Traditional Archery Tips - String Hand & Archery HOOK

great explanation.

Clay, when you anchor, are you looking straight over the arrow or does it look like you’re looking down the side of the arrow?

Next time you go blue crab fishing in NW Florida, near where I live, use chicken parts mostly necks, wings even the skin. I always catch more blue crab on chicken parts.

great explanation, thanks Clay! 🏹

Really really informative. Thank you

When I shot olympic style archery as a kid in the local JOAD program my instructor taught me to draw with 3 fingers then at full draw to point my index finger so only my middle finger and middle finger were holding the string. This seemed to work really well in a consistent clean release.

Very informative. Do you find that using a tab gives you a smoother release than using just your bare fingers, say on a lighter weight bow? Sometimes I shoot and get a "thunking" noise with the bow string when I release, and every time the arrow wiill hit way left or miss the target completely, and when it hits the target it doesn't get the same penatration that I get when it doesn't make this sound. Any ideas that might help?? Thanks, Daniel

Awesome tutorial!!! Thank you

ok... so i anchor my thumb 1st knuckle just in behnid the point of my cheek bone... BUT... if i don't have my thumb 'free' from my hand and lock it down on my hand, it strains my hand after a while... SO... my thumb kinda floats off my hand... like you were gonna use a lighter... BUT then this means that my anchor point is naturally not 100% fixed... how do you position your thumb please Clay... cause you thumb-cheekbone anchor too right?

Appreciate the video. When you say a 50# minimum for a hunting weight bow are you speaking of 50 # @ 28”? My draw is 32” and I am hoping I can hunt ethically with my 40# bow. Thanks again!

been making bows since age 10. Even here in a new york city apartment

I have been trying 3 under works good but noticed my longbow is a little bit louder when l release what's you thoughts thanks for the video

Just a warning to those starting out, I started shooting my new bow for the first time today and first time really ever trying archery. After about 35 minutes of shooting, my middle finger tip was numb! That was about 2 hours ago now and it's still numb. I read on this and it's because it caused some nerve damage in my finger. Get a glove or tabs to protect your fingers!

Am I crazy or does a deep hook also have the benefit of being able to use the pinky? That's what I've been doing and its felt good not having to worry about my pinky position off the string, on string it's way easier to keep it consistent.

I can’t shoot split, but three under is where it’s at!

I know this videos few years old, but to have a hook you will always engage the flexors of the forearms.

Split finger was good enough for Hill, Bear, Ferguson, Saxon. . .its good enough for me.

Gotta get on unauthorized!

I want to say a huge thanks to you clay, I started using your tips on shooting. I'm now consistent out to twenty yards and can't wait till season in Georgia. Thank you again.

HEY COUSIN!! Great video.

Yes, thats why I changed to three under... 🙂 Thankyou!

Hi Clay, your content is awesome! I really appreciate how you break things down. Question please, how do you know what arrow length to use?

The biggest thing about the hook is to maintain the back of the hand to be as flat as a board. No knuckles protruding. With the string snug in the first groove of the fingers, you'll have an Olympic class release. Bottom line.

I shoot my bow since three months. Not three under, meditarain split fingers. My Release is not perfect at this time and my bow is to strong for me as a beginer. But i can shoot it six hours without problems. I am shooting at an archery club and most there shoot olympic Recurve bow. My question to you is: how do you hold your bow with your bow hand? Your wrist Position? Your bowhand is relaxed and the pressure point is on the thumb? Thank you a lot and stay tuned!

I have a question.... when shooting 3 under with two nockpoints.... should i place the tab right below the arrow or right below the lower nockpoint? I used to place it below the arrow and i got pretty much wear off on the tab from the lower nockpoint

I've been shooting split with a glove then moved to a tab. My pointer finger always gets cut and bleeds now I know why! Gonna try 3 under now with a tab.

Thanks for the advice here. I've been having issues with the arrow behaving oddly at release. I've just tried it and I've determined that it was the string hand. I'm shooting three under and I am not following the plane of my cant. It causes the arrow to come off the rest at the moment of the shot, causing a lot of shot noise and a severe fishtail in the arrow.

great detail Clay, thanks

Really wish there was a "split finger to 3U" switch guide or tutorial out there but there doesn't seem to be anything out there.

Arrows go low and to the right upon release, also is my sight picture supposed to change from when it was with split?

Which tabs would you recommend for 3 under?

Have you done a video on the differences between tab shooting vs glove?

I use a split finger and I use a glove in the three lines are independent all the way up to the attachment point, to have the hand so that top finger can be open a little more to not create pinching a mistake I have been known to do or when I turn the top finger at a downward angle by mistake. I do like this for the most freedom of the hand and if all I had were the three individual finger guards all I would do is loose them and then other gloves that run up the palm to the fingers I tend to pluck the string with those, some gloves with the finger guard that uses the elastic band they tend to stretch out and not fit my hand right.

The one glove I have right now uses a way to make the three finger attachment longer or shorter being the wrist part ties onto the glove with a string/elastic string that is tied permanently to the closest to my hand size on the smallest hole size. Yes it uses a buckle but that is due to on gloves the Velcro tends to pop off on the glove style or gets stuff in it easier then a arm guard dose.

Leave it to Clay to be the only one I could find that had the answer to the question I had. Thanks for making these great videos!

I use a thumbring. I used both split finger and three under but switched to a thumbring about three years ago.

Thank you for being a badass role model!🎉🎉🎉

I am having that exact issue with split finger holding, glad to know what i am doing wrong. Might also have to try the all under (or Australian method).

Thankyou for your videos brother ,they have been a huge help!I got a nice recurve last weekend and have really enjoyed the learning process. Very interested in hunting trad when I'm confident in my abilities. All the best!

I have had to rework my anchor point ,started wearing glasses. Any suggestions?

Great video! This really helped me with a couple of problems i am having.I've been trying to shoot three under with a split fingered tab,that i don't really like,and i'm going to put a knock under also!

thanks for your outstanding videos. I’m starting out and have found a reoccurring problem - when I draw the arrow tip constantly shifts to the left and falls away from the bow. I’ve tried what’s I’ve could but not sure what’s going on.

Ive been shooting my bows all day, and these videos are really inspiring and helpful for improving. keep up the good work!

Clay I have been shooting traditional for 6 yrs. I watched a lot of Rick Welch videos. He teaches putting your fingers half of the tips of fingers. I can’t hold the bow long this way. I’m thinking about shooting with a deep hook on my fingers.

Hey Clay - awesome video as always. Thanks you for the time need effort on these. They have made a huge impact on my archery. I am planning to show some to my two girls who are making awesome progress on their shots and accuracy, but would gain lot from your advice over their dad’s words of wisdom! But wondering if I could make a respectful request - could you try to use ‘people’ or ‘shooters’ or ‘archers’ or something that isnt ‘guys’ when referring to other archers? Almost all of the guys who do archery videos refer to all other archers as guys. Because I guess most of them are. But it feels funny to hear that when trying to use your videos with my girls, like I want to pause the video and remind them that girls are awesome archers too and there are plenty of them. Its a small thing I guess but maybe worth considering. Thanks!!!

I find if I go to deep on the hook I tend to bend my wrist inward causing me to pluck more often. I am learning just how much my wrist affects my shots

Hey Clay, Great video as always! Just bought a Bear Montana #50 longbow to get into the traditional side of archery, shot compound since I was 10. My question is, do you think there is an impact on accuracy between shooting a fingered glove vs a tab?

Clay, what is your furthest shot you would take???I also shoot 3 under. I found a bear Kodiak magnum 55# at a pawn shop for $60 Buck's!!!! She shoots sweet. I did have to put an extra layer of leather on my shooting tab do to the string pressure.

Well done video! Very clear and concise instructions!

Sound advice thank you .