Hook and Grip – Fundamentals Series #4

Each month in 2024, we will be posting a new article in our Fundamentals of Shooting Archery series. These articles are intended to supplement and further explain any instructions given or terminology used by the instructors and assistants.

Our next preparation step is hook the string with the fingers of one hand and grip the bow with the other hand.

Right-handed archers will pull the string with their right hand and hold the bow in their left hand.

First the Hook:

Hooking is the act of putting your fingers onto the string, this is the same for any bow in use at Enso Center and there are a few variations you might see. For the more standard style target shooting, the index, middle, and ring fingers are used. To start, nock the arrow onto the string below the nock point and place the three (3) string fingers below the arrow. The index finger may push slightly up on the nock to help hold the arrow in place. Bend the fingertips so that the string sits in the first joint of the fingers. The hand, wrist, and forearm form a straight line to the elbow.

Some archers may change this into a two (2) finger hook, using index and middle fingers both below the arrow. Alternately, some archers may put the index finger above the nock point and the other two (2) below. All three (3) styles are acceptable.

In Mongolian or Middle Eastern archery, there is also a thumb draw style. In these cases, the thumb is bent over the string with the forefinger providing a lock for strength during the draw. Often, the archer will use a thumb ring to protect the thumb and provide a physical notch that the string will sit in, to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases. Some advanced archers may experiment with this at Enso Center, with instructor permission and proof of safety knowledge.

Then the Grip:

Different bows may have different grip styles. The bows in use at Enso Center are predominantly long bows with a minimally shaped, oval riser. Enso Center does have a few recurve bows, with a shaped riser and archers may bring their own equipment from home, so other styles may be seen.  We do not use compound bows or crossbows at our facility, except in special circumstances.

For any bow, start with putting the handgrip into the V between your thumb and forefinger and close those fingers lightly. With a modern recurve, that is all you need to hold the bow, the rest of your hand will rest on the shaped riser. With a longbow-style minimally shaped or unshaped grip, generally, all your fingers close around the handgrip for more stability in shooting.

If something feels wrong or difficult or hurts while shooting, talk with your instructor. Sometimes accommodations (alternatives) need to be used.