Split or 3 under

BWD · March 22, 2014, 09:41:00 PM

More accurate 3 under, at hunting ranges, which is all I really care about anyway.

habujohn · March 22, 2014, 10:09:00 PM

Three under since the 70's after breaking my forth digit. Split finger does not feel right to me and I struggle shooting that way. My nickname in middle school was apache john for the way I shot.

the rifleman · March 25, 2014, 06:31:00 PM

OK---this thread moved me to try split again Friday night---what I immediately noticed other than my arrows being high--which I expected was that they were grouping much better and perfectly in line left to right than when I shoot 3 under. I have been shooting non-stop over the weekend (starting to over do it) and focusing on ignoring the arrow and bearing down on a spot on the target. Up close (15yds and under) I am making progress and am starting to relearn further shots---30 is quite a distance for me. My gap with split is about 10 inches higher (18 total) than my gap with 3 under at 20 yds, but I think practice and many arrows will make worrying about gap a thing of the past---right?

jackdaw · March 25, 2014, 07:08:00 PM

never cared for split.....3 under was MUCH more comfortable for me..!!! Split always pinched my right inside of my right index finger. Found 3 under to be very comfortable and very accurate. Can easily have a new bow tillered for 3 under as well......love it.

DanielB89 · March 28, 2014, 12:00:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by KeganM:
Started split. Very comfortable, very natural. Made it tough to be as accurate as I wanted though.

Made myself stick with three and I'm glad I did. My accuracy went way up and my success in the woods did too. It's not hard to tune out noise when shooting three under, and all of the top IBO shooters shoot three under. It makes sense to get the arrow close to your eye so you can just point and shoot.

After my big archery tournament in may I will try out 3 under for a month to see how I like it.
My question is,
If my BW is tuned for split, will it still work well with 3 under?

yeager · March 28, 2014, 03:40:00 PM

I shoot split finger. Tried 3 under a couple of years ago but just wasn't consistent enough, so I went back to split.

The Ole' Bowhunter · March 28, 2014, 07:54:00 PM

I shoot split fingers...I like the idea of using my fingers securely keeping the arrow properly nock to the bowstring.

KeganM · March 28, 2014, 09:08:00 PM

I've yet to come across a bow that I couldn't tune well for three under. You will need two nocking points though. I had issues with noise until I used a second one under the nock too.

Like I said, all the top barebow shooters all shoot three under, not one of them shoots split.

March 28, 2014, 09:34:00 PM

I shoot split because that is the way I learned a loooong time ago. I have tried 3-under and just can't get the hang of it.

Bisch

DanielB89 · March 28, 2014, 10:47:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by KeganM:
I've yet to come across a bow that I couldn't tune well for three under. You will need two nocking points though. I had issues with noise until I used a second one under the nock too.

Like I said, all the top barebow shooters all shoot three under, not one of them shoots split.

Kegan, I have noticed that no one that is in the top shoots split. What would be the best starting point for trying out 3 under as far as nock point in comparison to split?

Thumper Dunker · March 28, 2014, 11:03:00 PM

Shot split for a long time tried three under a few years back now split feels real goofy now. I can't say I shoot better with one or the other and my bows are still quiet with ether way. I only have one nocking point.

March 29, 2014, 12:31:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Thumper Dunker:
Shot split for a long time tried three under a few years back now split feels real goofy now. I can't say I shoot better with one or the other and my bows are still quiet with ether way. I only have one nocking point.

All the yotes in California despise the fact that you have fingers!

Bisch

Blessed One · March 29, 2014, 12:09:00 PM

Shot split now I shoot 2 under that ring finger gives me fits on the release but 2 under I get a great release every time

Tom · March 30, 2014, 10:49:00 AM

Shoot split but at full draw have very little pressure on top finger, just seems to give me a crisper release. Never be a top target or 3d shooter but in the hunting woods I seem to do alright.

Recurve50 LBS · March 30, 2014, 12:31:00 PM

I shoot better 3 under. Switch from split fingers.

chall · March 30, 2014, 09:21:00 PM

I just started 3 under this last year and it works better for me. I thought it would be awkward until I tried it.

KeganM · March 31, 2014, 11:00:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by DanielB89:
Kegan, I have noticed that no one that is in the top shoots split. What would be the best starting point for trying out 3 under as far as nock point in comparison to split?

I normally start around 3/8" or so, and adjust depending on bareshaft flight. I just eyeball it.

There was an interesting post by Larry Yein last year about split vs. three under. He shoots split for competition, so never bothered with three under (part of the rules for longbow) but he said that trying three under gave him a boost in accuracy and control once he got the rhythm. Steve Morely has had similiar results trying three under. Both are IFAA champs, so they stick with split to keep shooting in the longbow class. As far IBO where there aren't rules requiring split though, you don't see any split finger shooters.

Sirius Black · March 31, 2014, 08:28:00 PM

I like my sight picture better with 3 under.

GreyGoose · April 01, 2014, 08:27:00 PM

What Would Robin Hood Do? I'm thinking split. I heard of three-under decades ago, but by then was too set in my (teenaged) ways to switch.