Tab or Glove...
 

I have been using a tab to shoot 3 under on my Longbow. This is just a cheap tab I picked up for like 10 bucks, made of leather & calf hair. Is there a world of difference in tabs and gloves, cheap tabs and expensive tabs. I am want to get more consistent release and I'm thinking the tab I use could be a better one! What kind of tab or glove do you guys use??? Is a tab better for 3 under or should I try a glove???


Joe b!

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

The best 3-under tab.... at least the one "I" like best.... is theBlack Widow tab with Super Leather or cordovanface. It doesn't groove and gives a really slick, consistentrelease.

Calf hair sux. The hair wears off one spot and not another, so the release gets kinda inconsistent.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Product.asp?show=info&c=1&s=81&p=0&amp ;i=5332X#full

I think tab is best for 3-under, but I've done good work with a plain ol' Damascus glove too.

Old Target Shooter's Hint: carry a travel size bottle of baby powder in your kit - the talc kind, not that corn starch gunk! -and give your tab/glove a good dusting from time to time. Slicks it up real nice.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Thanks Arthur, ya know my fingers are killing me. Is this because if the cheap tab as well or just not used to it yet? I have been shooting every other day if not daily???

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I just use a regular 3 finger under tab, you shouldn't need too fancy of a 3 finger under tab for it to work well. Make sure your not taking to big of a bite too when you pull your bow back with your tab, I'm sure you knew that but I thought I'd tell ya anyway just in case. These Traditional bows throw a bad release allot easier then the compounds do when our releases aren't good. I'm sure you noticed that too.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Painful piddies? :D

The tab could be it, if it's really thin and doesn't protect much. Or maybe your fingers just aren't used to it yet. It can take some time for your fingers to toughen up. It's really an individual thing. Some folks fingertips are more sensitive, some less. Folks with really sensitive fingers need thicker, more protective tabs or gloves. I don't think some guys would know it if they smacked their finger with a hammer and they don't care whether they use a tab or not.

Ifyour fingers are really sorethough, it would be good to take a few days off and let them rest and heal up. They can't toughen up if youtearing them up and, anyway, pain is not conducive to good shooting. ;)

If you notice any numbness in any finger, take a few days off. Non negotiable! That numbness in a fingertip is usually caused by a bruised nerve. It needs to heal and the feeling come back fullybefore you shoot any more or you risk permanent injury to it. And definitelyget a thicker, more protectivetab/glove if that happens.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I'm no tab expert at all, but I've been reseaching it lately. As I understand it, most of the top IBO shooters (the two I know at least) use a Cavalier (Elite, I think). Best tab I've tried, and I doubt there's one more durable.

There can be considerable differences in tabs, both in construction and materials. For some folks it won't make any difference as far as shooting goes....but for others it can make a really big difference.

Chad

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I've used a Cordovan Glove with insert for years. Bateman, Hill, and American Leathers. You won't get more protection from them, but you will not feel the string. I'll pretty much guarantee that you will not have any pain while shooting with them. You may want to get one to use for good or to get you through the painful episodes that you are experiencing.

That said, I am have been using a tab again for the past few months for a change. I just ordered a new EW Bateman Stayput for myself and son. I've been using the BW that Art mentioned, but I want to try something Cordovan with a spacer. I think that BW now makes a cordovan though.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

But Artie i gotta shoot every day, heck i'll do it left handed if need be!:D;)

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Yeah Art I think I need to space my shooting out, not so many arrows in a session! My middle finger is the sore the most. I chopped the tip of my index finger off with a table saw and its a tad bit sensitive so I tend to favor the middle finger, haha! My tab is thin I'm going to check out the thicker tab and a glove to see whats best.

Bob I got your PM and would love to check that glove out, I sent you a PM! Thanks!

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I am going to be coming over to the trad side again soon. I have shot my compound with no sights, no release. I always put some athletic tape on the string to make it thicker, and less painful. Once my fingers toughened up I felt it gave me excelent feel and I could be consitant with my release. Anyone do that with their traditional bows, or will it throw the release off to much?

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

What about the NO-Glove? Anybody ever try one. I was thinking of trying one on my Great Plains. I like the tab or glove one or the other is fine with me!

hatchet Jack

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

If that is the one that stays on the string, I'd stay away from it. Too much weight on the string IMO.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

No-glove is great for bowfishing where shots are short andyou don't want to get your good glove or tab all wet and slimed up. It'll work for hunting or general shooting toobut, like Bob said, it's heavy and it does rob your bow of some performance. Only you can decide whether you would like it enough to make the tradeoff.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

ArthurP, what performance of the bow would it affect? Speed, noise, KE ? I don't shoot much past 20 yards! Thanks

Hatchet Jack

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Black Widow makes a nice cordovan 3 under tab.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Speed. And KE to some extent as a result of the slower speed. I've never chrono'd a bow with and without the no-grip but I would estimateit'd cost an average of 10 fps. More on lighter draw bows - 50 lbs and less than on heavier bows over 60 lbs.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Thanks Arthur P, My Great Plains is 55@28I still think I might try the no-glove just to see how I like it. thanks for the info!!!

Hatchet Jack

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

a while ago i read a post about shooting with a loop&Release. if it turns out that a tab or glove keep bothering your fingersyou might want to try a release in stead. (better then selling your bow)

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I'd rather deal with the pain and have bloody fingers than put a string loop and use a release on my Longbow! ;):D

Bob I got the gloves in the Post, I'm really liking the BW Glove, very durable with some good protection!!!!!:)

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I roll better with tabs

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

I agree! The compounds can keep there fancy stuff, the word release shouldn't be in the same sentence as Traditional bows!

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Some traditional releases:

From 1950



From 1951



And another from the 50's



These all pre-date the compound by as much as 18 years. If we classify anything that was around before compounds as 'traditional' then releases do qualify. And sights, stabilizers, mechanical broadheads...... Just thought I'd bust open a fresh can o' worms this morning. ;)

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

There's reasons they are not the norm with Traditional bows, most don't believe in them shooting Traditional! Personally I didn't and still don't believe in them for shooting compound but whatever rocks your boat I guess. Maybe I'm just too old fashion for my own good, been told that a few times!;)

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

It sure looks to me like if you were shooting a heavy draw weight, the centrifugal force would spin that thing around and slam it into your ring finger knuckle. Looks like it'd be painful.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

You can't beat the B/W tab for smoothness. If I could get a good anchor I'd still have one.Nice collector items AP. I've never seen one of them.

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

i use a glove 1 above 2 under

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Cool pics Art! I tried a "back tension" release aid on an 82# longbow....once...dang near killed myself with that thing (the release aid, not the longbow). If my fingers every quit, can't say I won't try one (minus the back tension part) to keep shooting, but for now I'll pass.

Bit the bullet yesterday and put some serious effort into a tab. I'd tried before, with several different types of tabs, just couldn't get the hang of it, even thoush I used a tab when I shot a compound.

Reckon I just hadn't tried the right one. A friend of mine who shoots with a tab (and is an IBO world champion) gave me one of his spare Cavalier tabs. I never would have tried it otherwise, because the dang things cost $30...but after a little while I was really liking it. I've been a glove shooter for the past 15 years or so, but I may be converting to a tab.

Took some tinkering--tried it with the finger spacer first, then without--like it better without. Unless I loose it, shouldn't need a new one for years--the cordovan face is tough, and seems to get better with use. I know my favorite glove (Superglove with cordovan) never wears out where the string makes contact--the glove wears out, but the tips could be used again.

Anyhow, I've been reluctant to try a tab again, after the money I've spent on ones that didn't work for me--but I'm really liking this one.

Chad

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Bummer, I can't see the Pics Arthur posted????

RE: Tab or Glove...
 

Nuthin' special... Just a few old timey releases from years gone by from this link:

http://www.archeryhistory.com/releases/releases.htm

Only one I've actually tried myselfis the bow-lock. I whittled one out of a piece of scrapwood about 10 years ago. Works great and you can't beat the cost. FREE - except for about an hour's worth of work.:D