Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: Becky on June 27, 2014, 04:11:54 PM

Title: Hand Held Release
Post by: Becky on June 27, 2014, 04:11:54 PM: I just newly discovered these... does anyone use one? I LOVE(d) my tru-fire hardcore wrist release but it's been bruising my wrist/side of my hand by my thumb ever since I upped the draw weight of my bow.

I don't really want to change release styles but unsure what else to do :dunno: so just wondering about these hand held releases. I never see anyone use them, is there a reason?
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: danderson on June 27, 2014, 04:18:18 PM: I been using the old school hand held release for the last 25 years or so, probably because I'm an old dog and cant learn any new tricks ;)
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on June 27, 2014, 04:29:42 PM: I went up in draw weight too. My wrist release felt odd as I got to drawing it. Felt like it was on the side of my hand. I just position the wrist release in the center of my hand before drawing. That fixed it. No need to switch styles.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: Becky on June 27, 2014, 04:59:53 PM: DIY it feels normal on my wrist but after shooting for a full week at the higher weight my wrist was swollen and bruised on the side.. I keep shooting through the pain but it's not seeming to get any better like I thought. It's been 3 weeks now, some days I can only get through one set of 5 shots before I have to stop shooting. I have a very high pain tolerance and this almost brought me to tears one day :/ I keep waiting for it to toughen up but it just feels like it's getting worse and not better. :dunno: we have the Rhinehart 100 shoot coming up in a week so I thought of switching release styles but I don't know... don't want to, but not sure what else to do. Open to suggestions I guess :)
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: lostbackpacker on June 27, 2014, 05:18:21 PM: I switched from a wrist style to a carter chocolate lite hand held. You can use your thumb to trigger or use it like an true back tension release.
Just last weekend I tried to shoot my wrist style just for a practice session. My groups went to crap and I was really punching the trigger.
I'm not one to brag but last night I shot 4" groups at 80 yds with my chocolate lite. Probably just a one time deal. But my groups overall have improved greatly with a handheld.
I don't think I could go back to wrist strap. Although I might keep it in my pack as a backup

Wrist releases are the norm. You do have to retrain your shot process with a handheld. But if you shoot a lot it will come quickly
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: 4fletch on June 28, 2014, 12:48:03 AM: I have been shooting a Jim fletcher hand release for 35 yrs the style is called concho it had a large button on the end of the release which puts the pressure between the little finger and the outer side of the hand HArd to explain. There is no pressure on the wrist. You have to shorten the plastic tube to adjust for the size of your hand. I add a longer lanyard to it so it dangles from my wrist. No sweating or Velcro to deal with it has a adjustable trigger well built. Check out his web sight and give them a shout
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: hoyt2002 on June 28, 2014, 01:42:19 AM: Try a free flight release. My wife uses one. Her right wrist was injured and can't use a normal wrist strap release. This has been able to keep her shooting. Her draw weight is at 70 lbs and has no pain using this release.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: coachcw on June 28, 2014, 05:52:45 AM: draw weight can be an issue with a hand held . if your have a tough time drawing it now you may re think it . you may wanna try a wider strap first . I have never had issues with the scotts .
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: lamrith on June 28, 2014, 06:01:18 AM: Is there something that can be done to add padding/material to widen the strap on your current release and maybe spread out the pressure?

I also have noticed that the buckle stye releases tend to be thin and less comfortable. I had one of the $20 trufire releases when I started. they have thick, wide strap but it was velcro and noisey for hunting. All the buckle style I looked at the strap was 1/2 the width and thin material, they cut in and get painfull right behind my thumb.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: Come Get Some on June 28, 2014, 06:57:35 AM: I have many Carter T handle releases for sale. Heavier poundage will not be harder to draw. I switched many years ago from a wrist strap and will never go back. Almost everyone in our group shoots a T handle release. You will not have to change your style either. Typically most archers are not set up correctly with a wrist strap from the beginning. Moving forward to a T handle is very easy. I have a bowq with a safe draw on it for release demo's. Keep's you from shooting arrows in the trees. I have sold hundreds ,with a little instruction is is very easy and comfortable. PM me if you want to discuss them.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: earlmarne on June 28, 2014, 08:50:53 AM: I just got rid of all my wrist releases.Got me a stan just x handheld.
Ive tried running handhelds in the past but never gave it time and went back to my wrist release due to being comfortable.
After setting this last handheld up and running it on the old ladies bow I am very confident that I will stick with it once my bow gets home.
Seems easier to fire a handheld with back tension than it was my wrist release.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: Becky on June 28, 2014, 01:13:55 PM: Yea it feels like the tissue around my wrist, right behind my thumb and down is too soft to take the weight so that's what swells each time. I was tempted to cut up a sink sponge and wrap it inside :chuckle: just to cushion it somewhat.

I have no issue pulling the weight at all, so that's why I was looking into the hand releases because I feel as though I'd be just fine using one if I got the hang of it. That way there's no ripping feeling on my skin either. Thanks for all the input, I guess more people use these than I thought and with impressive results. I have an offer to try out a member's carter chocolate lite release before I drop the coin and buy my own. :)
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on June 28, 2014, 01:42:12 PM: That's a sweet deal. I do agree that the higher draw weight changes the wrist strap release a ton. Mines pretty old maybe I'll give a hand held a try. Hope what you get works for ya. :tup:
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: KimWar1911 on June 29, 2014, 02:28:05 AM: A month or so back I switched to a carter simple one handheld thumb release from my carter quickie wrist type. It is different and has taken some time to adjust but now that's it's become more natural I rarely am off the mark. I wasn't bad using the quickie but the groups have definetly gotten tighter now and I have also found little effort is needed in drawing my bow, at least compared to the wrist release. I don't see myself going back.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: RadSav on June 29, 2014, 03:29:27 AM: If you get the right size hand held they can be great! My problem is I tend to lose them when not attached to my wrist. I do favor the Carter hand held like Come Get One says. Next favorite, and easier to find, is the Tru-Ball. I'm not sure how Come Get Some teaches to use the T-Handle as there are many good but different ways. Most women with a four finger release I teach to use pinky finger to activate more than other forms. I also use that method when using the four finger myself. Pretty hard to pound the trigger with a pinky ;)

I do see quite a few ladies that have added some lambs wool to their wrist straps. So I expect yours is not an unusual problem. But I do believe close to 90% of the time it is a result of improperly sized release. Both in the size of the strap and the length from strap to trigger. If you are reaching out to the trigger your hand becomes narrower allowing the strap to ride out further on the thumb. Then after the shot when your hand bounces back into natural position it bites into the release. Tru-Fire release straps can be a little stiff too making for even more pain. Carter gives you the option of a few different strap styles. May favorite is the Tarantula strap on a Quickie.

The big key to a wrist strap release is making the trigger at full draw well behind the finger tip. There are days at 3-D shoots I do not see a single person with a properly tuned wrist strap! It is one of the most common mistakes bowhunters make. And it does hamper accuracy!! A lot of T-handle shooters have them set up improperly too, but I think those are fewer by ratio.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: Come Get Some on June 29, 2014, 06:37:34 AM: If you shoot the wrist strap style the head of the release when sitting in your hand should be at the end of your palm(Beginning of the fingers). When you load it and pull your bow it will move forward. The release should be set off by pulling with the hand on setting it off with the finger. ALL Releases should and can be used as back tension releases. The differences are many releases have creap in them, letting you know they are going to go off instead of being a surprise. This and too long of a draw length cause target panic. The anticipation of the realease going off and not holding steady on the dot are deadly to the mind. (THE WEAK LINK :chuckle:) You should wrap your index finger around the trigger of a wrist strap release, try to make contact with your thumb and PUUUUULLLL. I have set up a Genesis bow at 25 lbs with a safe draw to allow people to try many different styles with out punching themselves in the face or shooting their arrows in the trees.
There was a guy who contacted me from the forum who was having problems, He came over, I did have to change his bow set up.(it was wrong and was too long as well as too low of a peep sight). We shot several releases over a couple of hour period, He over came his anxiety of holding below the dot and is shooting very well now.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: grundy53 on June 29, 2014, 07:23:47 AM: I am currently using a wrist strap but had the opportunity to try a handheld and will be switching shortly.

sent from my typewriter
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: sakoshooter on June 29, 2014, 10:11:06 PM: I shot a Tru Fire Hardcore for a short time. I don't think anyone makes a thicker, wider or more comfortable wrist strap. I"m guessing the strap is too big for you or you're not securing it very tight and slides up over your thumb some.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: stromdiddily on July 07, 2014, 11:03:19 AM: Quote from: Come Get Some on June 29, 2014, 06:37:34 AM
There was a guy who contacted me from the forum who was having problems, He came over, I did have to change his bow set up.(it was wrong and was too long as well as too low of a peep sight). We shot several releases over a couple of hour period, He over came his anxiety of holding below the dot and is shooting very well now.

:tup:

I was shooting a hardcore buckle before my visit to 'Come Get Some'...he hooked me up with hinge, some fine tuning to my bow and I've never shot better
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: Becky on July 07, 2014, 12:02:30 PM: When I posted this originally, I was taking a few days off from shooting to let the swollen mound on my hand heal. That seemed to do the trick! I just was practicing everyday and it wasn't getting a chance to heal properly in that area. I do still want to try a handheld, I am fascinated with them now and all the claims of more accuracy.. However, now that my bow is broken after the R100 shoot I will have to wait until that's fixed :'(. I seen a few people shooting with a hand held on the course, I almost wanted to ask them if I could give it a try :chuckle:

Sako - the Scott releases are actually thicker and a bit softer on the strap. Smossy shoots with one so we were comparing. Or it could be because his was a "man's" release and mine a "woman's".. I still like my tru-fire better overall though :chuckle:. I do agree that in most cases someone doesn't have the strap tightened enough but mine is as tight as the dang thing will go lol. It was purely from upping the poundage and my soft skin wasn't ready for it. All is well now in the release-department :) even after shooting the rest of yesterday with Smossy's 60 lber once mine broke.

Strom - seems to be the trend!
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: sakoshooter on July 07, 2014, 06:54:59 PM: Quote from: Smossy's Girl on July 07, 2014, 12:02:30 PM
When I posted this originally, I was taking a few days off from shooting to let the swollen mound on my hand heal. That seemed to do the trick! I just was practicing everyday and it wasn't getting a chance to heal properly in that area. I do still want to try a handheld, I am fascinated with them now and all the claims of more accuracy.. However, now that my bow is broken after the R100 shoot I will have to wait until that's fixed :'(. I seen a few people shooting with a hand held on the course, I almost wanted to ask them if I could give it a try :chuckle:

Sako - the Scott releases are actually thicker and a bit softer on the strap. Smossy shoots with one so we were comparing. Or it could be because his was a "man's" release and mine a "woman's".. I still like my tru-fire better overall though :chuckle:. I do agree that in most cases someone doesn't have the strap tightened enough but mine is as tight as the dang thing will go lol. It was purely from upping the poundage and my soft skin wasn't ready for it. All is well now in the release-department :) even after shooting the rest of yesterday with Smossy's 60 lber once mine broke.

Strom - seems to be the trend!

I've been shooting a Spot Hogg Wise Guy for a couple years now and they have Scott wrist straps on both of them.. They're not as comfortable as the TruFire wrist strap but are good and much better than many others.
Shooting 60lbs(girl/you)is a lot of weight. That's bound to take it's toll on anyone's wrist.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: hughjorgan on July 07, 2014, 07:11:26 PM: I have shot quite a few different brand releases. The tru fires seem dig into your wrist and to a lesser degree the Scott's will dig a bit too. I switched to shooting a tru glo BOA with my carter lucky release. Doesn't dig in and you can get the strap plenty tight. Plus it doesn't stretch like the leather straps.

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/truglo-tru-fit-universal-boa-replacement-release-strap.html (http://www.lancasterarchery.com/truglo-tru-fit-universal-boa-replacement-release-strap.html)

I bought mine on line but have seen them for sale at sports men's warehouse in Puyallup.
Title: Re: Hand Held Release
Post by: sakoshooter on July 07, 2014, 08:15:01 PM: SG, I should have clarified: My TruFire was a Hardcore Max and it comes with a double thickness, extra wide leather wrist strap.