ive done both ways, a rest and off the knuckle.i prefer off the knuckle,never had a cut or a nick,although when i shoot my boo/ipe elb i tend to get a little sensitive
after a about 30 arrows or so,but that thing is shooting 62lbs,all my other bows are at about 50 or less. the extra speed it generates is enough to get my knuckle a
little sore after shooting awhile. i can shoot hundred or so out of my others without a problem.