Armguards or not?
 

I was wondering how many of you guys or girls hunt without an armguard and why?

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I used to shoot with an arm gaurd, until a friend showed me how to hold the bow properly, and I havent needed one since. I'm glad he showed me, me wrist was getting sore.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

The only time I use one is if I am wearing heavy clothing. They do a good job of holding the clothes down so they don't get in the way of the string.

In most cases with a compound that fits you properly and with proper grip you shouldn't need one. Unless you have a very short brace height. I shoot with a slightly bent arm vrs straight as well.

I believe recurve and long bows are bit different though. I don't shoot them so I'm not sure. However a lot of the target archers I see shoot them use arm and in some cases chest protectors.

Paul

RE: Armguards or not?
 

If you need one then use one, especially with heavy clothing on.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I always wear one, just in case I would slap my arm, seems to keep the arrow on target better than hitting my arm. I also wear it on the outside of my heavy hunting jacket to keep the material compressed and out of the way. Better safe than sorry.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

IMO must people who use arm guards have to long of draw length. I am Left handed and my right arm has a lot of bend it. This Foces my arm away from the bow sting. If the arm is straight it put is closer to the sting. Works for me, but to each his own.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I never used to wear one but I've tried using a straighter arm recently and it seems to be helping with accuracy. I never liked the ones with straps and never needed one but I found one that is one piece and is stretchy so it stays in place. I use a 3-D suit and like the way it keep the arm fabric out of the way. I'm kind of liking it.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

When I learned to shoot I wore one, dont need one anymore unless I'm wearing loose sleeves or bulky clothing. It really does make a difference. Wore a jacket at the range a couple weeks ago, and the string made a loud slap against the sleeve. Put on the armguard and all is quiet again.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

i dont wear one and have never had a problem

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I don't wear one while practicing in shirts sleeves or short sleeves. I do wear one in the woods to keep my sleeves from possibably getting whacked.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

ditto

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I hunt without one. My clothes are tight enough that they don't get in my way. And my draw length is set good enough, that I don't need one whether I'm wearing clothes or not. I never hit my arm.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

STS has eliminated the need,even with the thickest clothes.


I never needed an armguard much but used one while hunting to insure my sleeve wouldn't hit,now I don't have to worry.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I found out while practicing in the backyard with hunting gear on the my string would hit my jacket about every 3rd shot.
I don't have an armguard so I went inside and grabbed a sweatsock with a hole in it. Cut off the foot part and slid it up over my jacket sleeve to compress it.
Worked like a charm!
But, I don't want half my arm to be white in the woods!
I went to the store and bought a pack of 6 pairs of lightweighthunting socks fro 5.00, they are kind of a brown color.
I cut off the foot and use it the same way.
I figure I'll have enough for several years for the 5.00!

RE: Armguards or not?
 

The only time I wear one is if I am wearing heavy clothing while hunting and that's just to keep the bulk out of the way.

If you need an arm guard then you are either shooting a bow with too long a draw length which is causing you to over extend your body, locking your elbow which puts your forearm in the path of the string, or are shooting a bow with a very short brace height.

If a person is matched to a bow properly and shooting with good form then an armguard shouldn't be needed.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I wish I would have used one when I first started shooting. It probably would have prevented the huge bruse on my arm. After taking my bow to a bow shop and have the draw length adjusted and shown how to properly hold the bow when shooting, I haven't needed one. I don't think there is any shame in using one as long as it keeps you out there bow hunting.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I didn't wear an arm guard for years while shooting in t-shirts....only wore it when chilly weather came around and had to wear a jacket or coat.

Now, wear it all the time after reading that it can give you abit of protection if an arrow explodes after release.

My draw length is abit long for me...30"...I think a 28 1/2" would be better for me....but I do not slap my arm with the string...and my shots are good up to 40 meters...so I'm not going to change the draw length.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I don’t use an armguard for target or 3-D, but I will always use one when I have my hunting gear on. I’ll take no chance of my string hitting the extra layers of clothing when drawing on the big guy.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I used one when I first started. Then as I practiced more with my compound, I found I didn't need it anymore. Now I have a Trophy Ridge sight with a built-in level, helps in holding the bow properly and avoiding string lash.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I wear a short one, more to hold the clothes back. I have wacked my arm slightly in short sleeves but thats due to locking out my arms.

Old habits die hard.

I used to shoot recurve when I was a kid and I was dead on but with locked arm. I would of thought that the scar tissue would be built up good enough from those wacks....

RE: Armguards or not?
 

Cheap alternative to compress the bow arm sleeve: look for a camo "gunsock", I think they are made by HS($5). I cut it into 3 pieces, the widest can do double duty as a face net.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

IFIND UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IF THE DRAW LENGTH IN CORRECT YOU WONT NEED AN ARMGUARD ...

ROLL TIDE
DD

RE: Armguards or not?
 

i wear one....just in case...

RE: Armguards or not?
 

A cheaper alternative is an old sock with a hole in it. Just cut off the foot part and pull the top of the stocking over your arm.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

as previously stated you should use one when hunting as it may save a slap against your clothes which could result in a bad hit or a complete miss. I never need one when practicing, but I NEVER hunt without one

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I use one with heavy clothing just as a precautionary device. I don't think I need one but it makes me feel better when I do use it.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

The way i hold my bow, I don't need one. I basically hold my bow with my thumb and forefinger (the #1 finger). I started holding my bow with the last 2 fingers curled (pinky and ring finger curled into the palm, bow touching the backside of those fingers)....to keep from getting hit but the string. I used to hold the bow with my forearm facing the bow....now I hold the bow with my forearm facing the deck...

I haven't had a problem with clothing...I trimmed my bug suit, but I haven't had a problem with clothing.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

When it's warm outside (early season)or when I practice I don't use one.When it's cold outside and I have to wearmultiple layers I use one. I like the elastic type, I just slip it on.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

My response is the same as David's.An errant arrow on the practice bag is one thing,but while hunting it is not going to happen because I hit a bulky sleeve.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

Something that I learned with bulky hunting clothes is that the string may not catch your sleeve on the wrist or your forearm, but it may catch where there is slack in your jacketin your upper arm area, around thebicep, when your arm is extended. This was an issue with my cold weather coat, not when I shotat ground level, but only when I shot from a stand and bent at the waist to shoot close. The material around the upper arm would kind of bunch up and stick out enough to catch the string.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

don't need it if u shoot correctly, but if you're wearing heavy bulking clothing, then yeah cinch the sucker down and get that crap out of the way.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

nope don't use them.

RE: Armguards or not?
 

There is a nice 8 point still walking around in the area I hunt because i didn't use an armguard. Here's my new rule - Heavy clothing (winter jacket) = arm guard. I've practiced before with this jacket on and not hit the arm guard - but probably hadn't done enough practicing. I went home and shot many arrows and found very few times that it would hit, but there were definately some that would. Gotta love bowhunting - always plenty of opportunities to make a mistake for the first time - over and over again!

RE: Armguards or not?
 

I am a novice to bow hunting. I have been to the target range about 6 times and have not been out to hunt as of yet. I hit my bare arm ONCE on my first day of sighting in. I learned real quick where I went wrong!

I can see how it will help with heavy clothing, but a few elastic bands will also do the trick.