have the fingers at about a 90 degree angle and one with my fingers pointing back towards me. It is hard for me to imagine not having the string fall into the crease.

I ended somewhere between 90 degree and slightly towards me.