Gripping the string

Panserborn

Howye

Recently got a new tab (Cartel Smart Tab) and found that the index finger flap was a little shorter than the rest of it. Also, the groove for the arrow was much narrower than my last tab. This got me to thinking that I might have been holding the string wrong all these years.

I usually position all my fingers on the string all at the first knuckle to let me have a cleaner release. The shorter index finger flap though seems to be more suited to gripping the string further down the finger. I used to also spread the tab pretty wide so I wouldn't touch the arrow with the leather during the draw, but again, the narrow groove on the new tab doesn't seem suited for this. Since the new tab is a "good" one, and my old one is an auld beaten ex-club tab, I assume the new one is a better guide on how to grip the string right.

I know everyone has "their way" of holding the string, but what is the technically correct way?

toxof

Heres what is recomended by Michele Frangilli, ex-world Champion

A) Place the index finger on the string above the arrow
place the middle and ring fingers on the string below the arrow
C) Place the fingers so that the string is in contact with the index and ring fingers first phalanx crease (Knuckle) Then extend the middle finger so the string is behind this crease.
D) let the fingers slide down the string, until the index finger is in contact with the arrow and the middle is slightly detached from it.
E) Fold the thumb bringing it in contact with the base of the pinkie


Hans Blume, our national coach recomends that there should be about 50% of the pressure on the middle finger, 20% on the index finger and 30% on the ring finger.

ps. Good to see 2 girls from DCU and 2 more guys from UCD attending the national training sessions.

ruiner

It was a good training session even though I was being shown up by children (I went on sat)

bonkey

toxof wrote:

D) let the fingers slide down the string, until the index finger is in contact with the arrow and the middle is slightly detached from it.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious here....but if you do that, surely then once you actually draw, the change in string-shape (i.e. it goes from being effectively a straight line from arm-tip to arm-tip to a being V-shape with the arrow at the apex) will result in your index finger either moving the arrow down the string and/or getting pinched by it???

I thought the idea was that your index finger should be positioned so that at full draw it is just touching the arrow....not that its just touching the arrow before you draw as your description makes it sound.

Then again...I'm no ex-world champion, so I wouldn't pay much attention to me...

jc