Which do you prefer?

[Slackbunny]

Do you prefer cutting an arrow rest into the riser, or leaving it to shoot off the top of the hand?

I have cut an arrow rest into everything I have tried, but I am considering leaving that out on my current project because I don't think it would really fit with the feel of this bow. Plus shooting off the hand feels a touch more primitive. What are your thoughts?

[Bevan R.]

I build a wedged of leather and add for an arrow rest. I do not like hitting my hand. and I think it is more consistant.

[Slackbunny]

You're probably right about the consistency since your hand, even in a fitted handle, would be in a minutely different spot every time, whereas a built out wedge would be in the same spot everytime.

[Shaun]

Neither hand nor cut shelf - leather built up rest.

[Weylin]

I sand down a golf tee to shape and glue it to the side of the bow. you can put the leather hand wrap right around it. It looks good and works great. It was a trick I learned from John Strunk.

[Ifrit617]

I shoot off my hand since I like to feel the arrow as i pull it back and it is more primitive.

Jon

[osage outlaw]

I dish out the area and then build up a small shelf of leather and then put a floppy piece of leather over it.  It's like shooting off your nuckle, but with a piece of leather in between.

[mspink]

I have only shot off my hand, Only built rests on bows that I have given as gifts or sold if they wanted it that way. I like to feel the arrow.

[johnston]

I cut in a shelf if the wood will allow it and if not then I shoot off my hand. Seems to
be no difference in accuracy.

Most of us build to suit ourselves whether that means a shelf or a snakey stave or
elaborate overlays or dragon skin backing. And except for the use of modern tools
I believe the primitive people did the same. To claim that this wood bow is more
primitive than that one because of a shelf just seems wrong to me.

Lane

[beetlebailey1977]

I prefer a leather rest or off the hand.  No cut in shelf.  I only would use a cut in shelf if the bow a fiberglass backed bow.  And that is a bad word here LOL.

[okie64]

I dont prefer one way over the other. Depends on the bow and if the wood is deep enough for a cut in shelf. I've done it both ways but it usually depends on the looks and feel of the bow.

[Alpinbogen]

The lack of a cut-in shelf is one of the defining characteristics of a selfbow, IMO.  I use a glued up leather rest at "meat of hand" level.

[adb]

I don't cut an arrow shelf into any of my bows anymore.

[Dvshunter]

I prefer off the hand.

[Badger]

   I used to cut an arrow rest into everything now I only use it on laminated bows with a riser type handle. I will often narrow the arrow pass area a bit.