This thread has been a revelation of sorts for me. As Arthur knows, I've been shooting a recurve for a bit, as I felt something was lacking shooting my compound with release. It just didn't feel like archery hunting any more, and I'm looking for something more.

I was next door shooting, and remembered this thread. My compound is 30.5" ATA, so I grabbed it, nocked an arrow, grabbed the string with my God given fingers and pulled back. It felt sooooo good, so natural. I stood about 7 yards for the target, knowing the bow was tuned and sighted for release shooting and not wanting to miss, stared the target down and simply let go. It felt soooooo good, so natural, and the arrow nailed the spot I was looking at.

I was shocked. Obviously, I had to do this again.

I backed up to 10 yards, then 15, 20 and 25, my max I can shoot indoors. I'll be danged if I didn't shoot every bit if not more so accurately with my God given fingers than I ever have with any release I've ever used. And it felt natural, spiritual, like I was actually shooting a bow, not a mechanical instrument. I was connected to the arrow flight, not simply flipping a switch.

Even at 30.5", I didn't have an issue with string pinch, using split finger, 1 up 2 down. I tried dropping to just one up and down, but it felt wierd, so I quit it. Sure there was string pinch, if you define pinch as me being able to feel the upper and lower string on my fingers. Certainly not inducing torque or causing pain, and not messing with arrow flight in the least bit.

I have two tags left to fill in the next two weeks, and I plan to leave my release at home. Shooting my compound is fun again. I'm currently funded to buy a new bow next year, and I'm thinking an old glory (or similar) with some heavy skinny arrows tipped with big old snuffers (or similar) doing about 270 fps may be just what the Dr. ordered...