If I live long enough!

[oldfarmsblueman]

If I live long enough and don't end up in
the nut house I might learn to shoot!I just came
in from 35 min of shooting.Cold overcast day.
COME ON SPRING.My groops aren't getting much
better so I started gripping the bow tighter thinking
I was going to be hit by a bolt of lightning.I didn't
get and my groop was half of what it was.I hope
it wasnt a fluke.It wasent a death grip but felt
better then the open hand that feels so foreign
to me!I gess everyone has to find what works for
them

[BT]

Hmmmm.....depends on what you are referring to as open grip
I have seen exaggerated open grips that definitely wont work as well as a closed grip and then again.....a firm grip is just as bad.
It could be that you are right where you are supposed to be and if results account for anything .... that would confirm it

It could be that your grip area is beefy and I have found that a low wrist doesn't work well with these grips when shot open hand.
As you said....if you're not strangling it and it works

[royden]

I like to suggest to try your "natural" hand position first as a grip. How much do your fingers curl when your just standing around not paying any attention to 'em. For example me: I'm used to running chainsaws and heavy equipment - my hands naturally curl to a position with the ends of my fingers .5"-.75" from the palm of my hand - so I shoot a closed grip with fingers lightly touching the right side - but relaxed ... does that help?

The goal in everything to do with archery is consistency. the more machine like you can be the better your arrow groups will be.

[smj]

I use what I would define as a "soft hand" (or relaxed hand) on the bow when shooting. I like to maintain a bit of control of the bow as the shot goes off, but any tightness will tend to put some variance in your groups. I have to watch the thumb knuckle of my bow hand and make certain that I either have all the way forward, or loose and back. Not in-between some where, or one way one shot and different the next! The wrist I like to lock in place, but the hand has to be "soft" on the grip - for me anyway!

[oldfarmsblueman]

My open hand has been -thumb pointing forward
four fingers pointing forward on a 45 deg. angle.The
Mathews grip that I love fits right in the palm of my
hand . Kind of like a horse shoe,with no support.My
index finger is getting a little shell shocked from the
new blazers.I have been trying to keep it down.
Its 24 deg.and very windy but I'll be out back to
see if it is still working.I'm trying to change it up.I
shoot a flat area,down a hill and off the roof.If my
wife saw me on the roof she would have me
committed (I'm starting to get into the angles)!

[BT]

I am seeing what you are saying.
The blazer vanes are giving you a spanking because your finger isn't supposed to be there ;D
If you don't want to change or cant shoot a mid wrist position that I would not recommend the picture you are painting.

Instead...I would close the hand lightly around the grip and shoot.
There is nothing wrong with a closed hand as long as you are not putting enough pressure on that grip to effect torque.

[huntbunny6]

oldfarmsblue........
try this , it worked for me.
Start out with a steady grip all fingers closed and each day you go out to practice you will open up one more finger , first slightly then all the way out.
first day index finger, this is easiest .
second day , middlefinger all the way out and index finger slightly bent (for some reason this is more comfortable )
This was hillarious at the leagues because I looked like I was flipping off the guy next to me ;D
third time out , open all four fingers but not all the way , keep them curled a bit . then after yu get about 20 shots off start to open them up more until you get that accuracy going and are comfortable with the grip just resting on your palm .
The main thing people need to get past is thinking that the bow is going to jump out of their grip when fired. This will not happen
You can go at whatever pace you like in the method I described, but if it can work for me I'm sure it will work for you as well.
just think of it , like shooting pool. you are not gripping the stick with you other hand , but moreso you are guiding it and aiming. This is the function of your hand on the grip , not to hold it from flying away

[azslim]

I hold my fist closed, lets me muscle the bow better then just relax my grip before I release. Works for me. Quite a few guys have the totally open grip and tell me that is the way to go. Each to their own and whatever works best for the shooter is my attitude.

[bambeklr]

I am with them. I shoot a closed hand also. But it is very relaxed grip. I am not putting any pressure on the grip. Just place you fingers around the grip and let them curl inward. You may just find it works.

[DocHolladay]

I grip the bow during the draw. Once I have the bow drawn and anchored, I just relax my grip hand. Whatever my fingers do, they do. I know I dont have to hold onto the grip since I have the string in my release.