Leather thumb guard

zboon786 · Post by **zboon786** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:08 pm

I need some help constructing a leather thumb guard. So far I've made 3 but they are all hurting with a 45# bow.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:02 am

Are you getting blisters or sore red spot on your thumb? what part of your thumb is hurt? What shape and thickness is the leather guard?

zboon786 · Post by **zboon786** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:05 am

I'm getting sore right above the thumb joint across my thumb but this is my guess mostly due to technique which I could also use help with. I'd like to learn the way turkish draw. My thumb guard is sort of a T with a rounded top edge and the sides tied together forming a ring. I've read a little but obviously I'm not understanding it very well. I'm not sure if there are specific things I have to look for in a leather thumb guard or just that it protects the end of my thumb from the string.

Any advice with any of this would be greatly appreciated. I'm really interested in learning but I'm not doing to well to found the resources to do so properly, and I don't want to develop bad habits.

Thanks

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:43 am

The pressure on the thumb above the joint is normal, but the effect isn't what you should expect.

When drawing the bow, you should clench the little, ring and middle fingers very tightly. The tip of the thumb should be pressed hard against the middle finger. This causes the pad of the thumb to be compressed and toughened. The thumb guard is there to protect the thumb and ease the passage of the string, but the grip is what protects the thumb, not the guard. It just helps.