I see time and time again people who have more years under their belt shooting trad than I do being alive using guards for their bow arm. I consider myself a novice archer but gave up using an arm guard long ago as I found after a bit of practice I quit giving subjecting myself to string slap.
Why do guys like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1gc8EUQZ8g&list=PLAS5TQYStxSsXLJxOBK_A_glPo9S9PqlH&index=2
still wear an arm guard? Is there something I'm missing?
Often it is to keep their sleeves from catching on the string as they shoot. Some use large rubber bands to do the same thing. I rarely do more than brush my arm with the string, but as I add layers when it gets colder, I use an armguard to insure a smooth shot with no possibility of the string catching my wool coat.
for hunting I would use a short piece of ace bandage that had the self stick Velcro sewed on just wrap a couple times,,, but I haven't used an arm guard in years got used to shooting without one,,,,,,,had to because I kept forgetting it.
When shooting a recurve I don't get string slap but shooting a longbow I do. I have 2 longbows and both string slap me.
Up until a couple months ago I'd only owned recurves with 8"+ brace heights and it was never an issue. My new longbow braces at 7" and with a locked forearm I get slapped every time.
I don't hit my arm every time. Just often enough to make using one necessary...leaves a nice red, painful welt. Besides that's the way I was taught and it keeps the bowstring out of my clothes.
The fact is good archery coaches tell us that unless the string ends up very close to our arm, even hitting our arm on occasion on follow through, our form could be better...being happy with not wearing a bracer of some sort is likely accepting form that is not as good and consistent as it could be...watch some video of the world's best FITA archers and notice what they do
DDave
Keeping clothing out of the way is a really important reason for using one. Some years a go, I hit my heavy coat sleeve, which cost me a nice 8 pointer.
Just whacked my coat sleeve when shooting a warm-up shot before heading out to my stand. Arrow hit a foot high and 6" off to the side. That's all the reason I need.
I use an arm guard primarily to keep my sleeve out of the way. I generally don't hit my arm because it is bent quite a bit when I shoot but I have hit it on occasion and I want to be sure it doesn't happen at crunch time. I wear an arm guard every time I shoot my bow as a habit.
For the same reason you'll see top-flite 3D archers like Rod Jenkins with his nose taped up....as has been pointed out, not needing an arm guard does not necessarily equate to having good form. Sometimes it's quite the opposite.
Quick, cheap insurance. I occasionally take a shot or two without it. Unless I'm shooting one of my sub 7" BH longbows, it usually isn't a big issue (maybe a little redness where the string grazes the arm). However, it only takes one slip up to end up with a reminder that lasts for days or weeks. To me, its worth the extra few seconds it takes to slap one on.
Because I have Dupuytren's contracture of the elbow and I get hit hard when I get hit, which is most shots.
Besides, when I was shooting 80# daily you really didn't want that slap.
I wear one because I'm a %^#+ and it hurts.
As Charlie Lamb said: "I don't hit my arm every time. Just often enough to make using one necessary...leaves a nice red, painful welt." I also use it while hunting because my clothes are often bulky and I have missed before just because of clothing getting caught by the string. When you are changing positions and shooting it changes angles. That's why it sometimes hits your arm.
I shoot a 75 # longbow and I can still see the mark on my arm from a practice I did wearing just a T shirt last July (no armguard)... I won't do that again, LOL!
I usually don't wear one with short sleeves, but I wear one when I wear long sleeves or a jacket to keep the bulk down.
Shoot a low brace height LB or a low brace non center shot selfbow. You will catch on quickly why, not every time as stated above but just enough times.
The armguard is part of my bowhunter uniform.
I will "tick" my arm with the bowstring sometimes and for sure cold weather clothing can find the string if I let it. The armguard is as necessary as the tab to me.
Not much looks cooler than a nice tooled leather arm guard and a leather shooting glove. :saywhat:
Ah heck, just keep shooting without one and sooner or later you'll figure out why they do!
Well it doesn't take much to wear one and after you miss and elk because your string catches your coat it's an easy decision.
The correct question is why would anyone not wear one.
Mike
What tomsm44 said. It just looks cool!
I guess all the other reasons given are okay too.
I completely understand using it to keep long sleeves out of the way or if u are shooting 80 pound bows where one hit is all it takes to give you an archers kiss from hell. Idk personally I think I started leaving it off because sometimes the string would catch on the end of my gaurd and that drove me crazy. I have since fixed that issue by beveling the inside of the leather to fit closer to my arm.
To me the occasional scrapes from my recurves isn't too bad although the bow has snuck a good whallup in on me before. I guess I'm just a minimalist I would shoot without a glove if the old fingers could handle it
Its a little like outside heated mirrors. I drove my whole life without them. Now that I have them and winter is on its way again, I won't be without them.
And I have raised some real goose eggs with a low brace height longbow. I don't need to induce a flinch.
I think wingnut nailed it above.
I mainly shoot long bows with lowish brace height. As has been mentioned a few times already, low brace heights might make a believer out of you.
I also have a medical disorder similar to hemophilia...one thwack of a bowstring leaves huge bruises (among other nastier things) which take three weeks to heal. I'd rather not have that happen, so I wear a double thickness leather arm-guard every time.
I'm too old to care if I look wimpy anyway.
.
Leaving at last light and a monster buck showing just after I put on my jacket cost me that deer back in Oct of 1996. I'll never forget watching my arrow fly perfectly left to right just under his brisket. I always were one now if I have on long sleeves.
Some peoples bow arm is closer to the string than other also requiring them to need one when sleeveless.
2 pages of good input! Raising a welt seems less of a concern then slapping a garment and inducing a bad shot.
Your call!
Because they look cool! :bigsmyl:
Now the guy shooting candles in a building full of firewood may have a totally different reason for wearing one.... fire protection perhaps?
Only time i use one is with low brace height long bows.... i use another system altogether for rain gear and baggy sleeves....
I used one with my Hill style LB. I do not use one with my R/D LB or my recurves unless wearing long sleeves. I have a natural bend in my elbow because I didn't shoot " straight up " like a target shooter. I have to turn my elbow counter clockwise before my arm sticks out. That is uncomfortable for me. Now my wife has that elbow that sticks out. See uses a full length arm guard. IMHO body makeup has something to do with needing an armgaurd or not
Primarily to keep your sleeves out of the way. It also serves to keep your arm protected from a swift THWACK!
Long: The string catching your arm guard is usually the result of placing the guard in the wrong place, though shape and thickness of the guard can also cause it.
They're probably not needed, except to keep clothes out of the way, for shooting most recurves that have high brace heights, say 7-9 inches. If you shoot a straight gripped long bow with a brace height of 6 1/2 inches or less, you'll soon discover the need for an arm guard.
Of course, some folks shoot with a substantially bent bow arm, which also keeps the forearm out of the way of the string.
I rather agree with Old Goat. Course, I'm an old goat myself.
The only time I use an armguard is for selfbows, and when I have long sleeves on while hunting. I get string slap with selfbows with real low brace heights, and I worry about the string getting caught in my sleeves when wearing long sleeves while hunting.
Bisch
Modern materials seem to be harder than good ole Dacron B50. Sometimes, even with my recurve the string vibrates against my arm with out direct trying to carve a chunk of skin off. After a few hundred shots and a number of those string buzz contacts, I start getting a welt. Then when that welt gets blasted, I quit for the day.
Wish I could use one all the time. I get a bad rash if I use one. tried all kinds and they all will make my arm brake out. Will use them when I have long sleeves on. Getting use to the sting now and then.
For me, it's psychological. When I take the armguard off, I think that I subconsciously bend my elbow more to avoid string slap, which throws my draw length off and I miss to the left. Put the arm guard back on, my shots go where I'm looking.
I only need it to keep the string off my clothes. When its warm out, I don't use anything. When its cold, I have a home-made 550 cord rig with a cord tensioner thingy on one end and a slip knot on the other. I put the slip knot end around my wrist, wrap the cord around my forearm going up toward the elbow, then push the cord tensioner thru a loop in the 550 and tighten it to the desired tension with the cord tensioner. It makes a nice cord type "guard" to keep your clothes in tight from the string. Goes on and off in 2 seconds and fits in any pocket without you even knowing its there.
It wouldn't work too well to prevent a chronic string slap though.