Proper Thumbring Position on Thumb ???

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:20 pm

Tamr and I were just shooting in my back yard and we noticed that he and I locate out rings in different postions on our thumb. We need to know, which is the proper location for the ring???

The top two pics show the ring snug up against the distal joint of the thumb. For the sake of clarity, let's call this 'position 1'.

The second two pics show the ring further down the second phalange, closer to the base of the thumb. This will be 'position 2'.

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:54 pm

I personally, use neither, I press the thumb nail into the second phalanx of the middle finger.

Mike

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:35 pm

Jason,
I wear the ring close to the distal joint of the thumb as in your first photo. However, it does depend on the shape of your ring and how far you can bend you thumb.

I make the rings with a lip just long enough to cover the pad of the thumb when it is fully flexed. Longer lipped rings require the thumb to be less flexed and the wrist turned slightly more away from the face.

The advantage of the upper ring position is that the ring fits closer to the pad of the thumb which stops it from changing position easily.

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:30 am

Mike,

These photos aren't showing the thumb lock, just showing where the ring of the thumbring circles the thumb.

Position # 1 = close to the distal thumb joint.

Position # 2= further down the thumb, so that the tear drop shaped 'shield' actually covers the distal joint.

Which one do you use?

Thanks for your input Bede! One vote for position #1. How 'bout others thumbring location?

J.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:30 am

Ok. Everybody's right. You place your thumb on the string with the ring up at the root of the thumb and it slides towards the joint as you draw.

Don't hook the forefinger too hard around the thumb when you draw, otherwise the ring will pinch the skin at the base of the thumb (ouch) and the shot will not be smooth.

By the way, there are different rings and different thumbs - no 'one size fits all' answer.

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:47 pm

Sorry, I must have read wrongly. I use the first one, I don't think I could manage the second one even if I tried.

Mike

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:54 am

But they're the same, you see. I use the second one when I nock the arrow and place my thimb on the string; but it'll become the first one by the time I release.

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:07 pm

Thanks Gentlmen!

Stephen, Does the lip or sheild cover the distal joint? or does the string lay against that joint when gripping the string?

J.

Tamr The Nomad · Post by **Tamr The Nomad** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:43 pm

I'm still not getting it Jason.

Mr, Selby,

I don't notice the ring changing from #1 to #2.

I put the ring way down at the base of my thumb and when I draw, the string is on the edge of the ring part of the ring.

If I use one of the beautiful rings Jason made, I can do either or however there is discomfort caused by the ring.

I would have to agree with the different strokes for different folks method. Whichever way does not crimp the string right?

With that being the case Jason if it no longer hurts your thumb to push the ring to the base of your thumb then you might want to design your rings to fit there. If you like the ring to be closer to the middle joint I would recommend shaping your ring so that the pressure is offset and braced more evenly.

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:54 am

'With that being the case Jason if it no longer hurts your thumb to push the ring to the base of your thumb then you might want to design your rings to fit there. If you like the ring to be closer to the middle joint I would recommend shaping your ring so that the pressure is offset and braced more evenly.'

Well said my friend, however before I go changing my ring design and shape of existing rings, I want to know if there is a position that the ring isSUPPOSEDto be in.

J.

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:44 pm

I do not use the thumb technique so feel free to ignore. If anyone told me I MUST do something that I found uncomfortable I would simply ignore their advice.
Stephen is quite right, you do what you feel comfortable with and what works best for you.

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:51 pm

As we all know, people have been using the thumbring different ways, in different cultures over thousands of years. So I understand that there will be different thumbrelease forms, but I have had thumb injuries in the past because of ill fitting rings and now I see they may have been caused by improper ring placement. I want optimal comfort, without painful experimentation with what might, or might not work best. If there is no set method, then that is fine, but if there is and I'm just ignorant to it, I'd like to be informed before I re-injure.

J.

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:22 pm

You are right in saying there are many types of rings, however the #1 positin is normal. The presence of the thick leather tab, plus that you want to move the ring away from the joint, indicates a serious problem with the string cutting into your joint. There is always some contact of flesh with string, but the tab should not be needed. Perhaps it would be best If you examine the shape of the ring's lip and find the best angle for the edge. If you are absolutely determined to use this ring, then, instead of the thick leather tab pressed on the flesh, a thin tab placed on the ring may be tried instead. This will provide more friction at the edge of ring to let the string sit more securely there (slightly farther away from the flesh and nor slipping down as you draw) and you see if there is any gain that way. Eventually the ring may have to be changed.

Adam

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:24 pm

Thanks Adam. This is the most comfortable ring of the dozen or so that I've tried. You are suggesting that a thin leather strip is to lay between the STRING and the RING, right? NOT between the STRING and the THUMB (as I'm currently doing).

I'll give that a try!

Thanks!

J.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:36 pm

Jason,
Adam's suggestion is in line with some research that is being done now, I have been testing the idea of having the leather flap under the string for several years. The string sits slightly away from the inside edge of the ring. With a fully flexed thumb there is some contact with the flesh on the inside of the thumb, but it is caused by the bulging of the flesh instead of the sliding back of the string.

There is no perceptible velocity difference between flap over and flap under the string with medium weight bows. I have not tested the same effect on heavy bows yet.