mediterranean or thumb release for horsebck archery?
hi guys,
I know there have been a lot of discussion about the positives and negatives of thumb ring vs finger release. But I've been doing a lot of thinking...
I've been shooting thumb release with a thumb ring for about two months now and I've got to knocking without looking and my accuracy is ok. However, I was shooting with a mediterranean release for about six years before i started thumb ring and I am still much much faster and more accurate shooting with a three finger release.
My question is: Is it worthwhile taking the time to become as good at the thumb release? I have heard a lot of people say that the thumb release is much better for horseback archery, but it seems a shame to have spent so long working on my three finger release to suddenly change to something else.
Do you guys think I am better off staying with the thumb release? Or is there really not that much of a difference that I should just keep shooting my three finger release?
I hope this makes sense and I'm sorry for the big paragraph.
Thankyou,
Ben
I know there have been a lot of discussion about the positives and negatives of thumb ring vs finger release. But I've been doing a lot of thinking...
I've been shooting thumb release with a thumb ring for about two months now and I've got to knocking without looking and my accuracy is ok. However, I was shooting with a mediterranean release for about six years before i started thumb ring and I am still much much faster and more accurate shooting with a three finger release.
My question is: Is it worthwhile taking the time to become as good at the thumb release? I have heard a lot of people say that the thumb release is much better for horseback archery, but it seems a shame to have spent so long working on my three finger release to suddenly change to something else.
Do you guys think I am better off staying with the thumb release? Or is there really not that much of a difference that I should just keep shooting my three finger release?
I hope this makes sense and I'm sorry for the big paragraph.
Thankyou,
Ben
It depends what you're after: a more efficient drawing process, speed, power
Regardless, your situation is sort of like mine although I always found it harder to get a fluid rhythm with the Med. draw/release. Nowadays and after 6 years of being a "Med. drawer", I actually prefer the thumb draw since I find it easier to get a more solid rhythm with. But ultimately you have to do what works for you, and if your drawing rhythm is smooth with the Med release and accuracy good then stick with that. Kassai of course is incredibly fast and accurate using a fingered release and was probably how the Huns actually drew their bows anyway.
A fingered release that I prefer over the Med. is the Sassanid with which I can nock the arrow to the bow string quickly and w/o looking and you shoot off the same side of the bow as your drawing hand (right side of the bow for a right hander). Because of this and the way the arrow is nocked, its a very efficient fingered release, but is a little more unforgiving I find then the thumbdraw or standard Med Draw in that if you don't have your aim and form down just perfect your shot will come out very inaccurate. My accuracy with the thumbdraw is exponentially better then the results I get w/ the Sassanid and almost as precise now as my Med. draw results.
If you have everything down perfect with the Med. draw I wouldn't worry about it. But feel free to experiment if you feel you are missing out on something or perhaps wanting to increase efficiency. If efficiency is what your after, then IMO, I'd experiment more w/ the Sassanid draw. The process behind the thumbdraw is the second most efficient IMO and the Med draw process I personally think is the hardest to be fastest with easily. But hey if your there already w/ the Med draw, again, I don't see much reason to worry or bother at this point unless you are seeking something else the Med draw can't offer.
Also, in terms of which release is the most powerful, some say its the thumb release but I can't verify this and am not sure how to explain perhaps as well as I could the physics behind why this may be. There's ample power to fingered releases just as well IMO.
Regardless, your situation is sort of like mine although I always found it harder to get a fluid rhythm with the Med. draw/release. Nowadays and after 6 years of being a "Med. drawer", I actually prefer the thumb draw since I find it easier to get a more solid rhythm with. But ultimately you have to do what works for you, and if your drawing rhythm is smooth with the Med release and accuracy good then stick with that. Kassai of course is incredibly fast and accurate using a fingered release and was probably how the Huns actually drew their bows anyway.
A fingered release that I prefer over the Med. is the Sassanid with which I can nock the arrow to the bow string quickly and w/o looking and you shoot off the same side of the bow as your drawing hand (right side of the bow for a right hander). Because of this and the way the arrow is nocked, its a very efficient fingered release, but is a little more unforgiving I find then the thumbdraw or standard Med Draw in that if you don't have your aim and form down just perfect your shot will come out very inaccurate. My accuracy with the thumbdraw is exponentially better then the results I get w/ the Sassanid and almost as precise now as my Med. draw results.
If you have everything down perfect with the Med. draw I wouldn't worry about it. But feel free to experiment if you feel you are missing out on something or perhaps wanting to increase efficiency. If efficiency is what your after, then IMO, I'd experiment more w/ the Sassanid draw. The process behind the thumbdraw is the second most efficient IMO and the Med draw process I personally think is the hardest to be fastest with easily. But hey if your there already w/ the Med draw, again, I don't see much reason to worry or bother at this point unless you are seeking something else the Med draw can't offer.
Also, in terms of which release is the most powerful, some say its the thumb release but I can't verify this and am not sure how to explain perhaps as well as I could the physics behind why this may be. There's ample power to fingered releases just as well IMO.
Years ago when I did chronograph tests with the thumb ring, Mediterranean draw and a mechanical release, the results suggested that the thumb draw was faster. However there are many variations of the thumb draw, so your results may be different from mine. The real advantage of the thumb draw is the ability to control the arrow against the bow. In modern sport horseback archery. a strong bow is a disadvantage. A moderate bow is more effective and so an efficient, repeatable release is what is desired. If your thumb draw is working like this it is an advantage, but a good Mediterranean draw will beat an bad thumb draw. It all depends on how much effort you can afford to put into the process.
Thanks very much for the replies guys. It's given me something to think about at least. :) I've decided to stick to my finger release for horseback archery. I've spent too much time working on blind nocking and my release. :lol: I guess there are good and bad parts of each technique. And kassai has proved that given enough training, the mediterranean release can be just as effective as a thumb release.
Cheers,
Ben
Cheers,
Ben