Longbow archery help needed

[Husky]

I have recently made an ash longbow and have started to get my technique together.
One thing that is a problem though is that the fletchings slice my hand between the thumb and knuckle on my bow hand.
The leading edge of my fletchings are not particularly sharp.
What is the correct way to hold or place the arrow so that this does not happen?
Should the hand be tilted one way or the other or should the arrow rest/ride on a correct spot?

 

[chas brookes]

Hi

two solutions to this

where the leading edge of the fletching joins the arrow shaft a small drop of fletching glue or a thin leather golfing glove on the bow hand works well

The way you hold the bow will nor effect it as the arrow should always rest in the grove caused by your knuckle and the bow

 

[Niels]

You should wear a shooting glove on your left hand if you shoot across your hand. Also a drop of glue on the front of the fletchings will help.

Or as said simply glue something on the left side of your bow (assuming you're right handed) on which you can put the arrow. It will help you with
consistency when you're just starting out. Good luck!

 

[Cromm]

Hi, how long are your fletchings? And do you bind the arrows?

 

[Husky]

As most people do not use gloves I assumed that there was a trick to it.
I don't want to put a shelf on my bow as longbows traditionally don't have them.
My fletchings are 5,5" and they are bound front and rear.

The way you hold the bow will nor effect it as the arrow should always rest in the grove caused by your knuckle and the bow

This may be where I am doing it wrong...

 

[Cromm]

Yeah it could be the length, if I use 5in Fletchings they rub my hand too, you may want to make the nocking point on the string as this could help.

 

[Ogri the trog]

You could try raising your nocking point up the bowstring by 1/8th of an inch to see if that relieves it as well!

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Husky]

Raising the nock point fixed the problem!
Thank you all!
:You_Rock_

 

[David Morningstar]

I shoot without protection on my bow hand without any problems. The cut comes from the front end of the quill, not from the vanes of the feathers. The front of the quill should be tapered down for about half a centimeter in front of the first vanes and then bound over with thread, so that it is completely covered and you have a smooth transition from shaft to vanes.

 

[dwardo]

I shoot without protection on my bow hand without any problems. The cut comes from the front end of the quill, not from the vanes of the feathers. The front of the quill should be tapered down for about half a centimeter in front of the first vanes and then bound over with thread, so that it is completely covered and you have a smooth transition from shaft to vanes.

Ayup Dave, how is that beech bow going?

I would like to say I wear a glove to tune a bow for the first time to avoid this but I would be fibbing. Currently have a hand full of cuts from the same thing.
Nocking height as Orgi says is almost always the culprit. Correct nocking height and a properly spined shaft and the arrow should barely make contact with your hand and the bow.
A lot of the trad folk dont like nock markers on the string but I think they are great. Shelf or no shelf is another long fought argument, i like both.

 

[Wayne]

In primitive class we are not allowed an arrow shelf. I use a small length of linen thread on my bow string to act as a knocking point.

I sometimes use a strip of micro pore tape on my bow hand to protect against fletch cuts.

 

[ozzy1977]

Anything wrong with wearing a glove? or is it frowned apon

 

[ammo]

Nothing wrong at all mate, probably get a better release with them on. Try benders, Little finger grips,on the string, they work a treat.

Anything wrong with wearing a glove? or is it frowned apon

 

[dwardo]

If you are looking for a glove for the string hand then these are brilliant.
http://www.thelongbowshop.com/products/Deerskin-Glove-Brown.html

I could never get on with tabs or gloves until this one. Necessity got the better of me for higher draw weights. Anything over 50 and it was painful very quickly.

If its for your bow hand any thin leather glove would do it if you need one.

 

[ozzy1977]

That's the one I have on my crimbo wish list, not too keen on my current one as the finger tip on one finger twists a little

 

[Duggie Bravo]

Whilst I don't use a long bow, I have a Korean traditional bow, I use a bear claw, three fingered glove, on my drawing hand and a weightlifting glove on my bow hand, or if I forget the weight lifting glove I tilt the bow slightly, I'm a lefty so anticlockwise and that does the job too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dwardo]

That's the one I have on my crimbo wish list, not too keen on my current one as the finger tip on one finger twists a little

Worth the extra money over the cheaper gloves. I tried several and hated them all.
Much better feel of the string through the softer leather.

 

[ozzy1977]

The one I have is one of those finger tip jobs that goes over the back of the hand to the strap, the tips are so stiff you cant feel the string and they twist a bit which is annoying.