Should the hand be centered on the bow with the arrow above center, or below center with the arrow in the center?
Thanks
Robert
I like, with my hand at center which puts the arrow a little over an inch above center, with a selfbow you can play around with this to find a sweet spot.
Like Dano, I also like the center of the handle the center of the bow. My arrow rests on my hand at about 1" to 1 14" above center.
How do you normally grip your bows? Straight wrist (like with most recurves), meduim grip or full hand/low wrist?
ART
I don't pay much attention to how I grip the bow. I use a bulbous (Torges) style handle, so it's pretty much automatic. I also make the upper limb about 1-1/4" longer, so the arrow passes near center anyway.
Thanks, I normally grip with a straight wrist. I've looked at several pictures of bows and find them both ways, so I guess either is OK. But for some reason I like the hand centered and the arrow above center...
Robert
I also make my handles center.
I use 2" up from center for arrow placement (and 2" down from that for a 4" handle) for a low wrist/full hand grip. For a medium grip I measure up 1 1/2" for arrow placement (and down 2 1/2" from that for a 4" handle). For a light touch or straight wrist I use 1-1 1/4" up from center for that. For me at least, this balances the dynamic forces very well.
I will say this, the lighter the touch (grip) you use on these selfbows, the better balanced they are, quicker, more quiet and better behaved than using a hard heel into the bow IMO. Better tiller health over time also. Best compremise for most of us is a medium grip I suppose. Have fun! ART
If you cant(tilt) the bow, its good to keep the arrow placement as close to center as possible because variations in cant can throw arrows left or right, I like to stay down near 1" over center to minimize this. Shooting three under this also very nearly equalizes stress on both limbs.