How to hold a recurve bow?

Archery form is like putting together a puzzle where different parts work together to help you shoot accurately. Imagine it’s like a team of players cooperating to win a game.

One important player is the grip, which is how you hold the bow. Learning to hold it better can help you hit the target more often.

No matter if you use a longbow, an Olympic recurve, or a compound bow, the basics of a good grip stay the same. It’s a bit like holding a delicate object. You want to hold it in a way that doesn’t make it wobble but also supports it well.

In the end, a proper grip on the bow doesn’t push or pull it too much, and at the same time, it gives it a strong foundation.

How do you hold a recurve bow?

If you hold a bow like you would hold a baseball bat, the bow can easily turn to the side. This is called “torquing the bow,” and it can make your shots go in the wrong direction. What you want to do is hold the bow in a way that stops this twisting.

Strangely enough, a good way to hold the bow is not to grip it tightly at all. If you hold it loosely, there’s less twisting.

Here’s how you can hold your bow:

• First, relax your hand and put it on the bow’s grip.
• Second, slide your hand up the grip until you can’t go any farther. The part of your hand where your fingers meet your palm should be in the deepest part of the grip, which is called the “throat.”
• Next, position your hand so that only the space between your thumb and the lifeline of your palm touches the grip. If you look at your hand, your knuckles should be a bit back and at an angle of 45 degrees to the riser.
• Turn your thumb toward the target, and let your other fingers gently touch the front of the bow. If you notice that you’re gripping the bow too tightly, you can curl your fingers in so they don’t touch the bow. If you choose this technique, you’ll need something called a finger or wrist sling to stop the bow from falling.
• Gently press the bowstring with your fingers to secure your grip, and remember to keep your hand relaxed while you shoot.

Related post: What is the archery shot cycle?

Final Thoughts

Holding a recurve bow should come naturally. You should avoid forcing it, as this could result in a shaky shot, making it difficult to aim accurately at the target. Follow the steps above to ensure that you are doing the right thing and increase your scores.

Lastly, if you want to learn more about how to hold a recurve bow or archery in general, feel free to send us a message right here Contact. I will provide you with expert guidance on the finer details. We can do face-to-face tutorials or online coaching sessions.