5 Minute Friday: Is a Thumb Ring a Release Aid?

[@UTxTheArchangel]

I think the reason the thumb rings get called triggers or release aids is just to avoid having to have another form of archery to consider for competitions and the Olympics. Accompanied with just the overall lack of knowledge and understanding of Asiatic archery. The folks who make these decisions, classifications, etc are very western in influence. So they only wanna deal with 3 finger draw. Reality is thumb rings are just protection from damaging your thumb, much like a finger tab or 3 finger glove, both used in world competitions. Finger tabs being the most used in Olympics. Ironically the most common form of finger tabs used in the Olympics, do have a design to aid release. There is a finger spacer on them to prevent the archer from pinching the arrow nock with their fingers. This serves no protection, just there to aid the archer in having a better shot. Historically thumb rings have been part of countless wars, hunts, etc but not finger tabs. Thumb rings are a traditional, ancient form of protection. Great video for provoking discussion Armin.

[@willisgemutlich2608]

Yes exactly I agree wholeheartedly.

[@RoyMcAvoy]

WA rules in traditional archery is a joke and short sighted

[@Hirosada]

Is the Eastern Roman Empire a joke to these people? Hell, there are ancient Grecian urns of archers using the thumb draw. Against monsters and demigods, no less. BUCK ASS NAKED.

[@scoffmax]

The trouble with Associations, clubs and "Ruling Bodies" is that they introduce an extra layer of politics into your life and like all politics, power is what attracts authoritarian dipshits!

[@diafol666]

So good news here in the UK as of 2022 archery GB no longer consider thumb rings to be release aids

[@gabrielrabah5180]

Perfect commentary, Armin, like usual. I remember once nagging about this same topic on a 3D instinctive tournament, some guy said something very wise which is "sadly, archery as a sport (determined by World Archery) is a western sport, and so, only their occidental way of shooting is correct, suitable and allowed for competitions". It's not only sad but completely segregational against eastern archery, instead of allowing two different way of archery to compete -fairly-, they just close the opportunity to it completely. Such narrow minds. Needless to say I finished that tournament shooting barehanded and with a reddish scratched thumb.

[@andrasnagy4704]

I agree with you on this one. I have a friend who's shooting an Alibows Kheshig here in Ireland with a thumb ring. By IFAF rules his bow (because it's laminated design with a layer of fibreglass) with the "release aid" falls into Freestyle Unlimited category. So he's shooting with fully equipped compounds. It's ridiculous to the highest level. My girlfriend's Jackal Archery Scythian also cannot be in historical category because it's laminated...I could go on and on and on...

[@ArminHirmer]

Sad story….

[@RoyMcAvoy]

If you read the WA rule book on traditional archery, you'll be pissed off for sure

[@agamagreen]

That’s exactly the reason, why I am not interested in competitions. Too many regulations for nothing... A thumbring doesn’t help to release, it’s a protection for the thumb. Totally agree with your statement!

[@ArminHirmer]

or we thumb shooters simply have to create our own friendly competitions :) we are enough if we would like to do so

[@agamagreen]

@@ArminHirmer Like an online challenge, but with a few disciplines? Apart from most precise shot, I can imagine of best trick shot, highest jump, funniest face expressions 😁 (to give archers a chance to win in a discipline). Something like an Archery Olympia, but different.

[@ArminHirmer]

@@agamagreen sounds great, lets think about it

[@MrGordally]

Good rationale Armin, totally with you. One point, you can opt for a back tension release on a compound, no trigger involved, it's pull back and rotate. I think the soundest argument is the non mechanical nature of the thumb ring, it's a static 1piece device as opposed to a mechanical device of many parts. Bit like comparing a DSLR to a pin hole camera made from a biscuit tin. 🍪

[@iamrocketray]

Just started Archery(I'm 72 lol) And at the induction course I brought up thumb rings and Asiatic bows. At first it was a Blank stare, then Ahh! you mean a horse bow, we don't consider a horse bow a real bow! why don't you get into English longbows if you want to go traditional. Thumb rings they wouldn't even discuss, they are a release aid and are banned in competition was the only comment. Nobody had even seen one. Need less to say, if I cant shoot my Tatar bow with a thumb ring I won't be joining the club, BUT if they are prepared to tolerate my choice of bow, and I can shoot at their range, I will join, you never know, others might become interested. I was surprised at the lack of knowledge of anything out of the ordinary, I mean I want to know everything about Archery including Compound bows and crossbows, although i don't particularly want to fire one.

[@jme104]

Don't ask archery leaders to have an informed opinion, they have little culture because of the social class they come from.

[@societyofrobots]

I'm usually the odd one out as well, everyone shoots modern bows and I'm there with my asiatic bow. They tell me I'm holding the arrow wrong, shooting from the wrong side, etc. But, they tolerate me and I still feel welcome.

[@toxolite]

Sounds like my club where they shoot (loose/use) primitive to compound equipment. Only recently suspending the use of cross-bows to extend the life of 3D targets. Whilst we have recently hosted a thumb ring group, I am not aware of any member using thumb ring release. Many of our members shoot NFAS which might be of influence. It is a strange world, I have another local club that only permit longbows. (another 72yo newbie)

[@alanbentham2836]

I'm 73 and have also just started archery. I live in Australia and have been a long time competition pistol shooter. I have some rifles but only like shorter barrelled carbines and I feel the same way about bows. I prefer something short and easy to carry like compound or horsebow (Eastern) style

[@StefandeGraaf]

Amen :D, absolutely agree! Also the reason I don’t shoot competitions..

[@willisgemutlich2608]

agreed. so if I use a 3 finger draw with a leather glove or leather protection of any kind do they consider THAT a release aid? That's where I'd start the argument.

[@heikoapel5218]

I completely agree. I would not even consider the Korean military ring a release aid, because you still have to relax the fingers to shoot, unlike the release aids, where you pull a trigger to release the arrow.

[@matthewjayjack8143]

Same, and I found it's even harder to get a clean release with a sugakji than with other styles of rings (in my case a CTR Turkish, spur, Otooman, etc)

[@jareth7456]

You wouldn't agree it's an aid ??? I disagree as no digits are curled around the string or between the string and bow the sugakji is a little boarder line however the string is on a protruding part of it and fingers draw more indirectly as they are not directly behind the string itself the string moves the protruding part away not the same as one or more digits moving out of the way of the string.

[@Hirosada]

If leather thumb protectors are release aids, then finger tabs should logically be considered release aids too. I agree with you; it's a completely arbitrary distinction. Atilla the Hun would recognize most of the thumb rings we use today, but he wouldn't recognize any of the stabilized, aluminum framed Olympic take downs that most competitors use.

[@Danandlene]

I definitely agree but it is even worse. At least here in Norway you can't even compete in the "long bow" division (basically a flatbow with a shelf which is supposed to be the most traditional) with an asiatic recurve because they don't allow recurves (string touching the limbs is the dividing line). So at best you have to compete in the "instinct" division where the bows are basically modern recurves but without a plunger or anything else. Hopefully some day they will introduce something like a "shelfless" division!

[@Giant-m9r]

I agree with you. Have a nice Friday.

[@ditzydoo4378]

If these governing agency's thinks a thumb-ring is a release aid... Then what do they consider a shooting glove, or shooing tab to be??? To me all three are, (as you said) used to protect the fingers from injury when holding the bow-string.

[@willisgemutlich2608]

Exactly. Think too about slap guards for your forearm or shin guards for soccer/ futball whatever you want to call it. Seatbelts. Helmets. Gloves. Eye protection. Ear protection. Does this give us an edge up? Yes. Should it disqualify you? No.

[@MMOhawked]

edit: I'm friends with someone on the Board of the State Archers of California. They classify thumb rings as mechanical releases and make thumb ring shooters shoot against compound bows. Reason (I don't agree, but this is their reasoning): unlike a conventional tab or glove, the thumb ring does not bend so it acts as a "mechanical" surface where the point of contact is much more consistent. leather thumb rings are permitted in the recurve category, however, so it would seem that only a solid material is enough to justify categorizing something as a release aid. I've always been annoyed by the classification of a thumb ring as a "mechanical release". Yes; a thumb ring made of a solid material that does not bend (metal, horn, bone) is unlike a tab in the sense that it does not bend like leather. BUT, by definition, a MECHANICAL release must be made of SEVERAL parts as evident by the definition of the word mechanical (e.g. an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.) if they want to classify it as a "release aid", what possible reason could a tab or glove not be considered an "aid". Do they think archers are deliberately handicapping themselves by using a tab?!

[@ArminHirmer]

I hope they will change their mind.... thats hilarious

[@MMOhawked]

@@ArminHirmer Yup. its not like there's a history of thumb ring shooters kicking the asses of tab shooters in competition either, so I don't understand the need for a distinction to be made. I guess if someone wanted to make a "solid" leather tab and push boundaries hey might change their minds, but sports don't usually enjoy shifting boundaries unless there is substantial pressure.

[@jareth7456]

Yeah ....stupid to think a thumb ring is a release aid simply because it doesn't bend , there are tabs with non bending components. The real reason the thumb ring was labeled as an aid is they got tired of losing to the asiatic archer

[@MMOhawked]

@@jareth7456 while I do agree, I would like to clarify that a tab can have non-bending components, but precisely the string-contact-surface has to bend. So a leather tab with metal parts (e.g. a ruler or spacer) does work in their categorization. Leather thumb rings are totally allowed, just not solid ones.

[@monokheros5373]

Force/Area = Pressure a bow string is approximately 1/8" x 3/4" of contact with the thumb or 0.09357 square inches so : 35# draw will produce 373 PSI 50# draw will produce 533 PSI 75# draw will produce 800 psi 100# draw will produce 1066 PSI 200# draw will produce 2133 PSI so a 50# draw is like balancing a full dress motorcycle on your thumb and a 100# draw is like parking one wheel of a passenger car on your thumb 200# draw is balancing a full ton on your thumb protection not release aid ... more of a release preventer some might say

[@ColetteNoir]

Years ago I ran into this. I made much the same argument and lost. Basically they barely tolerated the Mediterranean draw, asking them to deal with a yugake or a thumb ring was a bridge too far.

[@keithgillogly7675]

I had never thought about it until I saw your video. After watching it, I agree with what you say.

[@ArminHirmer]

Me neither until I heard it from some people :)

[@lulustocke8251]

Yes. I'm absolutely with you. This is the reason why I don't attend 'official' competitions, because they put thumb archers in the same group as compound archers. It's ridiculously unfair to put primitive bows in the same category in which high tech shooting devices are listed. So only fun competitions for me, nothing more. I'm fine with it, but they have to change that stupid classification.

[@0835SEBO]

Can you do a review on those release aids from around 2:30?

[@ArminHirmer]

Not much to review in them. They are made for Centre shot bows like fita takedown bows which I don’t own.

[@reinholdfischer956]

Servus Armin, nachdem endlich mein mini Manchu von Alibow angekommen ist😀 will ich mir auch noch einen original Manchu kaufen. Nun meine Frage, kannst du mir den Quing von AF empfehlen da der Xongkoro nich mehr im Angebot von Alibow ist. Ich frage nur weil der AF Manchu so viel billiger ist. Wäre dankbar für einen Ratschlag von dir. L.G. aus Bayern

[@ArminHirmer]

Hallo Reinhold. Der AF ist gut. Wenn Du nicht warten magst, bis Alibow den Xongkoro wieder in stock hat, hol Dir den AF (da gibts glaub ich auch noch den voucher code Armin10)

[@reinholdfischer956]

Danke dir Armin 👍

[@andypearce1122]

I have recently swapped to a Korean male thumb release, not by choice but because I have a seriously arthritic thumb now and this type of ring lets me shoot without wrist numbing pain, although it's not completely pain free unlike my collection of ordinary thumb rings. Going a bit off topic, since I started using it my accuracy is off but I expected this and it's something practice will put right, a bigger problem is the arrow shaft and vanes are absolutely murdering the web and back of the thumb on my bow hand, my grip hasn't changed I'm using the same arrows bamboo and carbon, and I really can't see what's happening or why the change, so if you or anyone else has any ideas I would be truly grateful as it may keep me shooting for more years to come. Cheers Andy P.

[@ArminHirmer]

I guess the way of releasing the arrow is quite different from usual rings. more deflection can happen. I believe its just a matter of practice :) (I will try that too)

[@h0tkoko]

The Wikipedia must be corrected if it is to be used as an official reference . “Release Aid” aids the release i.e. make it easier to release. A thumb ring does not make it easier to release the string, ask any one using a thumb ring for the first time. However it does protect the thumb from being sore, blisters and cuts from the string. As @Armin mentioned, thumb ring is a finger protector i.e. same as finger glove or finger tabs. Do note that Finger tabs with numeric markings as references for ease of string walking is not permissible in some competitions, but this has nothing to do with a thumb ring; just continuous rambling.

[@willisgemutlich2608]

Yes. You nailed it

[@humblebug4526]

Good explanation, I agree.

[@MartinaDotzler]

I am very new in archery (57y, f, coming from taekwondo) and after watching your great videos - (by the way fantastic - I know what I am talking about, have given lessons in taekwondo- ) I decided to practice 3-finger and thumb release for my personal fun and to improve. My personal aim: decent groups on different distances with different bows with different releases. I don’t see any difference between my 3 finger glove and my basic leather thumb protection (protector, not less, not more). The release comes from my fingers - I open and let the string go- with my glove, with my leather thumb protector and if I will have one in future - with my thumb ring. By the way there are leather protectors with a metal layer - but always the same: my fingers must open to release the string with the arrow. Where is the aid? Basically it does not hurt that much 😅 I only can see the protection of my fingers. And I want to feel the string- personal preference- therefore leather. I am working on a proper release and I want to protect my fingers. That’s all.

[@stik.sirmium]

After watching the video, I was already afraid that I won't be able to use the thumb release technique in tournaments... Although I am an olympic/recurve archer, due to the injury I intend to switch to thumb release instead of tab. The MMOhawked comment clarifies the condition for using a thumb ring - the material in contact with the string must be flexible! Now I intend to make one leather bendable thumb ring (actually, a more appropriate name would be THUMB TAB), but... what is the minimum bendability?

[@WaynesGoneWild]

I agree with all you have said...except for the Korean Sugakji, it is no more a release aid than the other thumb rings. It has no mechanical device or trigger, it offers no mechanical advantage over other thumb rings. To use it correctly you merely open the thumb and first finger up, as with the others.

[@ArminHirmer]

I just thought we could give them a little bit, so it makes it easier to find a new agreement ;)

[@lebondave4377]

I totally agree with you about the stupidity of this classification of federations, which shows a strong ignorance of our practice, it's really a pity. Currently, we would be classified with archers using modern compound bows, with sights, stabilizers and release device. Also, 99% of archers shooting a Longbow/Flatbow or a hunting bow in competitions do not do it "instinctively" but with an aiming system. In short, in my opinion, the only instinctive shooting competitions are those of horseback archers.

[@jareth7456]

Th$e thumb ring far out dates the invention of the release aid , so just learn to shoot bare thumb and they will pbb &robably have a problem with it because they are tired of being beaten by asiatic shooters ha ha ha

[@garymickus6412]

Just my opinion, but I believe the thumb ring is considered a release aid because it provides a smoother release than a finger draw. It would be interesting to see scientific studies on this issue. By smoother I mean less oscillation of the string as it leaves the hand. Btw I agree with Armin.

[@jalalbusri7294]

Agree with you, sir. Thumbring has been used hundreds of years, far earlier than these rules written. You need skill even more from Mediterranean release, to master your release. And I just wondering, they restrict the use of traditional thumbring in traditional archery competition, but allow bow with arrow rest.

[@Daylon91]

They need something to call us out on. We all seem to be fancy archers to western archers. "Oh look you do have an aid to help you!, it's not all instinctive"

[@jareth7456]

Um....yeah I would love to here their argument, my argument is simple enough , if you can do the same thing without it it's not a release aid it's protection....if a thumb ring is a release aid then so are the three finger shooting gloves and finger stalls. If the string is held by one or more digits wherein one or more digits are between the string and the belly of the bow and curled around the string directly holding the weight with the strength of one or more digits then its not an aid it's protection, example the figure 9 is a release aid because no digits are curled around the string, a release aid uses a mechanism or material elasticity to effect a release by drawing one or more digits tword the archer or perpendicular the direction of pull non aidded release involves the extension of one or more digits away from the archer or opposite the direction of pull . The thumb ring other than the sugakji type is not a release aid . The sugakji ring fits the definition as no digits are curled around the string and no digits are between the string and the bows belly the release entails a digit moving perpendicular to the direction of pull or tword the archer even though it can effect a release by extending the digit or digits it satisfies other parts of the definition......which I just thought of off the top of my head what makes sense.

[@toxolite]

I totally agree as your argument makes sense to me. Though, I do recall being told once, that there is no such thing as common sense. I second this motion to "World Archery" allowing them to justify their name.

[@bobbersoniiv5694]

I… I would consider most thumb rings to be release aids. Because so many thumb rings can and do help increase how ‘crisp’ a release is, compared to shooting without one. Especially shallow hook thumb rings, such as Manchu, Fu Hao or Gao Ying style rings, which permit the wearer to hold the string on the thumb in a way that wouldn’t be possible without the ring. Simply put, thumb rings let you shoot more accurately with them than without. Now of course they were used historically, because in war and hunting you want to get every advantage you can. However. I think there’s still a huge difference between thumb rings as a release aid, and the mechanical compound bow release aids. I think a thumb ring gives you an edge for having a clean release, I think a mechanical release aid almost does the release for you. And so I think it’s really unfair that thumb rings are grouped in with mechanical compound bow release aids, and I can tell that it’s done just to make life easier for world archery, who really only care about western styles and who don’t want to bother with making a new category. If it were up to me, there would be five classes of release aid. 1. No device or aid whatsoever 2. A soft leather tab or glove for protection only 3. A hard tab or device in contact with the thumb only (most thumb rings) 4. A hard tab or device in contact with more than just the thumb (the Korean male style and the other release devices Armin showed) 5. A device for holding and releasing the string, which is of moving parts or is mechanical in nature (most compound releases)

[@fergus15]

I didn’t understood. Leather thumbrings are permited in competition? Or is the same stupid forbidance?

[@ArminHirmer]

some say that leather is allowed (I mean if, then I take the ring I shoed at the end :D )

[@AdalbertoMaggioJunior]

Exactly. All protectors except soft gloves with distinct fingers will aid release in some way. Be it speed or consistency. That’s why it makes no sense to call tabs merely as protectors, especially because of union of two bottom fingers, shelf’s and finger spacers. And if there is a permission for tabs that aid precision and cleanliness of release why would there be a ban for simple thumb rings? Same for hard gloves of course. If one can use a hard glove, why not a hard thumb ring? I personally think rules should make sense. But hey, that’s just me… Just to be clear. Not hating on tab users or hard glove users. God bless you! Just pointing out that the rule is arbitrary and there is an apparent double standard.

[@SwissFiveNine]

Hello Armin. Where you're right, you're right. Is a kake (kyudo glove) also a release aid in their terminology (it's also a kind of thumb ring technique)? If so, the idea of 'IT shots' is definitively wrong (I mean, it's wrong but not because of a thumb ring is a release aid). Have a great weekend down there in Malta. Greetings from Switzerland.

[@sjohnson4882]

Valid point.

[@societyofrobots]

Well, it technically does aid the release. Otherwise you wouldn't use it. =P But I agree, it's not like a trigger, it's mostly for finger protection like a glove.

[@ArminHirmer]

Aid in the sense of protection ;)

[@morganblackbyrne]

AGREED!

[@magnuseliot8171]

Im considering buing one actually

[@jrs4516]

but tabs with finger spacers, thumb shelves and pinky hooks are ok....

[@ColoursOfDan02]

Unfortunately someone would have used one of those rotational release aids or a Korean male ring which then got complaints and a rule was written to ban any thumb ring. If you read through the rules they include some absurd rules just because someone insanely competitive tried to gain an advantage. Such as: 8.2. Prescription glasses, shooting spectacles and sunglasses may be used. None of these may be fitted with micro hole lenses, or similar devices, nor may they be marked in any way to assist in aiming. Someone drilled a hole in their glasses to use as an aiming method as well as someone drawing lines on to assist aiming. Rules are written usually because someone finds an advantage, Sad that Asiatic archers were punished because of it.

[@sigmanarchery54]

Yes sir people are just nuts they just want something to argue and complain about they don’t want someone to shoot better than them even with all their fancy equipment. 👍🏼👍🏼🏹🇺🇸

[@mRibbons]

I see no difference in purpose or function between thumb rings and finger tabs. On the other hand, compound archers have no direct contact with the string. The release device alone, pulls and looses. They are completely different imo.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Ok,, I'm TRIGERD by this video. :)

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Ok I give it a thumb ring up.

[@jenjen7728]

You already know what I equate thumb rings to, so if it's a release aid we's got troubles.😂

[@claudebenet6185]

This is the same in some martials arts too....

[@jurgen6349]

Hallo Armin Da ich Englisch nicht verstehe du mir die Daumentechnik in deinem Video auf Deutsch super erklärt hast bin ich auf einen 20 Pfund Reiterbogen gewechselt. Leider meldet sich mein Daumen nach rund 30 Schuss . Deine Videos auf deutsch würden mir sehr helfen. Und ich glaube auch noch vielen anderen.

[@ArtelindSSB]

The way I see it, thumb rings are just as much a release aid as a tab or glove. To ban thumb rings but not tabs or gloves just seems arbitrary at best or discriminatory at worst.

[@willisgemutlich2608]

Yes! It's a safety thing not a performance cheat. Of course it must have been developed with hunting and sore thumbs but it isn't a weird mechanism. I can't help but say "what about the counter balance rods and scopes and things? Where do you draw the line? If 3 fingers want to go bare handed, go for it, but don't restrict the rest of us with rules that don't apply to yourselves.

[@kmarchery]

It was a few years ago now . But I was the first thumb draw shooter to compete in a 18 meter 300 round indoor event . (Note ,big one first in my city Not world . For you nit pickers) Three of us old guys shooting trad amongst 20 compound shooters . Judges didn't care . I placed third out of three shooters in traditional category. A long bow ,a recurve . N my Ktb . My buddy with long bow could have entered as a long bow but since he was only one . Automatic ribbon first place . He figured he would win the hard way .( And he did lol) We had fun . And didn't care A tab a glove n a thumb ring .

[@claudebenet6185]

Rules are sometime made by people who don"t even know the subject they are working on . What a pity.....Most of them simply don t want things to change too; There is not only a way to shoot a bow.... In France the ring shooters are classified with those compound shooter who use a release..... Please do keep on.... Hector

[@scoffmax]

Perhaps these restrictions are because the 3 finger shooters (which I, mostly, am) are afraid that the Asian shooters will be more accurate?

[@ArminHirmer]

no idea

[@notastegaming7614]

The sheer idea that thumb rings are banned in competition as they are considered as release aid is completely bollocks. In Canada, thumb ring users can only compete against compound archers...

[@-fazik-3713]

100%

[@gergoboros3393]

Me Seeing the title: wtf it is a protectiom equipment. Armin: it is a protectiom equipment. Me: ok, i am not an idiot 🤣

[@oryu-bowman]

korean male thumb ring = sugakji 숫깍지!

[@cathayarmory]

Well to be serious, I think release aid should be anything that, without spending considerable amount of time to learn a special technique, makes the release cleaner than a bare finger release. Can thumb rings including the kroean male thumbrings achieve this? Nope.

[@kmarchery]

Gloves ,tabs ,rings . They are all finger protection .

[@aleshain5479]

if a thumb ring is a release aid than with the same logic a glove is a release aid, so all 3 thinger shooters arent allowed to use gloves

[@cathayarmory]

human fingers are release aid

[@toxolite]

Release aid or draw aid???

[@holgerwischhusen7462]

At the IFAA German Field Archery Championship 2 weeks ago, my wife was taken off the TRB class for using a thumbring with her Kaya Windfighter with a t

[@ArminHirmer]

hilarious, then take all tabs and gloves away too....

[@jrs4516]

i haven't looked at IFAA rules but under world archery field rules you can't even shoot with your thumb at all in instinctive or longbow class. it specifically states you must used mediterranean split finger or 3 under. no slavic or any of the many other was of pulling the string. very closed minded.

[@emarsk77]

If a thumb ring is a release aid, then a tab is too.

[@VladMcMerlin]

They already have plenty of aids on a modern olympic bow.

[@davidlargen6945]

I totally agree. Most are very uneducated

[@gizmonomono]

That's so dumb. By that logic, an archery tab or glove is also a release aid 😂

[@Lionall]

Ha! I bet a bunch of ppl is triggerd by this 😅...sry, sry I show myself out 🚪🚶‍♂️

[@nakotaapache4674]

this kind of irritated mindset cut through all weapon related topics in germany and a lot of other countries too. Topics about knifes guns nunchaks shuriken and the list goes on. Countries of selflimiting freedom and posibillities are also limiting the skills of all the people. With limits at competition level i could live with it becouse we can compare us without a offical limit regulated competition but when its get to forbidden or illegalized then something is really wrong.

[@mlap]

It all depend on the rules, if you read the rules of WA, then mostley the thumbring is allowd. There are manny countrys, and places with different rules. In Belgium, there are contest that follow the WA rules, but not al contests follow these rules, they are mostley the same, but whith small changes. Read the rules, and ask them where the rules says i'ts a releas. Ask the archery federation of your country to ask the WA his interpretation of the thumb-ring. Just like a ckiker, what is for you a ckliker?? I'ts not just a draw check, its acourding to the WA also a subconscious trigger and thats therfore, the Solid Grip Trigger is forbidden in BB. Time's changes, rules can change to. If many thumb shooters react to their federation, who knows, a sepperate thums cat for them ;-)

[@ArminHirmer]

thatswhy I made this video, to give them a bit external opinion

[@cathayarmory]

Well I agree thumbrings are release aid. Especially manchu cylindrical thumb rings---it is a trigger in my hand :) Leave the compound archers alone OMG~

[@ziranwolf2696]

Greetings Armin; it will never fly, because your argument is too logical and makes too much sense for the narrow view of the rule makers/rule enforcers of the world, especially the archery competition empire builders. Sorry:(