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Split finger or 3 under?

Mschmeiske

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2017
Messages
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Location
New York
Ive got a Ben Pearson Cougar coming that I won on EBay. I was curious if you prefer split finger or 3 under and why? Are there pros and cons to either or? Or is it just preference really?
 
I prefer the feel of a split grip but I shoot 3 under because I am more accurate with that grip. This year I am experimenting with a fixed crawl and the 3 under works better with that setup. So 3 under for me.
 
I shot split finger most of my life. There were various times when I was younger that I would try 3 under but, quickly abandon it in just a few shots because I didn't hit what I was looking at. Last year I finally made the switch to 3 under and gave myself more than a few shots to make the correction. Within 50 arrows my brain had made the correction and in a short amount of time I was shooting better than I had ever shot. The difference in my shooting the last two years is noticeable enough that my dad has also switched to 3 under after shooting split finger his entire life.

Both of us struggled a little with face scrapes and hitting our noses when we made the switch. I just had to consciously pay attention to my head position for a while but, it's now part of my form and I don't have that issue anymore.

I have helped several people get started with Trad the last two years and I recommended to all of them to shoot 3 under, the arrow being closer to your eye really helps.

Edit: The only 'pro' I know of to split finger is if you are shooting longer shots, it makes your point on farther away. This is why a lot of long range target shooters shoot split finger. At the distances I shoot in hunting situations that's actually a con.
 
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This is a great post. This is one of the reasons I have never hunted trad, I can shoot ok with split finger but I have to be on it every day. That's not realistic. So with three under, you are using the arrow tip as a sight then? I am really interested in hunting trad this year but just don't have the time to shoot a hundred arrows instinctively every day. I just watched a Clay Hayes Video related to this subject and he said most people can reasonably expect 6" groups within three weeks with three under etc. Maybe it was the Push video.
 
This is a great post. This is one of the reasons I have never hunted trad, I can shoot ok with split finger but I have to be on it every day. That's not realistic. So with three under, you are using the arrow tip as a sight then? I am really interested in hunting trad this year but just don't have the time to shoot a hundred arrows instinctively every day. I just watched a Clay Hayes Video related to this subject and he said most people can reasonably expect 6" groups within three weeks with three under etc. Maybe it was the Push video.

Aiming methods and the way you address the string are two different things. You can shoot any aiming method with split finger or three under but, generally 3 under will make your gap between the target and your arrow closer at shorter distances and split finger will put the tip of your arrow closer to your target at longer distances.

I personally shoot instinctive and don't consciously look at my arrow when shooting but, having it closer to my eye with 3 under still helped improve my shooting.

Since you mentioned Clay Hayes, here is a link where he goes into detail on the various aiming methods. https://www.twistedstave.com/traditional-archery-aiming-methods/
 
I shoot 3 under cause @GCTerpfan told me to :tearsofjoy:

Seriously, it's been good for me since I started.
I shoot three under because @movehuntir told me to . . . :tearsofjoy:

Seriously though, I shot split finger from my compound for the first 15 years I bow hunted. I tried it this year when I started shooting the long bow but found I was much more consistent at hunting ranges with the three under. Been practicing that way ever since with reasonable success.

Oh yeah, glove for me (same glove that's been gathering dust in an "old bow stuff" box in the basement for the last 30 years).
 
Thank you for the replies so far! Gloves or tab for you fellas?

Your going to have to buy both and see what works better for you on that one. That's like asking "what saddle will fit me best?" :) .

I personally shoot a tab because my release sucks when using a glove. My father can shoot either just as effectively. I prefer a soft calf hair tab, they don't last as long as a cordovan leather tab but, because they are more flexible they let me get my hand tighter to my face which feels better to me.
 
What draw weight do you shoot with a recurve vs a compound? I usually shoot 47-50# with my compound, so I expect less with the recurve.
 
What draw weight do you shoot with a recurve vs a compound? I usually shoot 47-50# with my compound, so I expect less with the recurve.
I'm shooting a 70# compound (30"DL) and a 50# @ 28in Longbow (probably drawing 28.5"). I'm not having any issues shooting the longbow, in fact I may be having an easier time with the longbow than the compound. I have a bad shoulder and it catches in my draw cycle about where the compound bow starts to load up. When I'm drawing the longbow I'm past that point before I'm pulling any real weight.
 
What draw weight do you shoot with a recurve vs a compound? I usually shoot 47-50# with my compound, so I expect less with the recurve.

I've never shot a compound but, currently have recurves and longbows that vary from 45# to 63# at my 29" draw. My 45# bow gets shot the most. Last year I hunted with 51#. This year I plan on hunting with my 45# bow. Most recommend starting with a low weight to work on form, some say as low as 30-35#. I normally recommend 40# to start. It's light enough that I think most people can handle it easily but, is still enough weight to hunt whitetail with a good COC two blade.
 
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