So.....what say the folks about the subjective differences between the various grips of the Hill style bows.
I have a NM Shelton now with the locator grip and for the life of me, I cannot reason how there can be a real world difference between it and a straight grip. I just feels pretty ambiguous. I do not notice the locator notch and just put my hand flush with the arrow shelf anyway.
That being said, I ask the question: What are the differences you feel there are between the straight, dished, and locator grips of the various makers of Hill bows.
Note: It is probably not a popular option on Steve's hill bows but I would also be interested to hear about the RW grip as well in a Hill bow if anyone has any experience with it. Im sure it is more popular on his R/D bows.
Im in the process of contemplation on a new Hill bow and am interested in how others feel about this.
I started wih the locator grip on my Hill bows and gravitated to the dish, and finally settled on the Hill straight grip. Not a lot of difference in the dished vs. straight grip, but there is some. Craig Eakin offers two grips on his Hill TD models; a small straight, and a larger straight. I have them both, and I can honestly say there is very little difference. The Hill straight grips seem to be a little larger(more mass) then the grip found on the Northen Mist and fits my hand a lot better. Bow grip is a very personal thing,something we all have to decide for ourself. Good luck in your quest. :campfire:
I like how the part of the palm directly under the thumb fits into the a dished grip.
A lot depends on how you hold the grip. If you hold the grip on the side, heel down, the straight and dish work great.
If you want a locator grip, the hand is wrapped around the grip, applying more pressure around the throat of the grip.
Darren
I also feel the locator grip impedes my low wrist grip because how the locator portion pulls the webbing of my hand into it.
Don't forget that the shape can also be a wedge, I have that on my Shrew Hill and for my hands it really cooks the bacon !!!
I have tried several and a deep grip with dish and a very narrow back like a wedge is the best to keep you from torgueing. It keeps your hand in a natural pointing postion.
QuoteOriginally posted by ChrisM:
I have tried several and a deep grip with dish and a very narrow back like a wedge is the best to keep you from torgueing. It keeps your hand in a natural pointing postion.
x2
QuoteI like how the part of the palm directly under the thumb fits into the a dished grip.
Me too Darren!
I have the NM loacator on a Superior, I like it as well, I shoot it same as my straight bows.
What I have found is, what makes more of a difference to me is the size of the grip, the deeper the better and not too wide. A grip that fills my hand I can grip most consitant, be it straight, dished or touch of locator.
Eric
I think that before I buy a Hill style, I will have to shoot a few to see which grip I prefer. Sounds like a good reason to go to Compton....
I have found the slight dished grip on my Schulz to be the best grip I've ever shot. It is deep and very narrow at the palm but still has a decent swell to it. Seems to cause an identical hand placement every time - and that placement just lines me up perfectly. Shooting that bow is litteraly like pointing your finger at what you want to hit. VERY intuitive.
I am very comfortable with both the straight and the dished grips. Neither one feels particulary more natural or controllable. None of my Hill bows have the locator grip, but I have other longbows that do. They are o.k. but I just prefer the other two grip styles.
I prefer a dish or straight grip on my Hill's.
I have all three plus a forward grip Big Five. I like the forward grip best, then the dish, then straight and the locator last.
I have found, with the draw weight of the bows I shoot, the Dished Grip gives me more control, stability, and power.
I make my straight grips slightly asymmetrical to the bow hand, one can tell when the bow is in the wrong hand. I do the same with my version of the locator grip, but with my locator style I can still heal the bow as much as is needed specifically for my hand.
(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/pavanldb/DSCN0331-1.jpg)
I can tell you that without question, Steve's Northern Mist locator grip IS VERY DIFFERENT than most others. Take a close look at where the locator starts, stops, and the details. Steve's places your hand as you say, right where it goes. I have not found the same with any other Hill style bow, and others of different designs often lack the thought he has put in his locator grip. I am sure some people may not like his, prefer another style, etc...but I am a straight grip man, but can still take his locator grip and not miss a beat.