Thinking of going to thumb release..

[onestringer]

I switched to a thumb mid season this year. I went with the Carter Chocolate Lite. I took to it like a duck to water. I am not a very good shot to start with, but my target shooting seems better. I have killed the only deer I have shot at using it. Bonus was it was my first deer out of a saddle.

 

[Autumnrider]

I’ve been using a wrist release for the past decade but am thinking of trying a thumb release this off season. I like the idea of not having to strap or Velcro something on my wrist and make it work with gloves and sleeve cuffs. For those of y’all who shoot thumb releases what are your recommendations?
Pros and cons of hunting with a thumb release?
How was the transition from wrist to thumb?
Any specific tips or tricks?

Thanks in advance!

When I went to the thumb release, I become a lot better shot. Instead of squeezing off a shot with the thumb, I slowly squeeze with my pinky. This will push the trigger into your thumb causing a suprise release. I use 3 releases with different trigger tensions during tournaments but I carry 2 with very simular trigger tension for hunting.

 

[KYHunter]

Wow this has been a ton of great info so far, thanks y’all!
I think I want to give it a shot. So it seems the consensus is to not get a caliper style?

 

[flinginairos]

When I went to the thumb release, I become a lot better shot. Instead of squeezing off a shot with the thumb, I slowly squeeze with my pinky. This will push the trigger into your thumb causing a suprise release. I use 3 releases with different trigger tensions during tournaments but I carry 2 with very simular trigger tension for hunting.

I do the same thing. I wrap my thumb around the barrel and trigger the release with my pinky. Just slow steady pressure until it goes off.

 

[skyjacker]

Some thumb releases come with a hole to attach a wrist strap. For those who are worried about dropping it.

https://carterenterprises.com/releases/thumb-trigger/wise-choice

 

[FDGuy]

i switched to a 4 finger carter wise choice 2 years ago. groups did tighten up for me after trial and error with different barrell positions and sensitivity. and my wrist felt better (injured years ago trying to stunt my street bike) i just keep it in chest pocket or pocket on hss harness, and clipped on d loop up in stand. id suggest find one used or borrow to try out. like anything else , just gotta practice with it

 

[tider]

I switched to a thumb release spring of 2017. I suggest if you switch , give yourself a few months to get used to it. It’s a totally different feel. All that being said , I’ll never shoot a wrist release again.

I shoot the Nock 2 It thumb release. It has helped my accuracy and consistency tremendously. You get a more unanticipated release than from a wrist release. It’s way too easy to twitch your index finger and pull the trigger on the release with a wrist release ....especially in a high tension moment when there’s a good buck in front of you.

I shoot with my thumb almost hyperextended and pull back with my shoulder blades. I imagine my shoulder blades are going to almost touch each other. The key is in the preload on the thumb trigger. You can adjust the tension on the spring to allow more or less tension. I shoot it more like a tension release and get an unanticipated release each shot.

I applaud anyone who says they don’t suffer or had never suffered from target panic. I suffered from it and especially when I had a good buck in front of me. After switching over to a thumb release , I have overcome the target panic that I wasn’t even aware I had until I switched over.
The term “unanticipated release” was a foreign term to me when I was a wrist release guy. Not that you can’t be a great shot with a wrist release , but I’m a thumb release guy from now on.

Long story short ....I reccomend it.


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[KYHunter]

These are some good insights. Did yall have to adjust draw length when you switched? Or just find a new anchor?

 

[Autumnrider]

These are some good insights. Did yall have to adjust draw length when you switched? Or just find a new anchor?

Did not change draw but your anchor will change cause of the type release and the way it is held.
With the wrist release, I went from my index finger being anchored at the bone just below the earlobe to the rear of jaw bone splitting the index finger and middle finger (where the head of release is located) and the pinky finger is touching the earlobe with the thunk release. Please note that I shoot the Fang 4 finger release and other releases such as a three finger could have different anchors.

 

[2Shea]

I couldn’t hit a moose with my index finger release at one point thanks to target panic... switched to a thumb release and back tension release. Learned the surprise back tension release and switched over to a Stan Shootoff. My groups shrank insane amounts and I can now comfortably shoot out to 70 yards with no fear of missing. Of course misses can still happen but my confidence is at an all time high. If you switch to a thumb release I HIGHLY recommend to try a back tension first and learn back tension release technique for that “surprise” shot. Ask @flinginairos how bad my target panic was lol


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[pesqimon]

I also went to a back tension release before going to a thumb release and recomend that. I drank the NockOn Kool Aid and got the Silverback. After about a year of that I got the Nock2It. Seamless transition between the two.

I now use both depending on the goal of the day.

 

[weekender21]

I’ve been using a wrist release for the past decade but am thinking of trying a thumb release this off season. I like the idea of not having to strap or Velcro something on my wrist and make it work with gloves and sleeve cuffs. For those of y’all who shoot thumb releases what are your recommendations?
Pros and cons of hunting with a thumb release?
How was the transition from wrist to thumb?
Any specific tips or tricks?

Thanks in advance!

I made the switch from a wrist index release to a Carter Ember hand held in 2008. LOTS of pros and not a single con in my opinion. I keep it in my pocket during early season, never had an issue even when crawling on long stalks. It stays in my muff next to a hand warmer in cold weather. Nice and warm when it's needed.

Better accuracy, facilitates proper form, less likely to get target panic are some of the pros.

 

[brydan]

I switched to a thumb release (Stan Shootoff) 5 or 6 years ago and it was like a fish to water. Within the first half dozen arrows it was clear that they were a better fit for me. I shot fine with a wrist release before that and didn't see a notable increase in accuracy with a thumb, it was just for whatever reason they're noticeably more comfortable/natural for me to shoot. Fad? Maybe. But it's not a bandwagon I'm going to jump off of . I still shoot the wrist release periodically because for the time being it's still the backup, but there's never any feelings of wanting to switch back to it.

 

[flinginairos]

I couldn’t hit a moose with my index finger release at one point thanks to target panic... switched to a thumb release and back tension release. Learned the surprise back tension release and switched over to a Stan Shootoff. My groups shrank insane amounts and I can now comfortably shoot out to 70 yards with no fear of missing. Of course misses can still happen but my confidence is at an all time high. If you switch to a thumb release I HIGHLY recommend to try a back tension first and learn back tension release technique for that “surprise” shot. Ask @flinginairos how bad my target panic was lol


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When you said you couldn’t hit a moose that ain’t a lie LOL


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[bongo]

I’d say it seems loud because it’s so close to your ear when it goes off. I don’t even notice it now honestly. The TruBall BossX I tried was super loud and I didn’t care for it. The Stan “click” doesn’t bother me.


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I tried the Shootoff last year and sold it. I didn’t like the click but could deal with it that wasn’t the deal breaker. The deal breaker for me was second shot and just trying to keep track of it. I shot it well and practice with a silverback back tension.
I also let it go twice. I destroyed a QAD Hoyt fall away once and put two scratches on the riser on my Synergy the second time. Then I spent 30 minutes looking for it in the pine needles. Archery Talk Classified sold it for me the next day.
I also bought two different Whalen Hooker Releases and like them a lot. You can get a wrist strap for them but they shoot much different than most as you push on the thumb trigger for a safety and take thumb off and use fingers to release. Still wasn’t confident enough to hunt with as I had many misfires with it.
In the tree I just really like my wrist strap. But I’m always looking for something better.


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[bongo]

I switched to a thumb release spring of 2017. I suggest if you switch , give yourself a few months to get used to it. It’s a totally different feel. All that being said , I’ll never shoot a wrist release again.

I shoot the Nock 2 It thumb release. It has helped my accuracy and consistency tremendously. You get a more unanticipated release than from a wrist release. It’s way too easy to twitch your index finger and pull the trigger on the release with a wrist release ....especially in a high tension moment when there’s a good buck in front of you.

I shoot with my thumb almost hyperextended and pull back with my shoulder blades. I imagine my shoulder blades are going to almost touch each other. The key is in the preload on the thumb trigger. You can adjust the tension on the spring to allow more or less tension. I shoot it more like a tension release and get an unanticipated release each shot.

I applaud anyone who says they don’t suffer or had never suffered from target panic. I suffered from it and especially when I had a good buck in front of me. After switching over to a thumb release , I have overcome the target panic that I wasn’t even aware I had until I switched over.
The term “unanticipated release” was a foreign term to me when I was a wrist release guy. Not that you can’t be a great shot with a wrist release , but I’m a thumb release guy from now on.

Long story short ....I reccomend it.


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I have a friend who shoots competition and uses two Nock 2 it’s set at different trigger pressure so he can’t anticipate the release.


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[BCHunter]

I tried the Shootoff last year and sold it. I didn’t like the click but could deal with it that wasn’t the deal breaker. The deal breaker for me was second shot and just trying to keep track of it. I shot it well and practice with a silverback back tension.
I also let it go twice. I destroyed a QAD Hoyt fall away once and put two scratches on the riser on my Synergy the second time. Then I spent 30 minutes looking for it in the pine needles. Archery Talk Classified sold it for me the next day.
I also bought two different Whalen Hooker Releases and like them a lot. You can get a wrist strap for them but they shoot much different than most as you push on the thumb trigger for a safety and take thumb off and use fingers to release. Still wasn’t confident enough to hunt with as I had many misfires with it.
In the tree I just really like my wrist strap. But I’m always looking for something better.


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I had a whalen hooker release... I didn't like it very much. I'd rather use something with a solid trigger that trips under pressure instead of slowly rotating until it goes.

 

[BCHunter]

These are some good insights. Did yall have to adjust draw length when you switched? Or just find a new anchor?

I didn't have to change my draw length, but it does depend on which release you get, could change by up to an inch.

 

[bongo]

I had a whalen hooker release... I didn't like it very much. I'd rather use something with a solid trigger that trips under pressure instead of slowly rotating until it goes.

That’s why I didn’t use it Hunting this year. But it does shoot well and it is a surprise when it releases every time.
I was looking for a release that had a wrist strap without a trigger for target panic when I tried the Whalen.
I would like to try a Bernies no punch if I could find one.


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[BCHunter]

That’s why I didn’t use it Hunting this year. But it does shoot well and it is a surprise when it releases every time.
I was looking for a release that had a wrist strap without a trigger for target panic when I tried the Whalen.
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I didn't even shoot well. it basically needs to be hanging on edge to be sensitive, if you're not consistent you can send arrows of super early. If it's not set that sensitive, you just punch it like any other release, or do the double take when you think it's going to release and it doesn't. Glad I didn't hit my neighbor's house...