I'm curious if anyone out there shoots and hunts with a thumb ring. My curiousity is how loud they are and how well they work with non Mongol style bows being shot with the arrow on the archers side of the riser. I've got some arthritis issues in my hands and was giving this a thought.

Thanks to any and all.

I have a buddy that's been messing around with one on his longbow. He can shoot pretty good with it but its noticeably louder than with just fingers. It also has to be cold on the thumb as the temps plummet!

I was playing around with it a while back on my RH recurve. It was next to impossible for me to keep the arrow on the shelf.

I tried it on a LH bow and things worked out OK.
Did seem a bit louder than using fingers. Might be able to quiet things up a bit by learning good form...

Good Luck!!

I have made a release aid from leather that operates a lot like a thumb ring but as quiet as shooting with fingers.

I made mine from and old belt. I'll try to explain how it's used. If I'm lucky you'll be able to tell how its made from these pictures.

It's really simple to make and use. Just cut your strap long enough to fold into the palm of your hand and long enough to wrap over the string.

I also added an extra loop of leather used as an adjustable wrist thong.

(I sent you a pm with my phone number if you have questions.)

 

 

 

 

 

I can tell you that the learning curve is very low with this. I was amazed at how easy it was to use and how great it works.

God bless,Mudd

Hey Mudd--neat idea: could you possibly show a picture of the release in your hand on the string?

Thanks a lot--A picture is worth a thousand words.

They are so easy to make, all you need is the leather and good leather glue.

I put the end that goes around the string on my belt sander and tapered it.(that made it a bit slicker also)

As I stated before it's very easy to use and as quiet as fingers. You do use some different muscles so you need to use it so as to build up those muscles at 1st.

God bless, Mudd

Huh, just when I thought the day would end without learning anything new. Can you pull more or less weight this way? I would guess less???

Actually more! Go figure!! Your thumb is a very strong appendage.
God bless,Mudd

Wilson Bros. archery used to make a release back in the 60's, using  a leather tab folded over the string and held by the thumb.

Good stuff Mudd.  This one should be packaged up and saved!

Mudd,
That is Awesome!!!!  I never have seen anything like that.  Now you got my wheels turning up-stairs.

What do you anchor on, when you are shooting with that??

I use the last joint in my thumb back to my hinge joint in my jaw. That makes for my 28" draw, the same as if I'm shooting fingers.

God bless,Mudd

QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:
I use the last joint in my thumb back to my hinge joint in my jaw. That makes for my 28" draw, the same as if I'm shooting fingers.

I have another idea I want to try using clear rubber/plastic tubing, small diameter rope and couple of washers.

God bless,Mudd

Well Done Mudd!

Hey Mudd that's a great idea.  I have been wondering how to improve my release since I moved to a really short bow.  I think this would be the ticket.  You certainly seem to be one hell of a backyard engineer.
With your experience (I shoot 3 under) do you think this will help to smoothen things out?

I know a great taxi man in Fulton County Ga that used a similar release on a compound.

It was Velcro, and where the Velcro wrapped over and touched what he held in his palm was "bumpy" to increase the ease of holding the strap.

Great idea.  I will keep this in mind if I get hand problems as not shooting ain't happening...

Quote:harvestmoon   "With your experience (I shoot 3 under) do you think this will help to smoothen things out?"

I wouldn't bet against it since I use it under the arrow the same way a three under shooter would.

God bless,Mudd

That's pretty cool Mudd!