Bow Grip - Common Mistakes and Adjustments

In recurve archery, the bow grip is a key factor affecting the accuracy and stability of archery. Here are some common bow grip errors and adjustment suggestions.

Gripping the bow too tightly
Beginners often grip the bow too tightly when shooting. This tight grip will cause hand fatigue and affect the flight stability of the arrow. The trajectory of the arrow will deviate from the target due to unnecessary vibrations caused by the tension of the hand.

Adjustment suggestion: Keep your fingers relaxed, like holding a banana, with a sense of support, but not too tight. A relaxed grip allows you to maintain a more natural state when shooting, and is more conducive to the stable flight of the arrow.

Improper palm position
Many beginners will completely wrap their palms on the bow handle, resulting in uneven power transmission, and even the bow handle will shake when releasing the arrow.

Adjustment suggestion: The bottom of the palm should be close to the bow handle, and the fingertips should be lightly placed on the edge of the bow handle to ensure that the hand will not interfere with the flight direction of the arrow when the arrow is released. Mastering this detail will help improve the stability of archery.

Incorrect finger position
When holding the bow, the position of the fingers is crucial to the stability of the archery. Many beginners do not realize that incorrect finger position can lead to uneven force. Adjustment suggestion: Use a "C-shaped grip" to allow the fingers to bend naturally and keep a moderate gap between the thumb and index finger. As shown in the figure, the finger position is about 45 degrees to the bow handle. This ensures that the archery will not be affected by the wrong position of the fingers when aiming.

Incorrect bow grip angle
The wrong bow grip angle will also directly cause the arrow to deviate from the target.

Adjustment suggestion: Maintain the natural lines of the palm and forearm, and avoid twisting the wrist. You can practice in front of a mirror to ensure that the bow grip angle is natural and comfortable.