I have always shot a bow with just fingers..no tab or glove just curious how many others do the same.
Been shooting bare fingers now for several years. Got tired of losing/forgetting gloves.
I think the bow is actually quieter too.
I am planning on making the switch myself after the season is over.
Sooooo what you're saying is I'm a sissy......
A friend of mine shot part of a 3D with no glove or tab when he left his back at the motorhome.
By about #6 he was getting a bit sore.
By about #12 he had a pretty respectable blood blister on the end of one of his fingers.
It wasn't too much longer when the blood blister popped and he accepted my extra tab.
That's why I carry about three tabs with me on the quiver. Your mileage may vary.
Guy
A long time ago I remember the target shooters shot with bare fingers. Their bows were only in 30-35# range. But when they switched to their hunting bows out came the tabs or gloves.
I've tried using a tab or glove but it never felt right....something about having to feel the string.
Yes as a kid with a really light bow. Years ago, when I shot a lot with a tab I would develop calluses shooting a 48 - 50 lb bow. Today, I shoot more weight but shoot less, and can't imagine the problems I'd have. Just not worth it. Kind like jogging bare foot.
There is a gentleman on masters of barebow that triple serves his bow strings for use with bare fingers. If I remember right his son is a member here. I plan on trying this method.
I guess I have girly fingers!!! I could only shoot a couple shots before my fingers would be really hurting.
Bisch
I believe it's Roger Rotharr who triple serves his strings on hunting weight bows and shoots bare fingers.
With a 64# bow and skinny still strings? Call me a sissy but youch!
Not even gonna try. I am just not willing to put up with blisters getting my fingers tough enough. Soreness seems to increase form issues, and I sure don't need any more of those.
I shoot enough bare finger to do it well. I'm actually a little more accurate. Depending on the bow I can shoot quite a bit that way. I can definitely shoot one good shot that way. When volume shooting I still use a glove but would like to eventually get away from it entirely.
I've shot a few arrows bare fingered just to make sure I could if during a hunt, I managed to lose my glove.
I'm usually good for one shot bare-fingered. I hate shooting only one shot :)
If i had my tab or glove off while out hunting and a shot presented itself, I could make a good shot. More than one? No way. I start flinching.
I shoot skinny SBD strings but they are double served.
I think if you ease into it you should be fine. I shoot that way all the time now. Dont even know where my old gloves are anymore.
And I swear the bow is quieter...
Me too
Ok , you guys who shoot with bare fingers
How many pounds have your bows
I'm shooting 50#. practice for 30 minutes 3 -4 times a week....but have been shooting bare fingers since was a kid.
I can usually do about 10 to 15 shots at the pro shop trying out a new bow. Been doing that for months before deciding on my bow.
Everyone should practice even if it's just a few shots bare finger just incase. You never know. I lost my glove in Alberta once and didn't have a spar. Dug out some duct tape I keep in my pack wrapped around a piece of dowel rod and put a few wraps on my string and I was good to go. Killed a nice bear too. Now I practice draw my 60# all the time bare finger just in case.
Compound guys should do it even more. In BC a guy in camp missed out on killing a really nice bear because he couldn't get his release on fast enough. Bear popped out in front of him 3 times on the trail 15 yards out. Easy shot for me but that dumb release. Finally he just grabbed the outfitters rifle the 4th time the bear stuck his nose out to have a look. Nice gun killed bear.
QuoteOriginally posted by Michael Arnette:
With a 64# bow and skinny still strings? Call me a sissy but youch!
I am with Michael on this boat!
F-Manny
as heavy as I need it to be, GOSH!
I have since 1988. #4 nylon serving most of the time ,no double serving, and bows up to 60lbs.
I've profesionally built over 20 thousand strings and welded for over 25 years. My hands are tired, but still shoot bare fingered.
If it causes nerve damage, I should quity day job!
I used to shoot my compound bare finger, but I padded the string with athletic tape. Over time I built up calluses on the tips of my fingers. When I switched over to trad I worried it would slow the string to much, and started with a tab. Two years ago I had a buck run in before I had a chance to put my tab on, took the shot without a tab. Didn't notice any pain with the adrenaline and all, but I don't think I could do it as much as I like to shoot.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Mecredy:
as heavy as I need it to be, GOSH!
Sorry if I hurt your feelings
But is not same shoot bow 40# and 65# with bare fingers
You didn't hurt my feelings, that was my Napoleon Dynamite imitation
with all the things I put my fingers through as a professional bowyer, shade tree mechanic and guitar player, shooting a bow of any weight without a tab or glove is the least of my worries.
Ok, So I have to admit. First time I read this I thought it said Bear fingers not Bare fingers....
Tab only for me. I tried bare fingers. Can't do it. I can with my 35# but no way with my #57. I could probably do one shot if I really needed to.
I used to practice and hunt without any protection for my fingers, 60#. but I lost the feeling in my finger tips once from some nerve damage, im sure. I kinda like being able to feel my finger tips. so I wear protection, it just aint worth doing any permanent damage. no sense chancing it!
it took a couple months for the feeling to come back to normal.
Has anybody tried the "no glove finger savers" that slip over the string? They've been around a long time but I've never heard how well they work.
I do.
Kris
ooops duplicate. I'll edit.
I especially shoot bare fingers for hunting but for target you can't do it for extended shooting.
Kris
I have callouses built up and practice regularly with bare fingers just in case I forget or lose my tab (which has happened a few times) My biggest problem is my accuracy suffers without the consistent feel/release that I get with my tab. The only time it's painful is when my hands are really cold.
I wouldn't want the extra weight of the "no glove" on my string, although we use them in the classes we put on for kids, as it is a hassle to find gloves/tabs that fit their fingers, which come in all sizes.
Yup, triple served, bare finger, normally around 65 lb. Been shooting this way for going on 35 years, no nerve damage yet!
R
I don't wear a glove or tab hunting so I usually shoot the first dozen or so shots bare finger, then put the glove on even though I don't feel any kind of abnormal discomfort. I'm a steel worker by trade so maybe my fingers are a bit more calloused than others.
Oh yeah, current bow is 45# but my last hunting rig was 62#.
Several years ago..... I climbed to the top of the mountain, while hunting with my Brother TradGanger, adkmountainken. Got to the top, and realized I had left my glove in the truck!!! Well, I wasn't gonna climb that mountain twice! Hunted the day without it... Didn't see any Deer. Probly could have made the shot if I had to, but I don't make a habit of shooting without one.
I use the rubber no gloves on my strings. been doing that as long as I can remember.Not hard to shoot with cloth gloves on either when its cold out.
Isn't it a lot easier to stick a couple of extra tabs or gloves in with your gear? I shoot tabs and always have 3 to 4 extras on me at all times when hunting.
I can make a few shots with no tab but I have sissy fingers also.
Stowing extra Tabs & Gloves with my "gear"...
Just ends up having them left in the truck. (With the rest of my gear)
I take a lot of shots from 20 pound bows with bare fingers teaching teachers, parents, and kids. Millions (15 million actually) of kids have been taught to shoot bare fingers (and barbbow) in my organization since 2002. However, most of their shooting sessions involve only 40-60 shots in an hour.
However, I have never shot a hunting weight bow, of any type with bare fingers. Don't intend to even try it. I find lots of ways to hurt myself without doing so on purpose.
I keep a spare tab (broken in) in my pack. There have been a couple of times I've had to use it because I forgot my number one or dropped it.
Honestly, in all these years I've forgotten or almost forgotten (got to the truck) my bow more than my tab.I've come home a couple of times when I parked and the bow wasn't in the rear seat. Good thing I can be in my favorite stand from my back door in about 15 minutes (counting a shower!).
I keep my tab, a glove and my arm guard in a pocket of my quiver. If I have my arrows, I have my tab.
'Course if I don't have my arrows......
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm312/bladepeek/Archery/my%20back%20quiver/DSC_0008.jpg) (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/bladepeek/media/Archery/my%20back%20quiver/DSC_0008.jpg.html)
Heard too much about irreparable nerve damage...not worth the risk to me. Been hunting from tree stands for over 20 years, never fallen from one but I still won't get in one without a safety harness.
I've never had any issue with numbness or pain...maybe I'm a lucky one dunno... Been shooting this way for 20 some years with both trad gear -n- compound.Guess if I ever do start having issues will have to switch to a tab or glove.