Planter: re the limb hitting a tree. If you shoot right handed and the left limb hits the tree, the xbow will attempt to launch itself to the right. Should the right limb be the one that hits the tree....... That sore thumb will be the least of your problems!!! Seriously, you do not want that to happen. Did you read the post by 10 pt about the guy that tore the stitches out of his thumb w/ string? And he got the stitches from doing it the first time! He should make the next issue of the DARWIN awards. I was at a 3-D shoot awhile back and had to take one shot squatted down to get clear of some trees and that changed my grip enough to trim my right thumb nail. Close call.