Hello Everyone!
I'm glad to have found this great community online with so much information! I've been a lurker for quite some time without posting anything and now I finally have! I am a new shooter shooting a Win 30# recurve and I very much enjoy it. I shall be slowly upgrading my poundage as I shoot more and more.
I am currently looking for a new tab. I very much enjoy tabs and would like to continue with tabs. My question lies in what materials am I looking for? As of now, I am just a field shooter (no hunting) and would just want one that offers the best release and good comfort (durability would be nice too). I see tabs with platforms (aluminum, brass, plastic) and I see tabs with calf hair, cordovan, super leather, etc). I have searched all 15 pages of the forum looking for information on each material and what it offers but did not really find much of an answer. Hopefully you guys can help me out here. Thank you very much in advance! :)
Oh yeah, I am a 3 fingers under shooter. Thanks again!
Welcome to the "gang". I'm sure you will receive lots of imput and LOTS of opinions on this subject, and you will come to your own conclusions after a time. Personally I shoot with three fingers under the arrow and am not too picky as to tab types. As far as wear and tear and a slick release, a lot of shooters prefer a cordovan leather. Others, I'm sure, will chime in about other attributes and types of tabs. Again, welcome to the Trad World.
Will
I'm preferrential to the Cordovan tabs from Bateman, super slick release and practically bullet proof
Thanks for the input so far! I forgot to mention that I am also a 3 fingers under shooter. :)
You cant go wrong with Cordovan. I shoot calfhair sometime but they dont hold up real well.
You cant go wrong with Cordovan. I shoot calfhair sometime but they dont hold up real well.
Does anyone have any thoughts for the KSL tab?
http://www.*********archery.com/aae-ksl-gold-brass-finger-tab.html
or the AAE Elite Tabs?
http://www.*********archery.com/aae-elite-finger-tab-with-cordovan-face.html
or W&W Sebastian Flute?
http://www.*********archery.com/w-w-sebastian-flute-carbon-finger-tab.html
BW palm tabs are great. they are there when you need them,out of the way when you don't.-Bone
I have one on the KSL tabs. They are good tabs but for the money you spend on one I feel there are other tabs just as good. Just my two cents.
I prefer the Black Widow tabs w/o the calf hair. Very pliable from the start so there's no break in.
Crazy, The KSL tabs are excellent tabs. they are designed by USA Archery Head Coach KiSic Lee. They are made specifically for target shooters but they could certainly be used for hunting. As cyred4d says there are other less expensive ones that will suit as well. In the field, you may find that the curved palm plate is cumbersome.
I just recently purchased a cordovan tabe from EFA and like it a bunch.
QuoteOriginally posted by old_goat2:
I'm preferrential to the Cordovan tabs from Bateman, super slick release and practically bullet proof
I agree.
That's what I use.
I don't like the ones with plates.
With my anchor, they have a tendency to split my lip.
Calf hair are slicker than the cordovan, but they wear out really fast on me.
I've been shooting my Bateman cordovan tab for..let me see...4.5 years now.
I'm another fan of Bateman cordovan tabs.
Cordovan... It's slick, long lasting, and tuff. Bateman makes a great one.
I make my own, from leather scraps, I can find cordovan leather scraps at a local shop here and make about 25 tabs for about 3 dollars !
I was on the same "search" as you a few months ago. I shoot 3 under and tried Bateman Cordovan, Black Widow 3-under (I think the call it Super Leather?), and the AAE.
I found the AAE to be kinda bit, and a little cumbersome in daily use. Not easy to "pivot" the tab to the back of my hand to pull arrows and such. A nice tab, but I found I didn't need all the extras it provides.
The BW 3-under is nicely made, but is a little "bulky" for me. I also couldn't really get used to the way the tab is "split" for each finger. The little piece of leather that faces the arrow seemed like a nice idea, but it just added to the bulk.
The Bateman 3-under fits me perfectly, and the padding is just enough for my 45# bow. Some people don't like the elastic loop, and for some it has apparently worn out pretty quick. But I like the loose but secure fit of the elastic. It allows me to quickly and easily spin the tab to the back of my hand. And it has - so far 4-5 months of daily shooting - held up just fine. The elastic is riveted in place, but I think it would be fairly easy to replace if/when needed.
So Bateman 3-under Cordovan for me.
Henrik
Atennishu,
If you have access to Genuine Shell Cordovan (not just cordovan colored leather) you have a GOLD MINE if you can get enough for 25 tabs Shell cordovan for 3 bucks. Buy all yo can get and resell it.
Arne
screaming eagle cordovan tabs... only one
i've used for 20 yrs., and only used 2.
What NBK said. Those widow tabs will make sure a new archers fingers don't hurt and they are pretty easy to use right out of the bag. After your fingers get a little tougher you can thin down your tab to get closer to your face if you need to.
Moebow, I get this from a friend who makes custom boots and saddles and such, I have just been making them for my friends and family, Havent really thought of selling them, I do make them very simply though, nothing fancy, but the more you use them the softer and slicker they get, next time I get some leather, I will make some and pass them out on here. they are so cheap to make, I dont really need the money, I just like for people to use them.
Thank you very much for the input guys. So it seems to me that all the fancy platforms and extras on tabs really aren't that necessary; at least not enough to really make it the bang for its buck. Once again, thank you very much guys, I learned a lot :)
I have a Black Widow Leather tab which I really like but I cut one layer in the middle out of mine as they are a little thicker than I like! Recently I purchased some leather scraps from Tandy leather and made a couple of my own they aren't Cordavan but they work real well!
Its not shell cordovan if your making 25 for 3 bucks. I cant even get close to 25 out of a normal size chip (thats what they call the piece of shell).I tell you what a chip is no 3 bucks and I buy it in quanity and its hard too get. They grade the leather a chip worst, 5 being low grade and 1 the best. I had to buy some 4 grades because the screwed up my order and I did not have enough. They were $45.00 EACH!!! They range in size from 15 to 20 inches long and about 6 to 10 inches wide. There not very big. They just went up in price again and there is only one tannery that makes shell cordovan out of Chicago. They sell to huge shoe companies (Florischiem) and they dont much care about the small guy. I just spent $500.00 bucks and it came in a small box! If he is a boot maker or saddle maker its either french calf (boots) or latigo but its not shell!
I am sure you all know better about what I am getting and what I pay for it than I do, but thanks for the info
Plus I am pretty sure I never said anything about shell ... but ya know, whatever
If it is true cordovan it is called shell cordovan due to the process of the the tannage and shaving. It also comes from a very small area on a horses rump. Google Horween Leather and they show a very good video on the process. So again maybe you did not say shell but when you say your buying cordovan for 3 bucks its not cordovan thats all I was saying! The prices of premium shooting tabs reflect the high cost of shell cordovan and it is the very best.
I've been using the Elite tab. It's stiff and makes it hard to do anything with your hand but it sure has helped my shooting. I prefer a glove but was developing some bad habits. Thumb up, cupping my hand, etc. The Elite tab has helped correct these problems and I may never go back to a glove.
Ross
The pieces I get are SCRAPS that are left over , and I usually get a bag from him every couple years, its not like I am buying a large piece and cutting it up,
That is fine but when you put information out like its around every corner in a saddle shop or boot shop for a few bucks. It kinda makes it look like some one charging what needs to charged for a good product like high way robbery.
I was just saying that I have an awesome inside deal, There is no one else in the world ( unless I die) that will get this deal, I was saying that I am special! I appreciate what it takes to make quality products and the time and effort to make unique items, I visited your web site and you are really a talented leatherman, and I am sure everything you make is well worth the price! I know how much work every detail is. Never meant to imply that anyone can get the deal I get. Plus, the ones that I make are very BASIC, no padding ( you have to build your own calluses) But I do give them away. That way no one can gripe about the price!