To "grip"......or not to "grip" ???

[Winterhawk1960]

I have only been shooting a traditional bow for the past 6 months. I was out shooting this evening before dark and was really taking my time and working on my release. I wasn't doing to badly, but had a brain-fart and thought I would work on my grip.
I have, since the beginning always tried to situate the grip in my hand where I wanted it to be placed. I wouldn't call it a firm grip, but not a real relaxed grip either, kinda somewhere in-between. I had a thought about just letting the grip, as I started to draw the bow....just go to where it wanted to be in my hand.

I couldn't believe the difference that this made in my shooting. Suffice it to say that I came in the house feeling pretty good. I am right handed, and the grip in the bow would seat itself between my thumb and first finger....kinda at an angle. The only pressure that I applied (which wasn't much) was applied by my index finger just touching the back of the riser, ever so gently. Kinda like holding a baby chicken in your hand and closing your index finger to prevent it from pushing out of your hand.

I have really been concentrating on working on my form lately, and have been fighting being consistant with my release and follow through without collapsing. When I hold the bow this way, I immediately discovered what you guys talk about when you say that you both "push and pull" upon release. This just became a natural thing and very easy to achieve with my lack of choking the grip on the bow.

I don't know who mentioned it in another thread, but I had been trying to achieve this "push and pull" at the same time trick. Wouldn't you know......when I quit over-thinking and fighting what the bow wanted to do....things just fell into place. I'm gonna keep working on this....and for whomever it was that mentioned this,

THANKS......

Winterhawk1960

[Orion]

Nice when things come together isn't it.  Congrats.

[O.L. Adcock]

Yep, loosen up and let the bow do it's thing. The less we touch, it the less we'll screw it up!...O.L.

[jonsimoneau]

yep.  Put the riser in the web of your hand and use your fingers to hold the bow as little as possible.  O.L. Adcock is right.  Let the bow shoot and try not to interfere with it!

[Winterhawk1960]

O.L. Adcock....while you are here, I owe you a very BIG.....Thank-You too. I bookmarked your tuning page in the beginning and have, and do visit it very often.

Thank-You.....sir for explaining it in terms that even I, can understand.

Winterhawk1960