Finger Pinch = Numbness?

ChristopherO · June 04, 2007, 12:42:00 PM

The string I aquired 3 weeks ago was shorter by an inch but that was all they had. Now I'm suffering from a nerve damage in my ring finger as it always stays numb on 1/2 the pad of the first digit. Is this common? A new, longer, string should get here this week.

Chris Wilson · June 04, 2007, 01:26:00 PM

I don't know if it's common, but I hope it's not permanent. I'd take it easy on the shooting until the new string arrives.

DJT · June 04, 2007, 11:00:00 PM

I am getting a lot of pain in my ring finger lately as well. I hope its just because i have been trying to shoot a lot but it is really sore down to the bone. Hope it gets better for you soon.
d

Ray Hammond · June 05, 2007, 10:35:00 AM

get one of those rubber finger covers they use for riffling through lots of paper- I had some here at the office and if I do shoot a lot and get some pain I slide one of those on under my glove and it works great..gives that extra padding to keep the pressure off while it gets less tender.

I would also back off the shooting for a while.

K.S.TRAPPER · June 05, 2007, 10:50:00 AM

I get numbness with a glove,Switched to a black widow tab and haven't had any since.I don't know if it works for everyone but worth a try.

Tracy

James Wrenn · June 05, 2007, 10:50:00 AM

Use a glove with better padding on bows with finger pinch.The super glove with cordovan leather is a good one for that.Shooting longer bows is always the best fix.

ChristopherO · June 05, 2007, 01:20:00 PM

Thanks for the replys.
I haven't shot for the past two days because of it and the need for a new string. That finger is the only one with a calis (sp?) and it is over the top of the pad even though I try to hold the string as deep as the joint on all three fingers.
Does anyone use the NO GLOVES pads that slip over the string?

Roadkill · June 05, 2007, 01:42:00 PM

No Glove deals can change the way you release. i have the same problem and have used Ticture of Benzoin to toughen up that calluse. It may take a while to get it right and you may have to lay off a while. I don't understand how a sting will affect the outcome.

ChristopherO · June 05, 2007, 03:10:00 PM

Roadkill,
I didn't have this problem with the old string as it was longer and didn't induce the finger pinching. The calluse is tough but the nerve below it on the joint has been effected by the tightness of the string.

Jeff Strubberg · June 05, 2007, 04:30:00 PM

A shorter string won't change the angle at full draw.

If only one finger has a callus, then you are only pulling with that one finger, or you have something very odd going on with your shooting glove.

Dave Worden · June 06, 2007, 07:41:00 AM

I agree with Jeff. The shorter string should make no difference. I suspect that you are somehow tipping your hand so that you draw more with the ring finger. AFTER your finger feels OK, try working on your grip/release and see if you can get a more even pull with all fingers. As for finger pinch with a short bow (mine is 54"), I just pull with the ring finger and the middle finger (two below). The pointer finger does just that, it sits next to the arrow, touching the nock, and pointing at the target.

Jeff Strubberg · June 06, 2007, 09:30:00 AM

I do the same on shorter bow, Dave.

Chris, it's possible that the shorter string makes the bow feel a little different during the draw cycle and is throwing your form out of whack somehow.

ChristopherO · June 06, 2007, 01:23:00 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. Someone suggested there was some thing odd going with the glove. Glove? What's that for?
Just kidding.
The shorter sting bent the tips more and widened the fistmele (brace hight) quite a bit. It, also, increased the draw weight by about 3 lbs. In my mind I would think that that would change the angle of the string, even if just a bit. I continued shooting it because I am hooked on flinging arrows.
I should mention that before my finger tip became numb the second joint started getting sore. It stays sore for the first 10 shots and then it goes away. I've tried shooting with 2 fingers and letting the ring finger stay loose but I don't have the control I want. Even though I try my best to keep the string in the first joint of all three fingers I believe the callus is due to the fact that the ring finger is shorter than middle finger and has a tendency to ride the sting higher on the pad. Maybe I'm letting it slide too much on the string.?
New strings should arrive today at the local shop and I will test out a few longer ones and see if they help.