String slaps wrist...?

[JW_Halverson]

Tape a ruler on the back of your forearm so that it extends out over the back of your hand.  When you grip your bow and hold it up to shoot, you'll likely find that your hand is trying to turn the wrist out, but it hits the ruler.  Turn your wrist back in and adjust your grip to compensate.  That's how I was shown to get that wrist slap issue resolved.  A little bend in the elbow instead of trying to lock it out helps too.

All else fails, buy a compound crossbow with lazer sights, nitescope, and heat seeking crossbow bolts.

[Parnell]

My first real shooting lesson came from a fella who's folks were Iroquois, one Oneida, one Seneca.  I'd started shooting my own wood bows and was getting some serious bruising from slap.  He told me that he learned to shoot as a boy with his wrist cocked and his bicept muscle straight up - perpendicular to the ground.  It sorta hyperextends the forearm out of the way.  Not sure if this is any sort of a traditional approach but this was what he learned from his grandfather.  At first it felt very uncomfortable.  But no more slap even with bows strung lower than my fist height.  Now I can't shoot any other way and never wear an arm gaurd.  At this point if I put one on it's very uncomfortable.  Glad I got this style of shooting early on.

[JackCrafty]

Parnell, can you post a picture of your shooting technique?

[Gordon]

I've never lost a self bow to a FF string and it's all I use now-a-days. That will likely fix your problem.

[snag]

I'll give it a try Gordon. Thanks, David

[George Tsoukalas]

Your brace height is too low, snag. I start at fletch clearing distance and increase 3-5 twists until the problem goes away. My bows are braced at least 7 in from string to back of handle. I had to go higher with my last 2. IMHO, no need to change strings. Jawge

[snag]

For some reason I was thinking a selfbow had a lower brace height than a glass longbow. Wrong again!  I'll increase it to 7".  Thanks, David

[PEARL DRUMS]

Have you tried slapping it back David, maybe it will stop slapping you then ?? Some bows just need a little tough love....

[George Tsoukalas]

...as measured from back to string ...not  belly to string...as I said above...and do it slowly 3-5 twists at a time until the problem is solved. You may not have to go the full 7 inches.  Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

That is still much lower than a glass bow. Jawge

[Stonepoint]

I agree with George take it slowly and keep checking. It should straighten out for you

[snag]

George, my glass bows are from 7 1/4" to 7 1/2". I got the osage bow up to 6 1/2" because I don't have a short enough string yet. It shot good and no bruising! Even broke a nock...haha

[George Tsoukalas]

So that is good, Snag. Selfbows should be shot at the lowest brace height at which good arrow flight is achieved. Again I measure from string to BACK of handle. I'm not sure we are in sync on that. I don't own a glass longbow but my glass recurves are braced a good bit more than my selfies. Jawge

[snag]

..."string to BACK of handle"...yes sir, that's what I do also. I know some of the older glass recurves, like the Red Wing Hunter, liked bracing at around 8". But I'll continue to shoot this osage bow at 6" for awhile and see how it does. Thanks, David