Shooting off the knuckle ?

[Stick Bender]

Hi guys I'm just finishing up my first truly primitive bow Maple/sinew thanks to all the help from PA members & 1 particular member who I must have PM at least 50 times during the constuction  ,thanks guys for all the help , so I was thinking since I want to keep this bow basic that I would shoot it off the knuckle but other then shooting it that way during tillering shoot in I have no exsperience with it so I'm looking for some pointers ,do you use a nock on the string plus I have read about making some kind of indexing mark on the handle but plan on leaving this handle all wood the maple will clean up real nice and look good so any help would be welcome

[M-P]

Most will find marks helpful in the beginning.   Shoot  the bow a few times and find where your hand feels the most comfortable and the handshock the least.   Make a mark right at the top of your knuckle ( where the arrow passes.)  You carve a mark in the wood or just mark with a Sharpie pen.  After you shoot a while the arrows will have scuffed the bow and created their own mark.  Once your hand placement is repeatable a nocking point on the string is helpful.  I like the idea of marking the nocking point with just a few wraps of bright thread.  That allows you to put the arrow in the same place, but also allows you to change your mind without moving the thread.   Seeing porpoising?...just nock above the thread instead of below, etc.    Ron

[jayman448]

If you do make a leather handle on the bow, your hand placement will be identicle. Then i would set a nock point measured from the top of the leather (where your top finger will be). P.s. make sure to sand your fletchings or peel them instead of cutting them or youll end up slicing yourself open. Or wear a shooting glove... or dont be a woos like i am xD haha

[Pat B]

This is what I use on my bows now, Ferret's Floppy Rest. It's like shooting off your hand but protects your hand and gives a permanent arrow placement.

[riverrat]

make good arrows. if you shoot off your knuckle and your arrow bindings are high they will hurt.if your fletches have thick vanes itll cut your hand.i dont realy mark anything. after you shoot enough times youll find the sweet spot to nock your arrow on the string and youll know where that is by the wear spot. as for where to put your hand, just same spot everytime. wherever that spot is best for you. Tony

[George Tsoukalas]

I usually shoot the arrow 1.25 in. above center but that can vary depending on tiller. Anyway, if I decide to rest the arrow on my hand the top of the leather handle  covering is where the arrow goes.
More often, I'll glue on a piece of leather for a rest.
It is a good idea to skyve the leading edge  of your  feathers. i also wrap mine with art. sinew or the real stuff.
Jawge

[Danzn Bar]

Good point Jawge.....wrapping the front of the feather....
DBar

[smoke]

I've been shooting off the knuckle for about 8 years now - never a problem. The only thing I do is to make sure I put a drop of glue on the front of each feather where it contacts the shaft to ensure it is smooth and will not catch my skin or glove.  I almost always shoot bare-handed except in the coldest of weather.  good luck!

[bradsmith2010]

one thing nice about shootin of the knuckle is that it is easy to move the arrow up and down until you hit the sweet spot where the bow shoots best,,,
also,, it enables you to shoot the bow were it feels most balanced in your hand,,

[loon]

if the fletchings cut the hand, you can nock higher and maybe grip the bow lower..

[The Gopher]

I second Ferret's Floppy Rest!

[Jim Davis]

Taper the front end of the quill, then add that drop of glue to the juncture of quill and wood.