i'm in the process of switching from glove to tab, received a Batemans Cordovan in the mail yesterday. ordered the medium and found out rather quick I should have ordered large, it works fine but fingers tend to creep over a bit and get a little sore on some shots. also bottom fingers gets caught and I have to push it through to put behind tab, is this normal? would seem to me maybe I should trim tab a bit so it does not get caught at all or as tab wears in will it be more flexible and just push through with ease? I have noticed I have a HUGE improvement on a smoother release as compared to using a glove. just going to take some more getting use to as far as when I first grip the strip and making sure all 3 fingers are together and in proper placement not going over the tab. another advantage is the different brands of tabs as compared to gloves as I had found only one glove I loved ( no longer made! ) and looks like a bunch of different tabs that I would like. i'm still in the learning process of getting use to the tab but I see advantages and I think it will work great! now if anyone wants to trade a large Bateman for a medium i'm your man!
If I am understanding correctly, the tab catches the string on your bottom fingers? If that's the case you will become more comfortable with the tab and it won't be a problem.
I probably could have used a medium but put scissors to the bottom of my Lg. and now I think it's fine.Still not sure I shoot it any better than my old home made one though.
I'm in the process of switching from glove to a tab and Ryan Sanpei's video on YouTube really helped me. I started taking deeper hooks with it and it's really improved my shooting
'bottom fingers gets caught and I have to push it through to put behind tab'
Can you explain this another way, not following it. If you are referring to the elastic band it slides over center/long finger only.
Some of the un-comfort may be coming from a stiff/new tab. When i made the switch my tab was hard on my fingers until it got broke in. I bet it will work itself out with time.
will add pic's photobucket running slowwwwwwww and I have to go to work...
QuoteOriginally posted by katman:
'bottom fingers gets caught and I have to push it through to put behind tab'
Can you explain this another way, not following it. If you are referring to the elastic band it slides over center/long finger only.
There were exactly my thoughts. Not getting a clear pic of what you are trying to say there?
Bisch
first pic shows where it feels comfortable but a bit too short.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/adkmountainken/trad%20archery/IMG_0290.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/adkmountainken/media/trad%20archery/IMG_0290.jpg.html)
next pic shows if I push tab forward a bit fits good but I really do not want to have to think, move tab forward to get a good fit, a large should solve the problem with consistant fir as soon as in position right?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/adkmountainken/trad%20archery/IMG_0291.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/adkmountainken/media/trad%20archery/IMG_0291.jpg.html)
last pic is of where exactly should my little finger rest? curled under or against tab?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/adkmountainken/trad%20archery/IMG_0292.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/adkmountainken/media/trad%20archery/IMG_0292.jpg.html)
when I get ready to put tab on string seems like little finger is always in front of tab and I have to lift/push over tab every time maybe will get more use to it and easier as tab brakes in I guess.
My fingers are longer than my tab approximately same amount and this work better for me, just keep shooting it. My wife hated a tab, finally took her glove out of her bow case one day and we went to 3d range and handed her a tab, I heard some mumbling and complaining first two target lanes, then by lane four it was complete silence and she's never wore a glove since
Hey Ken, so this is what has worked for me- maybe some of it will help but mostly probably not.
anyway- my journey to 3 under was fraught with frustration- nobody to help and i couldnt get a tab that i liked- i used to shoot the calf hair tabs when i shot split. which i liked, except that the calf hair wore off real quick, and they got a terrible string groove in them. i bought and traded and tried about half a dozen different tabs- never found one that i truly liked. everyone is different i guess! so decided to make my own.
so i kinda modelled it on the calf hair tabs- with three super thin layers of leather in the tab area- and only 2 in the finger ring part- i made it long enough so that i could trim it to where i wanted it for length and size.
i used goat leather- which many years later and many thousands of shots still does not have a string groove in it- cordovan would probably do the same .
i like my tab to sit on my middle finger between my first knuckle and my hand- kinda where one would wear a ring. and the tab to be just long enough so that my finger tips dont get grabbed by the string as it slips off- starts to hurt after a while. but not to long that there is excess.
when i go to shoot i dont want to have to think about positioning the tab- just on shooting.
hope these pics help- but kinda hard to get a good one handed pic.
damn cant get the pics to download- will try later when my 14 year old gets home :D she can help me!
Ken,
When I begin to pick up the string, I bend my little finger back and this gets it out of the way. I'm not familiar with a Bateman tab, but I would call them and ask if the dimensions of the large tab would give your fingers more protection. In your pictures the tab appears wide enough so a question that I have is are you using a deep hook? If you are then I would continue shooting with it and your problems with the tab should go away.
Rick
:banghead: I told you to buy a large.......
I too am slightly confused by what you mean. If you're referring to the pinky, it should not be behind the tab. I curl mine back toward my palm. Never thought about it before but now you have me aware and I'm not sure that's good. I already have enough to think about executing the shot without that. Thanks :biglaugh:
Little finger should not be near string at all. Should be curled back away. Use your thumb to hold it back.
Ok, thanks for the pics, seems the tab is to long top to bottom in your pic so a large will make it worse. Your fingers appear thin so that may explain the tab over hang. I keep my little finger slightly flexed, about the same as the fourth. I think contracting it to your palm could cause extra tension in your hand, not good.
Keep shooting it where it gives your finger tips protection. I would take a pair of heavy scissors and cut the bottom just below you fourth finger parallel to it. Now your pinky won't hang up.
shot some more tonight getting much more comfortable not sure if i'm going to switch to tab yet but definitely plan too by August well before hinting season, still want to work the kinks out.
I actually kypte my sons 3u Bateman. Ive always shot with med.gloves. I thought his tab was a small. Thought I would need a little bigger one for the same reasons your having. Then I learned it was a med. after shooting with it for a while I would not want a large. Try sliding the,tab up a little on your middle,finger and a,deep hook does,help I touch my thumb and pinky together and the 3 draw fingers are pointing back at me. And maintain that deep hook till the shot goes off don't creep. It does take a while to break it in.
Looking back at your pic. You should be fine with the med. Adress the string right on the edge of the seem and like I said point those fingers right back at you (deep hook) give it a few weeks.
My pinky curls back, but since I wrap my thumb behind my jaw at anchor they never touch, though they could ( I just tried sitting at the desk). I make my own from vegetable tanned leather I get from my sheath maker. I trim so the tab covers my fingers with a deep hook, but does not have any excess. They would look a bit longer than yours.
Ken, for me anyway, get rid of that excess leather hanging down below your ring finger. It is not doing anything to hold the string and will get in the way.
Second, that elastic finger band should not stick through to the front of your hand. It will also get in the way. Leave it on the back side of your hand and even if of excessive length, it will not touch the string.
In your first picture, the tab is PLENTY long enough. Your fingers should be "proud" of the end of the leather. It IS too large in width AND tabs are sold BY WIDTH -- NOT length. You probably should have gone with a small if available; lacking that, trim that part of the tab that extends down toward your little finger so it doesn't interfere.
Arne
I have used those tabs before and even though I don't shoot three fingers under I would advise you to check out the black widow finger tabs. They are a tough for leather and overall in my opinion the best finger tab available or at least one of the best that you can get. I do agree that calf hair is not the way to go. The black widow leather tabs you can shoot rain or shine and will be no difference in performance. Each person has his own preference though and if you are performing consistently with that one and you have solved your problem with catching your finger then I think you should be OK. Consistency is the key to accuracy.
I could not stand a tab whose rear didn't butt up against the palm like your first picture. Use it like this. You'll know in a couple of shots by stinging fingers if the tab is too short.
If it is, you need a longer tab. If this model doesn't come longer, then the base is simply too small. I wouldn't hesitate to switch tabs if that was the case.
The tab should fit you rather than vice-versa.
thanks again to all for the advice I have now completely switched to just tab and really need to work on just getting use to it as it is still new to me. will be buying a Rod Jenkins tab shortly.
In my opinion that tab doesn't fit you at all. Way too wide. and going to a large will only make it worse. It should only be as wide as your three fingers with nothing hanging below to interfere with your pinky. Length should be just shy of the fingertips when they are curled around the string with the tips pointing back at you. This can easily be trimmed. Fit is one reason I make my own.
I had a similar issue when I switched to 3 under with a Rob Jenkins tab. I thought my tab was too short too. Rob told me and I quote....
"If you feel a string burn on the finger tips ... You're collapsing at release!"
He was right when I keep pulling thru the shot ... no finger burn :-)
No I like how the tab gives me that feedback on my form.
I shoot split finger and like the tab to be flush with the edges of my fingers to either side.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2273.jpg)