I am fairly new to target shooting with a recurve and I have been shooting as much as I can for about a month now. I shoot 3 under with a neet glove and I've started to develop a numbness/pain from the last joint in my middle finger to the tip. Doesn't bother me when I shoot but it does later. Its almost like the tip of my finger is dead!!! I've gave it a 3 day break and its still there. Is this normal or should I be concerned of nerve damage??
I had that bad for a while when I was shooting a Damascus glove but switched to a thicker glove (American Leathers Buffalo) and it helped tremendously and I feel I get a cleaner release with the nylon stalls.
Same as 9 shocks, in fact i'm getting ready to buy a big shot crossover. you may want to stretch your hands before and after shoot also, that helps me.
Sounds to me, like you're starting to develope calluses. (not a bad thing!)
Back in 1998 or so, When I first got back into this Traditional Bowhunting thing... I would get home from work about 6-7am and shoot for an hour or so every morning. MAN did I develope calluses!!! If it REALLY bothers you, Try using a tab over your shooting glove, and see if it makes a differance.
I don't think it's anything to be concerned about.
Thanks for the quick replies! I have a tab and really don't like it...I was going to ask about thicker gloves...one I have now isn't the best...
Had the same issue last year. Went to a thicker glove. First a howard hill then a big shot crossover. Took me a while for it to clear up for me.
Sounds like your middle finger is the strongest and taking most of the abuse. Usually the third finger and pinkie are the weakest anyway. A tab will help distribute the weight across all 3 fingers.
I use a bateman tab, but when my fingers bother me, which is very rare I also put on a Damascus glove, it doesn't seam to effect my shooting at all. Naturally once the pain subsides, I switch back to just a tab.
I will also say I shot with a glove since 1957, and only switched to a tab just two years ago at the behest of a three time world champ and a two time national champ. He told me once I get used to it I would never go back to a glove and, while it took awhile to adjust, he was right, I would never go back to a glove ! He was also insistent on it being a Batemen Cordovan tab.
Build your own glove, then you can have the overlays as thick as you want and also with various armor possibilities.
As an idea, the German build along I did:
http://www.free-archers.de/forum/index.php?topic=33148.0
It seems I need to make an English pdf of it....
If you are developing a callous on your ring finger you are torqueing the string, I'll bet your drawing elbow is in the up position and not horizontal with the bow arm. Try distributing 50% of the draw weight on your middle finger-40% on the index finger and 10% on your ring finger. Put the string in the first joint of each finger. Hope it helps!
Thanks for all the advice! I have been looking at new gloves and paying close attention to my form
Well I just had my first session after having a week break due to finger problems.... And wow my form and the ease of pulling the bow was so much better! I think all of my bow muscles finally recooped after giving it a break for a week! Anyway back to the finger, I wrapped the joint in tape before putting on glove and that helped a lot.paying more attention revealed that I'm holding almost all the weight on that finger. With a thicker surface from glove and tape my release was a lot better