What does everyone prefer for wrap material on their longbow grips?
I currently have a stitched leather and not sure what I think of it yet... I'm honestly not used to having any grip material at all as my background is recurves. So it's a bit new to me. I've heard people say leather gets a stink but idk.
There's a part of me that wants to try a rubber like some inner tube. But no desire to use tennis wrap.
What's everyone's thought and experiences????

I'm fond of beaver tail leather. It seems to have some water resistant characteristics as well as a grippy texture. I've had mine on my recurve for two years of steady shooting and hunting and there is no odor. Big Jim has a great video on You Tube showing how to install one.

They also look fantastic!

Beaver tail for sure

Beaver

I have beaver tail on my Thunderchild and rubber on my BW PL. I rarely notice a difference. There is no stink to the TC grip.

When I bought my Black Widow PL it had a rubber grip. Hated it and removed it. When I sent it to BW for a weight reduction/refinish I had them put a beavertail wrap on it. Wow, no comparison. I also have beavertail on my Javaman Elkheart. Highly recommended.

I don't use a wrap on my BW PL.

Quote from: Phillip Fields on July 07, 2023, 08:13:32 AM
I don't use a wrap on my BW PL.

If I had to choose between a bare handle and a rubber grip, it would be a bare handle, no doubt.

Being in the humid south, slick grips aren't really very friendly.

Leather.... works great. With all the sweat, no worries with stink that I've ever experienced.  I like the ruff side out for a more positive grip.  A nice shinny tanned side defeats the purpose.

Rubber, yes used it and is a very positive grip for sure.

Beaver tail is really nice, but expensive.

I have also used Bow Saddles.... if you don't always want your grip to get much bigger, the bow saddles are the answer.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/leather-bow-saddle-bow-grip.html

Then there is checkering.  This also works.  Some types of checkering work better than others.

It's all personal preference.

I have leather grip I want to put Beavertail grip on but I can't give any Pros or Cons because I shoot with a glove on so really doesn't affect my grip.

Beaver tail is good.  Elephant skin is really nice.

Tennis racket grip wrap works great.

No need to put anything on the grip.
I personally like leather just because it looks good to me but I have a few bows that are just smooth finish grips.
I will add that a spiral wrap of suede leather is easy to do and it looks neat too.

Quote from: Terry Green on July 07, 2023, 09:08:13 AM
Being in the humid south, slick grips aren't really very friendly.

Leather.... works great. With all the sweat, no worries with stink that I've ever experienced.  I like the ruff side out for a more positive grip.  A nice shinny tanned side defeats the purpose.

Rubber, yes used it and is a very positive grip for sure.

Beaver tail is really nice, but expensive.

I have also used Bow Saddles.... if you don't always want your grip to get much bigger, the bow saddles are the answer.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/leather-bow-saddle-bow-grip.html

Then there is checkering.  This also works.  Some types of checkering work better than others.

It's all personal preference.

X2.  And, I whole heartedly believe grips of some kind are needed over smooth slick grips in humid climates.

I live in Missouri so humidity is certainly an old friend around here.

I'll use a black golf glove to get the same results on a slick grip.

Tennis wrap for me or checkered grip. I use the tennis wrap to keep from slipping. I don't care about looks.

I was a fan of the rubber grip over the leather one that came on bow. That is until I moved to AZ. My hand turned black from the rubber in summer. So now I put that gauze tape over the leather. When it gets slick I change it out in a minute or less. I get the stuff at the feed store that's used for wrapping horses legs. Cheaper than drug store stuff and wider.

Beavertail on most of my bows.  My 2 Cari-Bow Peregrines beavertail grips have lasted a little over 15 years and have shot many, many arrows thru them.  I've hunted in the rain, cold, hot as Hades summers with them without a problem. YMMV