Index Finger Knuckle Pressure

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:53 am

In general how much pressure should the index finger knuckle place on the string with thumb ring draw? I put just a tad bit of pressure is that proper?

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:34 am

Do you mean the knuckle closest to the hand?

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:39 pm

Yes the closest to the hand. I just want to make sure I am not tourquing the string on release, by putting too much pressure on the string.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:50 pm

Normally, the proximal section of the index finger should be lightly touching the nock of the arrow at full draw. The string should be clear of the knuckle. When you start to draw, the knuckle can touch the string string, but there should not be any pressure. As the draw progresses, the changing string angle moves the string farther down the index finger next to the knuckle. There should not be any hard pressure because it interferes with the motion of the string.

This all depends on the length of the proximal segment of the thumb. People with different hand shapes and different rings have the string start in initial positions closer or farther from the base of the thumb and the index finger.

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:44 pm

Thanks for the reply. I believe that is what I am doing now the string is touching but there is very little if any pressure.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:21 pm

Sometimes the hand can be turned too far so that a spectator standing opposite you can see your drawing hand fingers from underneath. This means that the little finger is held too high in relation to the thumb because the wrist has turned too much.

daryush · Post by **daryush** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:29 pm

Bede wrote:Sometimes the hand can be turned too far so that a spectator standing opposite you can see your drawing hand fingers from underneath. This means that the little finger is held too high in relation to the thumb because the wrist has turned too much.

Isn't this a bad thing because it applies torque to the string? I thought the draw hand should be completely horizontal.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:34 am

Yes, it is bad and I was using it as a possible effect of putting pressure on the string with the knuckle rather than the proximal section of the finger. The pressure from the knuckle can come from this or from squeezing the thumb up against the base of the index finger. Neither are good practice and both can be the source of later problems.

jbl · Post by **jbl** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:58 am

Thanks again for the reply. I just shoot and the bottom line is when my hand is "relaxed" I do not feel that I am making contact with my knuckle. When I do not have a good relaxed draw and I "force" the draw I feel the contact with the string. Just a matter of getting more comfortable.