Here's a topic for you guys to ponder. Many have personal opinions on what grip is the best for them on a bow riser grip.. But my question is: how many have shot all three, compared ,and come up with an educated choice? Many just speak up on what they have shot only...without actual experience on the others.
For me, a high grip destroys all others. I've tried all three desperately But I know I am in a very small group who may agree. It may be my Olympic FITA style background, or that I can't shoot a longbow accurately to save my life.
My finding is that a loose grip, usually backed up by a finger or wrist sling to keep the bow from falling forward upon release, with an almost horizontal hand and high grip/palm swell to keep the hand in place, eliminates most bow torque, poor release problems.
But again, I'm a recurve guy, who shoots 64" and up hunting bows. Not exactly normal, I know.
Have you low grip/ longbow, 50's style recurve guys ever shot a high grip with an open mind to see if you can improve your technique?
In an ever going quest to improve, I am willing to try and compare others techniques to my own to look for improvement. So far, I don't know how you low grip guys do it consistantly. Show me the way!
For a curve I like a medium grip as a real high wrist is very uncomfortable for me. On a longbow I like a low grip with a little locator 'cause its easier to put the Heel in the grip needed to make the bow behave.
I have shot all 3. I feel like "Goldylocks" this
ones to hot,this ones to cold,this ones just right. high grip = pushed my hand into the throat
of the bow,contacting fletchings on release. low
grip = not enough to hold onto,to small,and I
don't care for it's appearance. medium = best of
both worlds,comfort and looks good.
Have used all different grips mentioned... I end up using whatever grip the bow needs me to use to shoot it consistently. I liken it to shaking hands... you never shake everyone's hand the same way... some guys have a death grip some are very nonchalant and some are firm but not vice like... jeez do I complicate things.
I have used all three. My choice is low wrist.
David
I like a standard widow grip. Which is a med.I beleive alot has to do with ones style of shooting and anatomy.
I prefer high wrist
Had a Dalaa with all three grips.
The high grip has been my most accurate grip and has been the same findings on several other bows. Having said that -I noticeably don't enjoy the shot near as much and fatique quite faster. The high grip also had it's draw backs for me when hunting from a stand.
I noticed quickly that Medium grips, as well as other grip types may vary between bowyers. The Dalaa medium grip was still too high for me.
My favorite for shooting pleasure is a straight grip however I personally shoot it the worst.
I lean heavily towards a Medium-low grip ~30 deg where i can still comfortably exert some forward pressure.
I have honestly used all three, and like all three. I feel it depends on the bow and the situation.
Honestly, my skills ain't so good as most folks. I shoot all three styles just as bad as the other! LOL!
But being poor causes one to have to learn to shoot what ya got. Which is my case. I've shot the Hoyt Pro Vantage type risers with the super high wrist grip, and strait grip Hill risers ad all in between. I guess I like whatever grip I'm currently using the best, and can honestly say I shoot neither one better. But the really high wrist grips do feel better to me.....
I prefer medium
I like a high grip.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2050.jpg)
But I shoot all three.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2006.jpg)
Sometimes a really light recurve is fun and entertaining - and that will likely have a low grip to save weight. High grips tend to be heavy bows; and heavy bows seem more accurate to me.
I prefer a low grip whether its a longbow or recurve,they just fit me better.
low
high
Having shot all three, and realizing that each bow is different, I shoot a "medium" grip the best. And I seem to enjoy most what I shoot best.
I've always shot a medium grip. That's what I started out with and I shoot very good with this grip. With that said, I never had the desire to try a low or high wrist grip. Like the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
I like a Med to High grip and I like to "Grip" the bow pretty firmly so I wrap rawhide lace aroud a Med grip to get a "higher/fuller" feel and the bow doesnt slide in my hand. My thumb and forefinger on the top wrap makes it a great "locator" grip also. Here is a Roseoak, Predator, and Palmer.
(http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt261/yelojello/DSC00129.jpg)
I shoot all three. Really doesn't make much difference. Pretty easy to adjust. I mostly shoot longbows and my preference on them is low wrist. Most recurves are medium or high wrist. They tend to force a more deliberate style of shooting. Good for targets, not as good for hunting, IMO.
What Friend said!
I too find that I'm quite accurate with a high wrist but don't enjoy shooting that way. I can maintain back tension better and have better arm/clothing clearance with a medium/low grip. I also have a tendancy to allow my shoulder to roll in more with a high wrist....(not good)...but again, tend to shoot well. In a nutshell, I guess I like to shoot what feels good! Medium/low for me!
I like med to high. Could be because of the shape of the grip though.
I like a low wrist with a sling. I think it's the most consistent and stable grip. The high wrist is my least favorite as it seems twitchy to me.
I let the bow tell me what grip it wants. Medium or low usually works for me.
I think it depends on the person and the bone structure in their hand and wrist. Whatever is comfortable for you and puts the back or what I call "spine" of the grip pushing directly into the heal of your hand. Solid with little torque. I think the better grips tend to have a flatter back/spine to them.
Here is my HONEST opinion. Now I do NOT expect others to agree with me and on this issue I some times keep my mouth shut, because I am NOT interested in offending others. But, you asked...so I will say my honest opinion.
If one has a hard time controlling their bow arm/bow hand...then I think it is best to use an open grip and high wrist to minimize contact with the bow (only a pressure fulcrum point)...and allowing the bow to do its own thing upon release.
If one has good control of their bow arm/bow hand, then I think it is best to use a low wrist and best to hold the bow as one would hold a suit case (as Howard Hill recommends). This allows one to stay strong as a low wrist is a stronger position (using more primary muscle groups and fewer secondary and tertiary muscle groups), and allows one to pull a hunting weight bow repeatedly getting as tired after a day of shooting as one would get with a high wrist. If you were going to do one arm push ups, you wouldn't use a straight wrist for this reason.
I have also found that if you like to wrap your thumb around the side of the bow and with the palm on the belly of the grip, one is more likely to torque the bow and therefor may be better served with the high wrist and minimal contact. If however one is comfortable with the "suitcase grip" and their palm is more to the side (with the back of the hand more in line with the back of the forearm (not perfectly but close), then they are less likely to torque the bow with their hand which helps steady the bow and bow arm.
So, when selecting the right grip for a given archer, I think it is wisest for an archer to be honest with what level of control they have on their bow arm.
My reservations about this is because I don't like to tell people that prefer the high wrist that they typically lack bow arm control.
One exception I would say is VERY LIGHT WEIGHT BOWS. With light weight bows it may be best to shoot with a high wrist because they are generally more sensitive and easier to torque.
Medium to High works best for me. I shot low with wheels, but was using sights. To me, when shooting my recurve I tend to "point" at the target with my bow arm (forearm) using a medium to high grip; so I'm more accurate.