Do you shoot with your thumb relaxed just pointing up? Or do you use it as an anchor somehow, and what about the pinky finger?

Well the back of my thumb closest to the web of my hand is against the back of my jaw bone as a secondary anchor, my pinky is either tucked in or just hanging because I really don't give it much thought but in videos of me it along with the rest of my string hand seems relaxed after the shot.

I tuck my thumb over my pinky. This is easier to keep consistant and aids in keeping the back of the hand flat and relaxed.

I don't know what my thumb and pinky fingers are doing as I don't pay them any mind and they are not in my way when I anchor.

Thumb under jaw (Mediterranean anchor). Pinky is tucked but relaxed.

I tried the thumb over pinky, it felt like I put a lot of tension in my string hand.

Hangs naturally

QuoteOriginally posted by wv lungbuster:
I tried the thumb over pinky, it felt like I put a lot of tension in my string hand.

The thumb pad should be just over the pinky finger nail, no further.

Do nothing with them; your hand should be as relaxed as possible, with a deep hook on the string.

My thumb sticks straight up and settles a little behind my temple...weird, I know, but it seems to work for me. I have no idea what my pinky does.

I tuck my thumb into my palm and the knuckle taps the back of my jawbone at anchor.  The pinky is curled.

Pinky I have no idea, thumb sits in a natural pocket in my lower jaw.

Mine just float.....

I dont know haha

My form really suffered until I moved my thumb out of the way and now use it to solidy my anchor by placing it behind the jaw bone. Previously the thumb would hit my cheek bone and it would become impossible to get to anchor, and I would find myself collapsing at the shot.
The other important aspect of the string hand is to remove tension from it. You want the tension in your back muscles, if you tense up your string hand, you are also tensing up your bicep. Using a hook method you can easily get your thumb out of the way and get a straight string hand and reduce the tension.

I start out holing my pinky down with my thumb, but as I draw my second anchor is my thumb behind my jaw bone.  At that point I am not even aware I have a pinky.