Hawgz I shot open handed without a strap for years and never dropped my bow, don't ask me how, but I didn't. It could be reflex causing me to "catch" the bow after the release, but it never caused me to pull/torque the bow when shooting. Maybe I am lucky or a freak, but I did it, I have a strap now and have yet to have the strap stop me from dropping the bow, but I have never dropped one.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog