Checkered grip

cacciatore · February 03, 2011, 07:43:00 AM

I never had any checkered grip till now on any of my bows,but my most used recurves are becoming too slippery and i need to fix this issue.What do you think and how much you like your checkering?

WRV · February 03, 2011, 07:54:00 AM

Just thought it was a fancy "extra" untill I bought a used Silvertip with a checkered grip. I was blown away by how much better it feels in my hand. I'm planning on having a couple of other risers chechered now.

Bowwild · February 03, 2011, 08:06:00 AM

I had always thought anything done to add traction to a grip was a bad thing in terms of facilitating torque during the shot. However, when I received my 1-piece Blacktail Elite VL last spring it came with a free "fish scale" checker job. It was a fantastic feeling grip and I felt it helped me position and keep my hand positioned throughout the shot.

Then I received a loaner Silvertip from Billy Shipp which had the Schafer checker job on the grip. Wow, it was even better with a very fine texture and subdued design. This grip feels terrific. When a checkered grip is available I will always go for it. In fact, I've thought about having a couple of bows checkered by Schafer.

Oh,it doesn't appear torque has become a greater part of my shot with a checkered grip. I would think if a person didn't properly set the center of their palm's life line over the center of the grip, torque could be a greater problem because there would be side pressure on the grip. I like my wrist to be "L-shaped" so the bones in the wrist sit against the grip rather than a high wrist which requires muscles to keep the grip positioned.

I highly recommend the Schafer checkering. I can't speak for any of the others. I am wondering about the "dimpled" checkering done by Norm at Blacktail but it would be hard to beat the very fine rifle-like checkering by Schafer.

February 03, 2011, 08:21:00 AM

I have also been wondering about that but on a smaller longbow riser...has to been quite popular on the 'curves for years but have not seen it on the Hill style - only leather wrap.

tukudu · February 03, 2011, 08:23:00 AM

I will throw this out as a temporary feel like checkering effect that I feel looks ok even on a silvertip. I glue on with barge cement a small saddle of tanned beavertail where your palm sits on the grip. It is very thin, has a scaled effect and for me works just fine on my hunting bow. The best part is it probably cost me about $3.00. Mine is black on a cocobollo riser.

joe vt · February 03, 2011, 08:27:00 AM

I will state the same as above. It wasn't until after I recieved my Silver Tip that I realized how sweet they are.

I even sent my RER riser to Dave to have him checker it.

And my ThunderHorn 3pc longbow has Duanes Stipple grip and that is very sweet too.

Lastly, I had Bob Morrison add half pine cones on my Cheyenne riser. I think for my liking I should have gone with the full pine cones.

cacciatore · February 03, 2011, 08:28:00 AM

tukudu,this is an option i can cosider on some of old bows of mine where to have a checkering job,plus shipping back and forth doesn't worth.

bluemoonrising · February 03, 2011, 08:32:00 AM

I like Norm's checkering--great feel. The checkering that is too "busy" seems too slippery for me. Each his own. Peace!

billy shipp · February 03, 2011, 08:53:00 AM

Felix,

The first bow I had with a checkered grip was a Blacktail, then I bought a Dale Arner 1pc recurve with a checkered grip, like Schafer offers. After shooting these 2 bows, nothing else just felt right. I had a few older bows lying around that I didn't want to invest the money to have them checkered, so I Stippled the grips, which feels good, and it looks good too, in my opinion.
My Stippling isn't professional, but it suits me, and it did the job.
My last custom didn't come checkered, so I sent it to Dave at Schafer to have checkered. I prefer Dave's checkering over anything I've tried.
It's a personal choice, but after shooting a few bows with checkered grips, I definitely prefer them.

Swinestalker · February 03, 2011, 09:01:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by tukudu:
I will throw this out as a temporary feel like checkering effect that I feel looks ok even on a silvertip. I glue on with barge cement a small saddle of tanned beavertail where your palm sits on the grip. It is very thin, has a scaled effect and for me works just fine on my hunting bow. The best part is it probably cost me about $3.00. Mine is black on a cocobollo riser.

I really like beavertail too. I tried one of Big Jim's beavertail grips and thought it felt outstanding.

David McLendon · February 03, 2011, 09:17:00 AM

I'm getting ready this morning to pack up my Tall Tines riser for a trip out to Dave Windauer for the treatment.

Swiftspeed10 · February 03, 2011, 12:52:00 PM

Im getting my new Centaur with a checkered/stippled grip, they look great and are very functional.

snag · February 03, 2011, 12:59:00 PM

Cacciatore, I have always had Norm checker the grips on the bows I buy from him. It is a low profile checkering that helps hold my hand in place through the shot. I built a recurve that I stippled the grip on. I like that as well. The bow Norm will be building for me next is one that I will be considering having stippled instead of checkered.
I had a bow once that had a design carved on it's grip as a way of checkering it. Didn't care for the deep carving. A low profile checkering is perfect!

Fritz · February 03, 2011, 01:11:00 PM

Jim Neaves does an excellent job stippling. I had him do my carbon elite and liked it so much I sent him my widow riser to do, as well. Very functional and economical.

JEFF B · February 03, 2011, 01:46:00 PM

i was thinking about doing that to my Bow. gives a nice grip on the Bow i did it to my freinds Bow and now hes getting me to do it to all his Bows. and whats more it is easy to do and as Fritz said very functional and Economical,

Bjorn · February 03, 2011, 01:53:00 PM

Checkering can be beautiful, this one is done by Dave Windauer and is a joy to shoot

Bishop · February 03, 2011, 01:58:00 PM

One of my Silvertips is checkered and it's a great grip. Love it when wearing rag wool gloves.

stagetek · February 03, 2011, 01:59:00 PM

I also sent my RER to Dave for checkering. I had him checker the grip, but not the flare. He did a great job, and I like the way it feels.

KentuckyTJ · February 03, 2011, 02:31:00 PM

A great addition to any bow in my opinion and the Windauers checkering is beautiful. I have a medium sized hand and adding leather, or rubber grip wraps for traction usually make grips to large for my liking.

bucksakemmer · February 03, 2011, 04:13:00 PM

Has anyone had the grip on and ACS checkered and does it add or take away from the resale, altho I cant see me ever selling mine