Just by accident I came to find out how much a correct fitting tab can do for your shooting. Last week I was in the basement and didn't have my regular tab handy. I found an old one that to be honest I have no idea where it came from. When I put it on I noticed the leather when in the hook position was just about 3/8" past the first joint. It seemed to short but I used it and found my anchor was stronger and accuracy was way more consistent. I have continued to use that tab for another six days just to see if it was an anomaly. It wasn't. Last night I cut down my two Bateman tabs to give me the same fit. I always had trouble getting a consistent anchor with my middle finger mostly due to too much leather getting in the way. Lesson learned.
Same here. I shoot Black Widow tabs and usually cut at least 3/8" off as well as trimming the finger separater back to about 3/8" as well. That's one of the many nice things about a tab IMHO - they can be trimmed to fit. Just checked and mine is trimmed to be no more than about 3/8" past my finger joint.
The Black Mamba Archery tab site has good instructions on trimming a tab for those who are new to using one.
I just happen to have ordered a smaller size tab from Rod Jenkins after using a small tab to test shoot a bow and liking it.
What about trimming width?
When you say 3/8" pars first joint you mean tab ends little before your finger tip?
Thanks
Jack,
tab fit:
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae274/moebow1/CIMG0241_zpsb7050a22.jpg) (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/moebow1/media/CIMG0241_zpsb7050a22.jpg.html)
Arne
I've shot with a tab off and on over the years but usually end up going back to a glove. I feel that the tab gives me a better release, but using a tab results in a tender ring finger on the pad.
I trimmed my Bateman tab about 3-4mm just past where I can see string wear on the cordovan. This results in the tab extending further on the fingers than you and moe are describing yet my fingers are getting hammered by the string.
I think my release is fairly clean, but my sore fingers are telling me something different!
Here's a link to me shooting (glove). Anything there that might diagnose why my longer fitting tab still results in sore fingers?
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=007410
Not trying to hijack this thread, but it seams fitting if tab fit is an issue.
Thanks.
Mike,
Looked at your videos again but they are just too dark to really tell much. Still a nice shot!! :D
I suspect that you are opening your fingers to release the string rather than just allowing the string to flip the fingers out of the way. That technique causes the string to drag on the fingers as it goes, causing a burn feeling before long.
I've said many times that this technique was the hardest for me to learn and took a LOT of practice and concentration before it became more automatic.
I, for one, still find that a glove impedes getting a good "deep hook" because of the tubes of leather that the finger tips must try to bend in order to get the finger tips to point back at your throat rather than at your chin. This VERY SMALL difference puts more tension into the string hand and makes the release more difficult.
It is VERY counter intuitive BUT the farther you can curl your finger tips around the string, the MORE relaxed the muscles of the forearm. Getting "fast" movement out of relaxed muscles is easier than getting "fast" movement out of tensed muscles.
Arne
Moebow: Is that a Cavalier tab in the photo? If I typically wear a large Damascus leather glove, what size Cavalier would that equate to? Thanks.
Paul,
Yes, that is the AAE Cavalier Elite. I can't really compare tab size to a glove as I don't use gloves at all. That tab in the picture is a "medium" and sizes for tabs are for the width across the fingers and not for the length.
For dress/driving gloves, I normally wear a large or size 10 but don't know how that might relate to an archery shooting glove size. I suspect that most adult men will do well with a medium size tab. You don't want it to stick up above the index finger -- it should be a little below the top of the finger/index knuckle.
Arne
Ok, Thanks Arne. I've not had much luck with tabs, but that one has been recommended to me to try and I was wondering how the sizes worked on it.
Rank Greenhorn here and I can attest to the effects of trimming the tab. I recently purchased my first recurve and I bought a Fivics brass tab with brass finger spacer. The first couple of times I shot I couldn't seem to tighten my groupings. I decided to experiment with 3 under and they immediately improved. The suggestion was made to trim the leather and viola! Shooting split finger with the trimmed leather cut my groups in half. I'm a BELIEVER now :) Now if I could only get the rest of my form down...