What is occurring during thumb ring practice?
I have been creating pattern memory and toughness for trying a thumb ring for a little over a month. I don't exactly have a problem, more like an unexplained happening.
I practice drawing, as I would a thumb ring, at the end of my exercise sessions. I'm not tired, but it's definitely the end of the session. For the last week or so, I have been finding it easier to draw to my anchor and hold for a ten-count during the thumb ring exercise than conventionally. Yet I am drawing 1-2 inches more, and as I said, this is occurring when my muscles are more fatigued than during conventional draw.
What is happening here? Why?
I practice drawing, as I would a thumb ring, at the end of my exercise sessions. I'm not tired, but it's definitely the end of the session. For the last week or so, I have been finding it easier to draw to my anchor and hold for a ten-count during the thumb ring exercise than conventionally. Yet I am drawing 1-2 inches more, and as I said, this is occurring when my muscles are more fatigued than during conventional draw.
What is happening here? Why?
With a conventional, three finger draw, the bicep is more fully flexed than it is with a thumb draw. As well as bending the arm, the biceps has another function of supinating the arm, rotating the thumb outwards. In this position the bicep is fully flexed.
Obviously, although we use our back muscles to draw, the muscles of the arm are also going to be worked. You can feel the difference simply by asuming the full draw position with palm towards your face, then turn the palm towards the ground and feel how it naturally relaxes the arm.
Obviously, although we use our back muscles to draw, the muscles of the arm are also going to be worked. You can feel the difference simply by asuming the full draw position with palm towards your face, then turn the palm towards the ground and feel how it naturally relaxes the arm.
AHA! So simple -- thanks.
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Next step can be extremely unpleasant. I refer not to the cost of a thumb ring, but to my attempting to use my conventional recurves -- center shot .350 inch (8.89 mm); plunger; elevated rest.
I hope there is sufficient adjustment available on my recurve to use a thumb ring. I'm not concerned that I might need to make large adjustments to achieve a reasonable point of impact. If I cannot adjust enough, but grouping is nice and release is easy, then what?
I have a fortune in my bows. I really don't want to change them. And there's no guarantee that changing bows to the same bow opposite hand would make a difference.
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Next step can be extremely unpleasant. I refer not to the cost of a thumb ring, but to my attempting to use my conventional recurves -- center shot .350 inch (8.89 mm); plunger; elevated rest.
I hope there is sufficient adjustment available on my recurve to use a thumb ring. I'm not concerned that I might need to make large adjustments to achieve a reasonable point of impact. If I cannot adjust enough, but grouping is nice and release is easy, then what?
I have a fortune in my bows. I really don't want to change them. And there's no guarantee that changing bows to the same bow opposite hand would make a difference.
I assume you are refering to the fact that with a thumbring you generally shoot off the the thumb rather than the finger knuckle side of the bow.
I have read here on Atarn that Tibetian archers actually shoot off their finger knuckle side of the bow, because they can only get hold of western equipment. If you don't want to change all your risers perhaps give that a go first.
Regards
Mike
I have read here on Atarn that Tibetian archers actually shoot off their finger knuckle side of the bow, because they can only get hold of western equipment. If you don't want to change all your risers perhaps give that a go first.
Regards
Mike
I have shot with both left and right handed risers on modern bows with a thumb ring. With a sufficiently smooth release and a consistent anchor point it is possible to shoot accurately from the left side of a right hand bow using a thumb ring. You do have to adjust your aiming, but it is not dramatic. You can change the arrows you use to get the grouping to move horizontally.
The disadvantages are that it is harder to nock quickly, the arrow can fall off the bow and the shot is more sensitive to a bad release.
The disadvantages are that it is harder to nock quickly, the arrow can fall off the bow and the shot is more sensitive to a bad release.
I've never been able to shoot 'Tibetan' style (arrow on left side of bow when shooting righty), but I know 'Brokenarrow' (aka Matt) shoots that way regularly. You should send him a PM. He's quite knowledgible and a real nice guy!
When I first started shooting with the thumbring, I shoot all my lefty bows right handed and gap shot. Actually used a bowsight for a while and got quite good! You could easily learn to do that I'd say, but I suggest picking up a lefty riser! I've had good luck on Ebay; probably pick one up for between $100 and $300, depending on what riser you're using (I'm assuming you're using ILF equipment?)
Good luck!
J.
When I first started shooting with the thumbring, I shoot all my lefty bows right handed and gap shot. Actually used a bowsight for a while and got quite good! You could easily learn to do that I'd say, but I suggest picking up a lefty riser! I've had good luck on Ebay; probably pick one up for between $100 and $300, depending on what riser you're using (I'm assuming you're using ILF equipment?)
Good luck!
J.
I am left-handed.
I have read here on Atarn that Tibetian archers actually shoot off their finger knuckle side of the bow, because they can only get hold of western equipment. If you don't want to change all your risers perhaps give that a go first.
Mike, I don't understand your suggestion. My practice session -- please, nobody shriek in agony -- consists of a "ring" of about 14 layers of onionskin wrapped around my bowstring below the nock points. I wrap my thumb around the onionskin pad. When using my left arm to draw (normal arm), I use only my index finger to lock the thumb. When I draw with my right arm I must use index and middle fingers to lock thumb.
I draw from both sides, as I do with all archery exercises, for muscle tone balance because archery is therapy first and shooting arrows second.
I have read here on Atarn that Tibetian archers actually shoot off their finger knuckle side of the bow, because they can only get hold of western equipment. If you don't want to change all your risers perhaps give that a go first.
Mike, I don't understand your suggestion. My practice session -- please, nobody shriek in agony -- consists of a "ring" of about 14 layers of onionskin wrapped around my bowstring below the nock points. I wrap my thumb around the onionskin pad. When using my left arm to draw (normal arm), I use only my index finger to lock the thumb. When I draw with my right arm I must use index and middle fingers to lock thumb.
I draw from both sides, as I do with all archery exercises, for muscle tone balance because archery is therapy first and shooting arrows second.
I responded to your mentioning that you shot with centre shot recurves, and that you did not wish to change them. I assumed the problem was in that fact the centre shot bow would hold the arrow on the 'wrong' side of your hand for thumbring shooting.
When I first transfered to the thumb style, I too faced the problem of having slightly unsuitable equipment. This wasn't a problem because in the short time in which I did use my centre shot bow I aimed off to make up for the horizontal difference. It would also have been possible for me to get differently spined arrows so the arrows would land on target. The point I was trying to make was you do not need to change your equipment to a huge degree.
I hope this clarifies what I meant.
Your onion skin guard, although ingeniuous, might serve to slow your shot down a tad. It might be easier to get an old leather finger tab and adjust it so it fits your thumb. Believe it or not, a thumbtab can give a better release than a ring.
Regards
Mike
When I first transfered to the thumb style, I too faced the problem of having slightly unsuitable equipment. This wasn't a problem because in the short time in which I did use my centre shot bow I aimed off to make up for the horizontal difference. It would also have been possible for me to get differently spined arrows so the arrows would land on target. The point I was trying to make was you do not need to change your equipment to a huge degree.
I hope this clarifies what I meant.
Your onion skin guard, although ingeniuous, might serve to slow your shot down a tad. It might be easier to get an old leather finger tab and adjust it so it fits your thumb. Believe it or not, a thumbtab can give a better release than a ring.
Regards
Mike
Mike, got it, now. . . . I don't shoot anything with the thumb ring pad. I just draw slowly, hold for ten-count, and slowly relax. For me, the most important facet of archery is developing sufficient muscle to forget about needing sufficient muscle to shoot the draw weight I shoot. My exercise weight is about six pound greater than shooting weight. And we're not discussing substantial weight in either instance.
Naphtali,
Just a thought. If you're working on training 'muscle memory', you might consider following through and releasing the string (aka shoot an arrow). There are important neuromuscular connections that form as you 'pull though your anchor', release and follow through. At very close range and especially blindfolded, you can work on this form without worrying about hitting the bullseye. Therapy! :)
J.
Just a thought. If you're working on training 'muscle memory', you might consider following through and releasing the string (aka shoot an arrow). There are important neuromuscular connections that form as you 'pull though your anchor', release and follow through. At very close range and especially blindfolded, you can work on this form without worrying about hitting the bullseye. Therapy! :)
J.
Addendum, I'm going downstairs to my 3 meter basement target to do this with a bow 10# heavier than I normally shot with.
J.
J.