Bill, as a shooter/pistol builder, this goes against everything I know. BUT, I'm going to try a shorter release because I have watched your shots over the years and am always ready to learn. Thank you for doing these technical reviews to help guys like myself get better!
I don't much about shooting a pistol, but I have had a lot of conversations with some of the world's best archers and this is one more or less universal shooting fundamental they all recommend. Good luck and have a great day.
I have the B3 hawk and love it. perfect release. I can also attest that shooting behind my first knuckle like you is the way to go. I will say, I cannot shoot with gloves on so I always cut the index finger off. Good tips for everyone to follow
Mike, I shoot the gloves all year. I should have taken them off for this video, however, to make it easier to see where the trigger contacted my finger. Good input. Have a great day.
One thing you can do is put a bandaid around the finger on the middle section. Like your gloves it reduces feeling the trigger. It’s a great way to help create the surprise break.
I have large hands with long fingers. For the past 28 years ive I been shooting the same tru-fire x-caliper release maxed out on its length which sets it at the very tip of my index finger. The trigger weight is sub 1lb, probably sub 10oz. So at full draw my index knuckle is behind earlobe which allows index finger to be completely straight parallel to the release shaft. Since my trigger weight is so light it only takes a slight touch of the trigger to release. I've got several other releases I've tried thinking that new model may be better but none are long enough
Doug, that's the beauty of archery: if it works for you and you can repeat it, you are golden. I would have the world's worst case of target panic if I shot that way. Also, having the release head that far forward shortens how far you draw the bow under force and that will reduce the kinetic energy in the arrow after the shot for any given draw weight. Just realize you are making a tradeoff there. Have a great day.
Interesting thought on the draw length. As is my draw length is 32". Not many choices in bows that go that long. If I shorten my release to increase my draw I may be even more limited on my bow selection.
What about the wrist strap itself. When I wear thicker gloves I need to losen it a notch. It usually throws off my finger placement. I think you’re describing the bend where we usually place our finger in an ar15 range outing
Jay, that is one of the main reasons I always shoot and practice with those cheap jersey gloves all off-season and then hunt using the same gloves. The bow also feels different in your hand when wearing a glove vs not wearing one and for sure from one glove style to the other. I just eliminate all that by always wearing the glove style when shooting my bow. Have a great day.
Bill, I understand the principle of the shorter set up. I started doing that a few years ago when you discussed it. Just a quick comment…I know you always shoot with the glove on and why. As a photographer, I have one critique. Wearing the dark glove makes it hard to see exactly what you are doing with your finger. It gets washed out in the shadows. Maybe a follow up video showing the deep set without the glove on? Still a great video. Anxiously awaiting the next in the series.
You are right Pat. Those gloves definitely made it much harder to see the trigger in my finger. Hopefully, everyone got that idea. We will do a follow up in the future. Have a great day.
One thing I've always wondered about is the relationship between the bow's draw length, string angle, release length, archer's face shape/size, arm length and shoulder breadth and how that all factors together to affect shooting form. Whereas you can't change your body (aside from surgical alteration), you can change your technique/form, the bow's settings, and release selection and setup. How do you balance all of these variables (the things you can actually change) to produce the most consistent result?
It is a good question. I am guessing that like some people are built perfectly for other activities (wrestling, running, skiing, etc.) I am sure that some set of body types are ideally suited to lock in and hold a bow solidly at full draw. But, I think that advantage would be only slight and only really show up in the very top competitors where the smallest factors make a difference. For us as whitetail hunters, I am guessing it makes no difference at all and we can use what we have to become very effective by sticking with the fundamentals. Have a great day.
The floating pin and surprise release is something I’ve never been able to do. I’ve finally come to terms that maybe it’s in my mental dna. In my mind, I can’t do something the exact same way 20 times a day for 3 months and have anything be a surprise, unless something breaks. I know exactly when my bow will fire every time, even if I float and squeeze. If I try to create an actual surprise release, I get nervous and panicky. I’ve just learned to relax and intentionally control the entire process all the way through, more or less robotically. Maybe I’m crazy 😆
If you are shooting well and not fighting target panic, then there is no reason to change, but if you are you looking for options, you can try a hinge style (pure back tension) release. I have used them in the past during the offseason for training and then gone back to my index finger release right before hunting season. I even know some guys that hunt with hinge releases. An example of this style from the B3 line would be the Ranger. Good luck. b3archery.com/product/ranger/
Great content! I understand it is cold, but it would be helpful when talking about hand/finger placement, and other topics such as grip, without the gloves. I can be hard to see in some videos what you're referring to with the loose gloves on. Not knocking what you're doing at all, just a suggestion that I think would be helpful! Thanks for all you contribute to the bow hunting community!
You are right about that Jacob. I always shoot with gloves even in the summer so that I am used to the feel of it, plus those cheap jersey gloves allow my bow hand to slide into a zero torque position on the grip easily. Have a great day.
I still like that release too. I am using the B3 stuff this year because it is good stuff. The guy that runs B3 is the same guy that ran Scott Archery before the Scott family sold that. Brian is also a long time friend and that makes it fun to help him get the word out on his products. They are good!
I too have to have my finger behind the trigger. And it makes me nervous too when my buddies put their fingers on top of the release. And just send me all your old Spott Hogg Wise Guy releases to Tennessee. Luke 9:62
Bill, as a shooter/pistol builder, this goes against everything I know. BUT, I'm going to try a shorter release because I have watched your shots over the years and am always ready to learn. Thank you for doing these technical reviews to help guys like myself get better!
I don't much about shooting a pistol, but I have had a lot of conversations with some of the world's best archers and this is one more or less universal shooting fundamental they all recommend. Good luck and have a great day.
I have the B3 hawk and love it. perfect release. I can also attest that shooting behind my first knuckle like you is the way to go. I will say, I cannot shoot with gloves on so I always cut the index finger off. Good tips for everyone to follow
Mike, I shoot the gloves all year. I should have taken them off for this video, however, to make it easier to see where the trigger contacted my finger. Good input. Have a great day.
I think it was you discussing this back in the Midwest Whitetail days, I shortened my release aid and became more accurate, great content Bill.
Thanks for the comment, Mitchell. I appreciate it. Have a great day.
One thing you can do is put a bandaid around the finger on the middle section. Like your gloves it reduces feeling the trigger. It’s a great way to help create the surprise break.
That is good advice. I appreciate that input. Have a great day.
I have large hands with long fingers. For the past 28 years ive I been shooting the same tru-fire x-caliper release maxed out on its length which sets it at the very tip of my index finger. The trigger weight is sub 1lb, probably sub 10oz. So at full draw my index knuckle is behind earlobe which allows index finger to be completely straight parallel to the release shaft. Since my trigger weight is so light it only takes a slight touch of the trigger to release. I've got several other releases I've tried thinking that new model may be better but none are long enough
Doug, that's the beauty of archery: if it works for you and you can repeat it, you are golden. I would have the world's worst case of target panic if I shot that way. Also, having the release head that far forward shortens how far you draw the bow under force and that will reduce the kinetic energy in the arrow after the shot for any given draw weight. Just realize you are making a tradeoff there. Have a great day.
Interesting thought on the draw length. As is my draw length is 32". Not many choices in bows that go that long. If I shorten my release to increase my draw I may be even more limited on my bow selection.
What about the wrist strap itself. When I wear thicker gloves I need to losen it a notch. It usually throws off my finger placement. I think you’re describing the bend where we usually place our finger in an ar15 range outing
Jay, that is one of the main reasons I always shoot and practice with those cheap jersey gloves all off-season and then hunt using the same gloves. The bow also feels different in your hand when wearing a glove vs not wearing one and for sure from one glove style to the other. I just eliminate all that by always wearing the glove style when shooting my bow. Have a great day.
awesome information . the one thing that helped me more than anything was making my release shorter .
Thanks for the input Nelson. I appreciate it. Have a great day.
Bill, I understand the principle of the shorter set up. I started doing that a few years ago when you discussed it.
Just a quick comment…I know you always shoot with the glove on and why.
As a photographer, I have one critique. Wearing the dark glove makes it hard to see exactly what you are doing with your finger. It gets washed out in the shadows. Maybe a follow up video showing the deep set without the glove on?
Still a great video. Anxiously awaiting the next in the series.
You are right Pat. Those gloves definitely made it much harder to see the trigger in my finger. Hopefully, everyone got that idea. We will do a follow up in the future. Have a great day.
One thing I've always wondered about is the relationship between the bow's draw length, string angle, release length, archer's face shape/size, arm length and shoulder breadth and how that all factors together to affect shooting form. Whereas you can't change your body (aside from surgical alteration), you can change your technique/form, the bow's settings, and release selection and setup. How do you balance all of these variables (the things you can actually change) to produce the most consistent result?
It is a good question. I am guessing that like some people are built perfectly for other activities (wrestling, running, skiing, etc.) I am sure that some set of body types are ideally suited to lock in and hold a bow solidly at full draw. But, I think that advantage would be only slight and only really show up in the very top competitors where the smallest factors make a difference. For us as whitetail hunters, I am guessing it makes no difference at all and we can use what we have to become very effective by sticking with the fundamentals. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke Appreciate the thoughtful reply, Bill. Keep up the good work. 👍
I love my B3 Hawk, it’s so lightweight….thanks for sharing.
It is a good release for sure. Here is the link for anyone interested: b3archery.com/product/hawk-2/
The floating pin and surprise release is something I’ve never been able to do. I’ve finally come to terms that maybe it’s in my mental dna. In my mind, I can’t do something the exact same way 20 times a day for 3 months and have anything be a surprise, unless something breaks. I know exactly when my bow will fire every time, even if I float and squeeze. If I try to create an actual surprise release, I get nervous and panicky. I’ve just learned to relax and intentionally control the entire process all the way through, more or less robotically. Maybe I’m crazy 😆
If you are shooting well and not fighting target panic, then there is no reason to change, but if you are you looking for options, you can try a hinge style (pure back tension) release. I have used them in the past during the offseason for training and then gone back to my index finger release right before hunting season. I even know some guys that hunt with hinge releases. An example of this style from the B3 line would be the Ranger.
Good luck. b3archery.com/product/ranger/
Great content! I understand it is cold, but it would be helpful when talking about hand/finger placement, and other topics such as grip, without the gloves. I can be hard to see in some videos what you're referring to with the loose gloves on. Not knocking what you're doing at all, just a suggestion that I think would be helpful! Thanks for all you contribute to the bow hunting community!
You are right about that Jacob. I always shoot with gloves even in the summer so that I am used to the feel of it, plus those cheap jersey gloves allow my bow hand to slide into a zero torque position on the grip easily. Have a great day.
Good stuff!
Thanks for the comment, Lonnie. Have a great day.
What happened to your spot Hogg wise guy. That’s a great release too
I still like that release too. I am using the B3 stuff this year because it is good stuff. The guy that runs B3 is the same guy that ran Scott Archery before the Scott family sold that. Brian is also a long time friend and that makes it fun to help him get the word out on his products. They are good!
I too have to have my finger behind the trigger.
And it makes me nervous too when my buddies put their fingers on top of the release.
And just send me all your old Spott Hogg Wise Guy releases to Tennessee. Luke 9:62
Gouch, I appreciate the comment and the support. Have a great day.
Sweet hat
One of my favorites too. Here it is: b3archery.com/product/splatter-cap/
Not only that it will take less mental energy where if the release is long and you’re expecting the shot.
Good point Robert. I appreciate the input.
You forgot, always dream big
Sometimes I forget that on these SetUp videos. Thanks for the support and the comment. Have a great day.
it would have REALLLY helped if you did this Video WITHOUT the gloves on!! can't see your finger position
I realized that later. Others mentioned it too. Sorry about that. I will do another one this off-season.