Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

Are any of you guys and gals a good shot when not using a release with your compound bow? On a few occassions, I saw a shooter before I could get my release on. So, tonight I decided to try shooting the target without a release just to get some practice. ....man I suck without the release! :D

Darren

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I guess it depends on your definition of good. I shot that way for over 10 years, at times during that period, I could shoot baseball size groups at 40 yards. I shoot better and more consistent with a release but I never had a particularly good release.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

used to shoot without a release all the time and did pretty good, but now that I have been shooting with one for about 10 years I can't shoot without it. A couple of times when I have forgotten my release in the truck when I went to sit in the stand, I would just get up and leave again right away because I can't shoot without it.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

i started off with a release a year ago but i cant shoot good with em
i shoot alot more accurate withour a release but that could eb the relase im using

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

Besides practicing left-handed and right-handed release shooting, I sometimes practice with fingers on my compound. Since it has 80% let-off, I pull with 3 fingers and drop 2 fingers. The one finger hold can be done easily with the higher let-off, and the one finger release lets me shoot better. With one finger under, I usually hold very well 3-4'' off to one side and 4-5" high. Knowing the point of impact allows for adjustment should I have to shoot this way while hunting. I wouldn't attempt it unless I periodically practiced.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I don't practice that enough to trust myself especially with the short ATA bows I shoot these days.......That release goes on at the truck everytime (Unless it's pre dawn) I don't need any uneccessary stress.[:o]:(
I would feel more comfortable shooting without my SIGHTS vs. without my release.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I've always been a finger shooter. I cut off the tip of my finger one year and had to use a release that year. Yes my groups got alittle tighter but I prefer shooting fingers for hunting. Not enough difference for hunting. Maybe there would be for a competition shoot. I will always shoot fingers. But bow selection is more limited in todays modern bow not that many made with a axle to axle in the 40 inch range.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I been bowhunting since 69' and have always shot fingers. Some folks may get better groups with a release but something being mechanical like a release can go off at any time, that was my problem when I gave one a try one time, I shoot left handed also and have a dead left index finger from that of a cottonmouth bite but still use it as a anchor point. Fingers are just more difficult when your shooting a short compound. I'm just an ole die hard and will stick to fingers as I'm into bowhunting more than archery, if your into archery than a release will give you tighter groups, but from a bow hunting point of view, I personaly chose the fingers. Bobby;)

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

Do I shoot good with fingers? Just ask the guys that I shoot with.... the ones always standing at the concession table buying cold drinks whilst I sit in the shade. ;)

You cannot shoot a bow well with fingers when it's set up for release shooting. You must have the proper rest, and adjust centershot to have the tip of the arrow slightly outside the string instead of being in direct aligment with the string.

With releases, arrow paradox is vertical and is cushioned by the prongs of the rest. With fingers, it's horizontal. You have to have a side pressure plate for the arrow to paradox against. A lot of the time, you'll need to jump up one spine class for shooting fingers vs a release.

So, shooting an improper setup with possibly underspined arrows and not having practiced shooting fingers... How could your shooting could NOT suck?

Go down to the bow shop and spend about $15 on an NAP Centerest flipper and stick that on the bow, spend $7 on a tab, check the charts to find out whether your arrows will work for fingers, and give it another go.

If you don't want to mess with your primary bow - and that's definitely understandable - then set up your backup bow for trying fingers shootin'.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I've retired my tabs, burger button and flipper rest. I suppose if I ever break them out again, I could probably do okay on my 20+ year old Browning. Don't think I'll ever try on my BowTech.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I was a decent finger shooter back in the day. I went to a release for hunting and probably wont go back. I think everyone, if given a chance should start out shooting fingers when they 1st go to archery.
I still shoot fingers, just messing around with the recurve in the yard.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

No-lol-:D

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I've shot exclusively fingers for 24 years. The last 10 years of which have been with a compound.
In that time I've developed a very smooth finger release. It takes more practice, but I wouldn't switch to a mech release aid unless I planned on competing somewhere other than locally. I've tried it on a friend's bow, and even set up another friend's bow for shooting with one, but I'll take fingers everytime.

I'll never argue that you can't get more precise groups and life-saver-busting accuracy from a mech release, but they're not for me. I love 'feeling' the release of the string. It also doesn't hurt that I can get shots off quicker because I just draw and shoot. I don't have to hook up the release to the string, and then after I'm at full draw, shift my grip to a firing position. I also like having both hands free if I need them. Once you're hooked up to the bow, you're handcuffed, and the fastest way to move your hands is to drop the bow and risk damaging it or cutting yourself on a broadhead.

Not to mention there is just one more peice of equipment to fall victim to Murphy's law. I'd eventually either leave it in the truck, it would fail or freeze at a critical time, or it would misfire on me and scare away the best deer of the season.

If you set up your bow for finger shooting like ARTHUR P suggests above, assuming your bow has enough length between axles for finger shooting, and practice with it, you just might come to like it better for hunting. Give it a chance. Get the proper setup and spend some time with it.

TIP:
Since finger shooting all but requires a flipper rest, you may want to consider feathers instead of vanes. I know not many people are in favor of doing anything that sacrifices FPS, but I feel that with a finger setup, it's easier to solve rest-clearence problems with feathers, and your setup will gain forgiveness when you execute a less than perfect release, which WILL happen. You'll still mess it up once in a while, no matter how long you've been shooting.

ANOTHER TIP:
When paper tuning with it, you'll want to shoot several arrows between adjustments. This is to make sure that the flight error you're seeing on the paper is really from the equipment, not you. If you're not getting exactly the same tear every time, you're not ready to paper tune yet. You can make some gross adjustments, but spend some more time practicing your shooting form and developing a smooth, consistent finger release before attempting any fine tweeking. Otherwise, you can drive yourself nuts chasing ghosts.

Sorry about writing a book -I don't see topics like this to often and I wanted to toss in my 2 cents..

Good luck!

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I sure as heck am.............................:D

Good for one into the barn, another into the woods, then one over to my neighbors

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I never tried it without an release but no harm on trying, just need the arrows first :D

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

What do you think us old guys used before there were release aids? It was called fingers, with glove or tab. One of the major differences shooting fingers is that the bow must be set up with a rest that gives side support to counteract archer's paradox. Maybe that's one reason you THINK you shot so poorly.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I am not a professional but have been shooting compounds with fingers for 25 years and can shoot just as consistent as any release shooter. I believe that there are 3 keys to shooting good with fingers. 1 – Use a thin soft leather glove. Most three finger gloves are thick leather and do not allow the proper feel for a smooth release. I use military nomex flight gloves, available at the online auction place or any surplus store. 2 – The release technique is very simple; just relax your fingers with out moving any other part of your hand or arm. 3 – Don’t give up. Hope this info helps. FingerTom

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I practice in the off season without my release. I can hit decent without it and am confident enough that if I HAD to do it I could, but it's not my preferred method.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I am not a anti – release person and I do not discourage people not to use them, however I do remind people that a release aide is simply that, an aide. If I was a competitive target shooter I would surely use one. I just believe that they are not needed for hunting.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I don't use a release for my compound. Thought about it, but I'm sure I'd forget it or drop it when I needed it.

I used to have a tough time finding small enough gloves. So I would just wrap some tape around my fingers when I would target practice. It worked slick.

Now I'm a wimp and use a glove for my compound and a tab for my stickbows.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

There aren't enough bows on the market today that are really fingers-compatible. Even some of the 'longer'[>:] versions would force most peope with a normal draw length to use a 2-finger release. With my 33.5" draw, when I get around 42" axle to axle I'm forced to use 2 fingers. Less than 40" and I'm better off with the release.

You oughta see the look on a guy's face when I lay my arrow down alongside the cams on his bow and have arrow hanging over both ends of his limbs. [8D]

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I think dangerous would be the proper term for me.

lol at rack-attack!

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

Sometimes you just can't buy an item off the self and expect it to be custom fit. I am a left handed shooter and have a left index finger that is totally dead and deformed and maybe no bigger than a pencil, so what I did was I found a glove that felt great on my other two fingers and then I would use additional pieces of leather ( small thickness) and use contact cement to glue the inside my glove finger until there was no slippage around my finger, its a custom fit as I do it myself, but who the heck knows what I want other than me? Bobby

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

When I shot with fingers yes I was "good" now I use a release and would never take a shot at an animal unless I have my release. A good clean kill is the only ethical thing to do in my book and if that monster buck comes by & I can't find my release I will pass on the shot. Better to wait for another chance than to wound that animal & loose it and regret the decission for the rest of your life. Sorry but I feel we all have a certain responsability to the animal we are hunting to make the best shot we can.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

Actually, both of my only two "Robin Hoods" were with fingers on a compound....:). I do not think I could do that again now if I tried.

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

Ah, come on now, Frank! I've gotten 5 robinhoods with my longbow - out to 45 yards! Another 4 with a recurve and 5 more with the compound. Only two of them were WITH a release. They make for excellent den ambience and decor.[&:]

RE: Are you good with a compound and no release?
 

I can hold my own with no release, but definately prefer a release.:)