Stickbow Target Archery Forums

After years of resisting all suggestions to try something other than my split-finger approach, I finally gave in and tried 3-fingers under. Wow -- it brought my point on in from 70 yards to 45 yards. That alone might be enough to convince me to switch.
What else should I consider in comparing the two styles? Anything I'd have to watch out for, any changes I'd need to make to my equipment?

Thanks Don -- that is a lot of what I want to know.

A question -- you say you can always get arrows to fly well and to group well without changing the tiller. In general, compared to split finger, is a 3-under nocking point the same, higher, or lower -- and how about brace height?n
My bow was shooting darts with split finger, and with 3-under once in a while I get an arrow where it looks like the point kicks up, then settles into flight -- and the bow has gotten louder.
I've been tweaking form (for example, if I pull most strongly with my top two fingers, the arrows fly straight -- but, when my third finger gets into the act, I sometimes get that point kicking up.)n
But, if 3 under requires a different equipment setup, it would be good to know.

My bow is shooting darts again. Raised the nocking point almost half an inch, and lowered the brace height by about the same.

Was talking with another archer who had made the change -- he said that he also had to dramatically raise his nocking point, but did not have to adjust his brace height.

Wondering if any of this is predictable, or whether it is all individual trial and error.

Interesting. I find there is very little difference between my nocking point height when I'm shooting split finger (target) and three fingers under (barebow). I think this probably has something to do with the fact that I put hardly any pressure on the string with my top finger when shooting target.

Good point. There sure are a lot of variables in this game. Shooting split finger, I put hardly any pressure on my third finger. When I went to 3 under, I started using a lot of third finger, without making a conscious decision to do that. As a result, the string is being drawn from a point almost 2 inches lower than usual.

Hey ArcCaster,n
How is the switch affecting your accuracy? The reason I ask is that my point on is 60yards and I am looking at changes that may bring it down. I don't know anyone locally who has made that big of a change.

Let us know how it is going.

Paul

Haven't tested it in competition yet -- but in practice, my accuracy seems to be better in two ways.

One, the first arrow is almost always closer to where it should be. Reason -- with a 45-yard point on, shots plus or minus 20 yards do not have to be guestimated.

Two, the next three arrows are pretty tight -- again, I think it is because I have a reference, which does two things:
it allows me to aim more accuratelyn it is a lot easier to know whether I am holding or not -- so I am making more of an effort to hold on target.

As for the 'pure shot', without paying any attention to first arrows or groups -- the good shots feel really good, and fly really straight and true. Of course, it competition, things can come unraveled -- am shooting competitively next week -- will find out how the form holds up in competition.

I used my new 3-fingers-under all week at the nationals. Even though it was not rock solid, it was still a great way to shoot. It allowed me to have confidence in my gaps from 30 yards all the way out to 70 (80, though, became a more difficult shot).

As far as accuracy -- I didn't see any difference from split finger. I shot some great shots and a lot of good shots -- my bad shots I blame on my negative hold time, not on 3 fingers.

Making the change, however, does have unforeseen affects (for example, it changed the amount my bowhand moves when I draw, and my bowstring angle was all over the place) -- nothing that can't be handled with practice -- so it would be best to make the change well before you compete.

When teaching kids, i teach them three under. they go from missing the bales to hitting pie-plate sized groups in minutes.