I'm curious if anyone out there shoots and hunts with a thumb ring. My curiousity is how loud they are and how well they work with non Mongol style bows being shot with the arrow on the archers side of the riser. I've got some arthritis issues in my hands and was giving this a thought.
Thanks to any and all.
I have a buddy that's been messing around with one on his longbow. He can shoot pretty good with it but its noticeably louder than with just fingers. It also has to be cold on the thumb as the temps plummet!
I was playing around with it a while back on my RH recurve. It was next to impossible for me to keep the arrow on the shelf.
I tried it on a LH bow and things worked out OK.
Did seem a bit louder than using fingers. Might be able to quiet things up a bit by learning good form...
Good Luck!!
I have made a release aid from leather that operates a lot like a thumb ring but as quiet as shooting with fingers.
I made mine from and old belt. I'll try to explain how it's used. If I'm lucky you'll be able to tell how its made from these pictures.
It's really simple to make and use. Just cut your strap long enough to fold into the palm of your hand and long enough to wrap over the string.
I also added an extra loop of leather used as an adjustable wrist thong.
(I sent you a pm with my phone number if you have questions.)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/Leatherreleaseaid1.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/leatherreleaseaid-backside.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/leatherreleaseaid2.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/DSC00025.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/DSC00026.jpg)
I can tell you that the learning curve is very low with this. I was amazed at how easy it was to use and how great it works.
God bless,Mudd
Hey Mudd--neat idea: could you possibly show a picture of the release in your hand on the string?
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/DSC00035.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/DSC00032.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/DSC00033.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Leather%20release%20aid/DSC00034.jpg)
Thanks a lot--A picture is worth a thousand words.
They are so easy to make, all you need is the leather and good leather glue.
I put the end that goes around the string on my belt sander and tapered it.(that made it a bit slicker also)
As I stated before it's very easy to use and as quiet as fingers. You do use some different muscles so you need to use it so as to build up those muscles at 1st.
God bless, Mudd
Huh, just when I thought the day would end without learning anything new. Can you pull more or less weight this way? I would guess less???
Actually more! Go figure!! Your thumb is a very strong appendage.
God bless,Mudd
Wilson Bros. archery used to make a release back in the 60's, using a leather tab folded over the string and held by the thumb.
Good stuff Mudd. This one should be packaged up and saved!
Mudd,
That is Awesome!!!! I never have seen anything like that. Now you got my wheels turning up-stairs.
What do you anchor on, when you are shooting with that??
I use the last joint in my thumb back to my hinge joint in my jaw. That makes for my 28" draw, the same as if I'm shooting fingers.
God bless,Mudd
QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:
I use the last joint in my thumb back to my hinge joint in my jaw. That makes for my 28" draw, the same as if I'm shooting fingers.
I have another idea I want to try using clear rubber/plastic tubing, small diameter rope and couple of washers.
God bless,Mudd
Well Done Mudd!
Hey Mudd that's a great idea. I have been wondering how to improve my release since I moved to a really short bow. I think this would be the ticket. You certainly seem to be one hell of a backyard engineer.
With your experience (I shoot 3 under) do you think this will help to smoothen things out?
I know a great taxi man in Fulton County Ga that used a similar release on a compound.
It was Velcro, and where the Velcro wrapped over and touched what he held in his palm was "bumpy" to increase the ease of holding the strap.
Great idea. I will keep this in mind if I get hand problems as not shooting ain't happening...
Quote:harvestmoon "With your experience (I shoot 3 under) do you think this will help to smoothen things out?"
I wouldn't bet against it since I use it under the arrow the same way a three under shooter would.
God bless,Mudd
That's pretty cool Mudd!
Very cool!
Great idea Mudd.
That Mudd, :thumbsup: whatta stud. :laughing: :archer2:
Here is a three part series on the use of the thumb ring:
The Archer\\'s Thumb Ring - Part 1 (http://www.africanarcher.com/thumbring1.html)
The Archer\\'s Thumb Ring - Part 2 (http://www.africanarcher.com/thumbring2.html)
The Archer\\'s Thumb Ring - Part 3 (http://www.africanarcher.com/thumbring3.html)
I personally don't like the idea of my thumb joint holding that much weight, but it does look like you can achieve a very smooth release.
Mudd that release is pretty cool.
As far as the thumb ring: the arrow is shot from the draw hand side of the riser because the thumb draw locks the arrow against the riser. This allowed the archer to hold the arrow while ridng a horse, running, jumping etc... There are Mongol archers today who shoot with the arrow on the bow hand side in the "conventional" manner but this requires no pressure from the index finger of the draw hand.
I hunt with a thumb ring and find no noise difference-actually it is quieter if my release is good because the arrow makes very little if any contact with the arrow pass because of the follow through.
If you are considering switching to a thumb draw there will be a learning curve and a "strength" curve as you will want to build up to hunting weight. I started with a 30# bow and over time shoot (at my 30" draw) about 50#. I don't think I want or need to go higher than that.
Form is even more critical with the thumb compared to fingers because the sight picture is so different and the release and follow through if not done right will have your arrows flying everywhere. There are a couple of web sites and "Kay's Thumb Ring Book" from 3 Rivers that give a real good intro to the thumb draw. If you like feel free to PM me-I am by no means an expert but I can help with the basics.
We had a Korean gentleman join our group at a 3D shoot and shot with a thumb ring. If I remember, it did not make any additional noise. The bow he used was a Korean composite bow and he had a fairly deep draw. His arrows appeared to be fast and they flew great.
I shot a round with a guy at the Howard Hill Shoot that was using exactly what you are using and he was a great shot.
He was having finger problems and it helped him to be able to keep shooting stickbows.
QuoteOriginally posted by AZ_Shooter:
I personally don't like the idea of my thumb joint holding that much weight, but it does look like you can achieve a very smooth release.
Actually, your thumb is - by far - the strongest of your fingers. You are less likely to get arthritis, if you pull bows with your thumb. There are many advantages to the thumb draw.
QuoteOriginally posted by TheFatboy:
There are many advantages to the thumb draw.
Like??????
QuoteOriginally posted by mysticguido:
QuoteOriginally posted by TheFatboy:
There are many advantages to the thumb draw.
Like?????? [/b]
1. Longer draw length, stronger draw
2. Easy and clean release
3. Forces you to shoot more instinctively (as you can't really aim down the arrow)
4. Is cool!
Another thing is you can shoot on the "move" as the arrow is locked to the riser. This is great for wing shooting and other types of quick draw situations.
The release is much cleaner because there is no torque on the string. this coupled with the longer draw length adds to a quicker arrow.
Here's one of my own making.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Avatar%20photos/DSC00255.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Avatar%20photos/DSC00254.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Avatar%20photos/DSC00253.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Avatar%20photos/DSC00257.jpg)
It's hard to buy one to fit my large fat thumb. This one turned out a little big for me but I wrapped tape around it and it fits just fine.
I have a strap of leather that's adjustable attached to it for insurance. I once saw a man shooting with one at the MoBoJam and his thumb ring tried to follow his arrow..lol I don't think they ever found it out on that hay field. According to him he had just purchased it the week before and it weren't cheap!
Thanks for looking!
God bless,Mudd
I make mine out of PVC pipe union I can get about six out of a union. Just need to make sure the inside is smooth otherwise you can slice the thumb pretty good.
Looks good Mudd!
Also drop Ol Buff a line. He makes tabs for me, but he says he shoots a ring and just uses a long string loop. He says it takes a while to get used to, but after a while they shoot better than using any fingers. I don't know if he sells rings or not.
http://www.kansas.net/~barchery/ol\\'ebuff.html/leatherproducts.htm